Itishri Murmu’s joy knew no bounds when her mother Droupadi Murmu on Friday filed nomination papers for the office of the President of India.

It marked the culmination of a career that saw her rise from a ward councillor to governor to compete for the highest office in the country. During this period she overcame many personal tragedies but remained devoted to the service of the people. Droupadi lost two sons, a daughter, husband and a brother during this period but these tragedies did not deter her from serving the people of the country.

“My mother had suffered a huge loss in her personal life. But she has overcome it all and is going to be the President of India, the first citizen of the country,” said Itishri, a bank officer.

She told The Telegraph: “After her candidature for the President’s post was declared, we all were excited. When the announcement was made, I was with my mother at our home in Rairangpur in the Mayurbhanj district to celebrate her birthday on June 20. The announcement came the next day. Today after she filed her papers, I called her to congratulate her. She only smiled.”

“Just imagine the state of mind of a mother when she loses three of her kids, husband and brother. She lost her first child — a daughter, at a tender age. I was not born then. My mother who started her career as a clerk in the state secretariat quit her job and took a conscious plunge into politics.”

Itishri said: “After quitting the job, she started her career as a teacher in the Sri Aurobindo Integral School at Rairangpur. And then became a ward councillor, and finally an MLA in 2000 and became the minister during the BJD-BJP coalition. Again, she was elected to the Odisha Assembly in 2004 and remained its member till 2009. But she lost the election later and again came back to public life in 2015 as governor of Jharkhand.”

Personal tragedies struck Murmu’s family. “I lost my elder brother Laxman Murmu in 2009. He was only 25. My mother was completely lost and went into depression. She joined the Brahma Kumaris Ashram’s branch at Rairangpur and started her spiritual journey. Now she wakes up at 3am and practices meditation for hours. That spiritual power has helped her in life.”

But personal tragedies came one after another. Droupadi Murmu lost her second son Sipun in 2013. Sipun, who was in his twenties, died in a motorcycle accident.

“Perhaps God had a different plan for her. My mother lost her brother in 2014 and my father the next year. We had all been shattered but my mother emerged as a pillar of strength for us. She asked me to accept life as it comes.”

On her own plans and whether she would quit the job, Itishri, mother of two daughters said: “My mother, who is my teacher, would not prefer that I should my job, instead I will apply for a transfer to Delhi.”

She said her mother, who had over the years developed administrative acumen, would move across the country to meet chief ministers to solicit their support. “I will watch my mother closely at the Raisina Hill and try to emulate her. My mother who remains calm always will remain an inspiration not only for me but for crores of tribals in particular. Her struggle to cope up with life will remain an example for generations to come.”