New Delhi: 800 students and 60 teachers from various schools in New Delhi interacted with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday along with students from across the country who have excelled in various activities.
The Prime Minister released a commemorative coin in honour of Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, and launched the Kala Utsav website. Kala Utsav is an initiative of Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) to promote arts in education by nurturing and showcasing the artistic talent of school students at the secondary stage in the country.
Here are the highlights from his address and interaction with the students
Want to thank you all, and am happy children played a key role in this programme: PM @narendramodi
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) September 4, 2015
Modi: I thank the organisers for letting the students take the lead in this programme.
Maine ek din khud hi lambe kurte ki baahe kaat di, aur woh mujhe comfotable ho gaya: PM on "Modi kurta" pic.twitter.com/neRylX3ZyY
— ANI (@ANI_news) September 4, 2015
Mai kissi fashion designer ko nahi jaanta; lamba kurta bag mein zyada jagah leta hai: PM on "Modi-kurtas" pic.twitter.com/NQqYnupa59
— ANI (@ANI_news) September 4, 2015
Modi: I don’t know why people think I have a fashion designer who styles me. I only dress simple and sober.
Next question: Your fashion sense is talked about a lot, how did the idea of promoting Indian clothes come to you?
Modi: You are all Google-guru’s students, take pointers from there. Watch speeches on YouTube
Modi: There is no parallel to UN support to yoga day.
Modi: International Yoga Day evolved out of the interest I saw foreign countries and their people express in it.
Modi: Parents shouldnt impose their own dreams on kids, that would mean they don’t know what the kids are capable of.
Modi: The first thing is to be a good listener, your confidence grows. The second thing is you shouldn’t worry about what other people will think of you and your thoughts.
Question to PM – you never use a written speech. How did you develop this mastery in oratory? pic.twitter.com/O0E0b8H9YQ
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) September 4, 2015
Modi: Classroom gives a sense of mission and a sense of priority.
A question to the Prime Minister from Jammu and Kashmir – when you were a student what fascinated you the most?
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) September 4, 2015
Modi: Don’t ever let obstacles become a graveyard for your dreams. Use them as a foundation for your triumphs.
Agar paani mein koodoge nahi toh tairaak kaise banoge?-PM Modi
— ANI (@ANI_news) September 4, 2015
Modi: There can be no recipe for success & failure should never be the death of a dream. Our outlook towards our failures defines our successes
Next question is from Ms Anshik Minz – “What is the recipe for success? ”
Modi: Professionals should take out 100 hours every year for teaching.
Modi: I don’t think India lacks good teachers, it needs to be channelized.
Question from Bengaluru- why can’t the youth take up teaching as a profession. How to make teaching more attractive to youth
Agar faaltu pankhe light bandh kar do aur bijli bachao toh ye desh ki seva hai-PM Modi pic.twitter.com/hDcCcekKJY
— ANI (@ANI_news) September 4, 2015
Modi: Can serve the nation not only by joining the armed forces or being in politics. Several ways to contribute to nation building.
Modi: Until we go beyond the limited idea of a “degree-job” we wont grow. We need to free ourselves; let ourselves write poetry or create art.
Anmol from Patna asks the next question: what message for students wanting to give engineering and medical exams.
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) September 4, 2015
Modi: Swachh Bharat is connected to people’s habits. Everybody is supporting Swachh Bharat Campaign.
Swachh Bharat ek aisa karyakaram hai jise sab support kar rahe hain, media bhi bohot support kar raha hai-PM Modi
— ANI (@ANI_news) September 4, 2015
Modi: When I started I thought “Swachh Bharat Abhiyan” I had some apprehensions on its progress. However, if school students are achieving so much, making Apps on Swachh Bharat & winning laurels then am sure India can be Swachh.
A question from Bengaluru: what are the challenges on Swachh Bharat initiative?
Modi: Sonia is a child with special needs.I congratulate her. She wants to know what games I play. Everybody knows what games politicians play. But as a child I played kabaddi, swam a bit & did yoga.I had a PT teacher called Parmar Sir.I used to go exercise in his small exercise room.
Whenever a woman shines on the sports field, the mother of the child has a very important contribution: PM @narendramodi
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) September 4, 2015
Next question is from Sonia Patil from Panaji – “what game do you enjoy?”
Modi: I dream that by 2022, all homes should have electricity.
Modi: Digital India is a part of our lives, more so if we want to move forward, towards good governance. Its an empowerment tool.
Modi: You are right, there are villages with no electricity. In next 1000 days we have taken up the effort to give power to 18,000 villages.
Student from Dehradun who aspires to be a chef asks PM about Digital India. PM quizzes him on his favorite dish. pic.twitter.com/4DUGynLHno
— ANI (@ANI_news) September 4, 2015
Modi: If you work for others selflessly, then u don’t need other qualifications, people will make you leader.
Modi: There should also be clarity on “why” you want to be a leader – to just win elections or to serve people? If the feeling for latter is developed then you will be on your way to be a great leader.
Modi: Leadership quality is essential. You must also be clear why you want to be a leader: to fight elections only or to make a difference.
Modi: Good people and people from all walks of life are required in politics.
Answering student, PM: Unfortunately lot of bad opinions about people in public service, about politics in general. pic.twitter.com/8cKvlP0WzU
— ANI (@ANI_news) September 4, 2015
The next question is from Ms. Nemdeiching Shelly Kipgen – “want to be a successful leader and contribute in politics. What personality and traits are needed?”
Modi: Reading about Swami Vivekananda was a big influence.
Modi: I don’t think any one person makes a life. It is about having a receptive mind, people keep teaching us something or the other. You can learn something new even during a train journey. I have learnt a lot from my teachers. I spent lot of time in the library
“Who has been the biggest influence on you?”- the first question to PM Modi by Malavath Purna.
Modi now interacts with the students at the auditorium.
Modi: I bow to all the teachers. It is the teachers who make the generations.
Modi: This day inspires all of us to follow a need to be educationists because even the most ordinary people can be an inspiration to students.
We have to see that our kids do not become robots, will help with appreciating arts.Without arts life is robotic: PM pic.twitter.com/U6tE5t3iVX
— ANI (@ANI_news) September 4, 2015
Modi: Being a teacher is not like any other career. It is something different.
Modi: Teachers are not recognised. It is time to commemorate ‘tapasya’ done by teachers who made educated doctors, scientists working for nation building.
Modi narrates story of anganwadi worker in village who worked for students’ welfare
Ek anganwadi mahila jiska bacchon se bahut lagaav tha. Unhone apni purani saree se bacchon kay liye handkerchief banaye: PM
— ANI (@ANI_news) September 4, 2015
Unhone bacchon ko haath saaf rakhne kay baare mei sikhaya. Ek teacher nay bacchon ko itna badaa sabak diya: PM pic.twitter.com/D0VDmHnBMU
— ANI (@ANI_news) September 4, 2015
Modi: This day inspires all of us to follow the need to be educationists
Modi: Dr Radhakrishnan is the example teachers need to follow.
Youngsters did not live during the time of Dr. Radhakrishnan but you have seen Dr. Kalam. He always wanted to be remembered as a teacher: PM
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) September 4, 2015
Modi: Dr.Kalam went back to teaching the moment his tenure as a President got over.
A teacher can never retire: PM @narendramodi
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) September 4, 2015
Modi: After an age, a child spends more time with teachers than family. During this time, there lies a huge responsibility with the teachers.
Modi: Sometimes people ask why spend time with students on Teachers’ Day. Student is the identity of the Teacher.
Modi: Mother gives birth, teacher gives life.
Har vyakti kay jivan mei, iss baat ka zikr hota hai, "maa janm deti hai, guru jeevan deta hai": PM Modi pic.twitter.com/OD5qazSPIy
— ANI (@ANI_news) September 4, 2015
Modi: Sometimes people wonder why it is students we spend time with on Teacher’s day. I feel that students are an image of teachers
Modi’s address to the students begins
Modi also launches the website for Kala Utsav, to promote art in education.
Modi releases commemorative coin & a circulation coin in honor of Dr Radhakrishnan.
#TeachersDay: Shri @narendramodi releases a commemorative coin and a circulation coin in honour of Dr Radhakrishnan. pic.twitter.com/XxFUVKmf5X
— MIB India (@MIB_India) September 4, 2015
The Prime Minister arrives at Manekshaw auditorium to address school children on the eve of Teachers Day.
PM Shri @narendramodi arrives to address school children on the eve of #TeachersDay. pic.twitter.com/m97MSBLi1Q
— MIB India (@MIB_India) September 4, 2015