President Droupadi Murmu on Monday said animals should be referred to as ‘jeevan dhan’ or ‘wealth of life’, stating that the commonly used Hindi term ‘pashu’ for animals was inappropriate.
Speaking at the 11th convocation ceremony of the Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI) in Izatnagar, Bareilly, the President underlined the indispensable role animals play in human life and biodiversity. She called on veterinary professionals to approach their field with compassion and innovation, and to adopt holistic methods rooted in conservation and sustainability.
“When you work as a veterinary doctor, you should always have the welfare of animals in mind. The environment that I come from is close to nature. Humans have always shared a deep relationship with forests and wildlife,” she said, adding, “Today, we have technology, but in the past, animals were our ‘saadhan’ (means of transport) and ‘bal’ (strength) for farmers. Hence, I do not find the word ‘pashu’ appropriate as they are ‘jeevan dhan’. Life cannot be imagined without them.”
Murmu stressed that Indian culture sees the presence of divinity in all living beings. “The belief that our gods and sages communicated with animals reflects this very philosophy,” she added.
Highlighting threats to biodiversity, the President said many animal species have either vanished or are close to extinction. She cited the dramatic decline in the vulture population as a case in point, attributing it to harmful veterinary drugs used in the past. She welcomed the government’s move to ban such drugs and called it a “commendable step” for conservation.
“During my childhood, vultures were commonly seen, but now they are rarely spotted,” she noted.
The President warned that unchecked consumerism, as witnessed during the COVID-19 pandemic, posed serious threats not only to humans but to all living beings and the environment. She urged research institutes like IVRI to lead efforts in conserving biodiversity, preventing zoonotic diseases, and finding indigenous, cost-effective solutions for animal healthcare and nutrition.
She praised students for pursuing a path devoted to animal care and encouraged them to explore entrepreneurship in animal science. “Start-ups in this field can contribute to employment generation and support India’s economy,” she said.
Murmu also highlighted the increasing global significance of the ‘One Health’ concept — the idea that human, animal, and environmental health are interconnected. She urged the use of advanced technologies like genome editing, embryo transfer, artificial intelligence and big data analytics to revolutionise the veterinary field.
Earlier in the day, President Murmu was welcomed in Bareilly by Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. Union Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan was also present.
Posting on social media platform X, Adityanath wrote in Hindi, “Hearty welcome and felicitation to Hon’ble President Draupadi Murmu ji in ‘Nath Nagri’ Bareilly.”
The President’s Secretariat also shared her arrival, stating, “Governor of Uttar Pradesh Smt Anandiben Patel, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Union Minister for Agriculture & Farmers Welfare and Rural Development, Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan, received President Droupadi Murmu on her arrival at Bareilly.”
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