The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today, interacted with students, teachers and parents, as part of Pariksha Pe Charcha 2.0 at Talkatora Stadium, New Delhi. The interaction, which lasted for over ninety minutes, saw students, teachers and parents relax, laugh, and repeatedly applaud the Prime Minister’s observations, which included a touch of humour and wit.
This year, students from across the country, and also Indian students residing abroad, participated in the event.
Setting the tone for the interaction, he described the Pariksha Pe Charcha Townhall as a mini-India. He said it also symbolizes the future of India. He expressed happiness that parents and teachers too are part of this programme.
A teacher asked the Prime Minister about what teachers should tell parents who are stressed about the exams of their children, and have unrealistic expectations. A student preparing for the UPSC examination also asked a similar question. In response, the Prime Minister said that while he would not advise anyone to stay completely unaffected by an examination, it is important to understand the context of the examination. Is an examination, an exam for life, or is it an exam for a particular grade like Class 10 or 12, he asked the gathering. He said that once this context is understood, the stress will reduce.
The Prime Minister emphasized that parents should not expect their children to fulfil their own unfulfilled dreams. Every child has his or her own potential and strengths, and it is important to understand these positives of every child, he noted.
The Prime Minister also said that expectations are essential. We cannot live in an atmosphere of despair and unhappiness, he asserted.
Answering a set of questions on stress of parents, and parental pressure, the Prime Minister said that the performance of children cannot become a calling card for the parents. He said that if that becomes the aim, then expectations become unrealistic. He said that some people have the view that Modi has raised expectations as Prime Minister. He added that he is of the view that 1.25 billion Indians should have 1.25 billion aspirations. Those aspirations should also be expressed, and we should collectively raise our abilities to meet those aspirations, he added.
A parent expressed an apprehension that her son was once good in studies, but is now distracted by online games. In response, the Prime Minister said that he does not believe that exposure to technology is, per se, bad for students. He believes that is good that students are getting acquainted with new technology. However, he added that technology should lead to an expansion of the mind. It should be a means to innovate. The PlayStation is good, but one must not forget the playing field, he added.
In response to a question on time management and exhaustion, the Prime Minister said that 1.25 billion Indians are all his family. He said that when one thinks and works for his family, how can he feel tired? He said that each new day, he resumes his work with a new energy.
Students asked the Prime Minister how studies could be made more fun, and how exams could improve one’s personality. The Prime Minister said that it is important to take tests and exams in the right spirit. He said tests make a person stronger, and one should not abhor them.
Students sought the Prime Minister’s advice on subject and career choices. They also said that every student has different strengths, so how can each student be expected to be good in maths and science. In response, the Prime Minister said that clarity of thought and conviction are essential. Yes, science and maths are essential but there are other subjects too worth exploring, he added. There are opportunities in so many areas now, the Prime Minister said.
A student recalled last year’s town hall interaction on the same subject, and said that her parents have become a lot more relaxed when it comes to subjects like exams and career.He said that positive attitude of the parents can contribute in a big way to the lives of children.
Students spoke to the Prime Minister about the need to encourage children. In response, he said that competition should not be with others, but with one’s own record. He said that when one competes with one’s own past record, then pessimism and negativity can easily be defeated.
Students also mentioned the need to further improve education systems and ensure that exams are not only reduced to rote learning but also showcase what students have learnt.
In response, the Prime Minister said that our learning cannot be reduced to exams only. Our education must equip us to face various challenges of life as well, he added.
Speaking on the subject of depression, the Prime Minister said that in a nation like ours, this issue is worrying. He said Indian culture has mechanisms to deal with this. The more we talk openly about aspects relating to depression and mental health, the better it is, he added.
He said that a person does not get depressed all of a sudden. There are signs that show a person is heading into depression. Ignoring these signs is not a good idea. On the contrary, we must talk about this, the Prime Minister said. He said that counselling can be helpful because it helps one talk about one’s problems.
This #ParikshaPeCharcha2 Townhall is a mini-India. It is also a place where we have in our midst the future of India.
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) January 29, 2019
I am happy parents and teachers too are part of the programme: PM @narendramodi
A teacher from Kolkata, Rulee Dutta Ji asks PM @narendramodi what teachers should tell parents who are stressed about the exams of their children and have unreal expectations.
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) January 29, 2019
A student from Kerala who is in Delhi preparing for the UPSC exam also asks a similar question.
I can not say- do not be totally relaxed before an exam....
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) January 29, 2019
But, ask yourselves if this an exam of your life or is it just an exam for a particular grade like Class X or XII?
Once you know the answer to this, your pressure will reduce: PM @narendramodi #ParikshaPeCharcha2
I would request parents- do not expect your children to fulfil your unfulfilled dreams.
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) January 29, 2019
Every child has his or her own potential and strengths...it is important to understand these positives of every child: PM @narendramodi #ParikshaPeCharcha2
Expectations are essential....we can't be living in an atmosphere of despair and unhappiness.
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) January 29, 2019
When people have aspirations from a person, it is good: PM @narendramodi #ParikshaPeCharcha2
Krishna Kumar Sharma from Jammu is asking PM @narendramodi on parents being tension free during exams. Pebam Nila Kumari from Manipur also asks a similar question.
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) January 29, 2019
Lavanya, a viewer of @TimesNow asks PM- how can we overcome parental pressure during exam time. #ParikshaPeCharcha2
I hope parents do not make the report card of their children their own visiting cards...because if that is the aim then the expectations from children become unreal: PM @narendramodi #ParikshaPeCharcha2
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) January 29, 2019
लोग कहते हैं मोदी ने बहुत aspirations जगा दिए हैं, मैं तो चाहता हूं कि सवा सौ करोड़ देशवासियों के सवा सौ करोड़ aspirations होने चाहिए: PM @narendramodi
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) January 29, 2019
हमें उन aspirations को उजागर करना चाहिए देश तभी चलता है। अपेक्षाओं के बोझ में दबना नहीं चाहिए। हमें अपेक्षाओं को पूरा करने के लिए अपने आपको सिद्ध करना चाहिए: PM @narendramodi
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) January 29, 2019
Madhumita Sen Gupta from Assam (living in Delhi) says- my son is in Class IX...earlier he was good in studies but now he is too distracted by online games. #ParikshaPeCharcha2
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) January 29, 2019
I will not say exposure to technology is a bad thing for students.
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) January 29, 2019
It is good students are getting acquainted with new technology: PM @narendramodi
Technology should lead to expansion of the mind and as a means to innovate: PM @narendramodi #ParikshaPeCharcha2
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) January 29, 2019
The PlayStation is good but never forget the playing field: PM @narendramodi #ParikshaPeCharcha2
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) January 29, 2019
Naren from Tamil Nadu asks PM @narendramodi on aspects relating to time management. #ParikshaPeCharcha2
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) January 29, 2019
मेरे लिए सवा सौ देशवासी मेरा परिवार है। जब सवा सौ करोड़ देशवासी मेरा परिवार है तो मैं थकान महसूस नहीं करता हूं।
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) January 29, 2019
हर पल मैं सोचता हूं, रात को जब सोने जाता हूं तो सुबह का सोच कर जाता हूं, और नई उमंग, नई ऊर्जा के साथ आता हूं: PM @narendramodi
Amit from Pathankot is asking PM @narendramodi during #ParikshaPeCharcha2 on how to make studies more fun.
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) January 29, 2019
A student from Kathmandu asks the PM on how exams help improve one's personality.
कसौटी बुरी नहीं होती, हम उसके साथ किस प्रकार के साथ deal करते है उसपर depend करता है। मेरा तो सिद्धांत है कि कसौटी कसती है, कसौटी कोसने के लिए नहीं होती है: PM @narendramodi #ParikshaPeCharcha2
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) January 29, 2019
Mohammed Salim, a student from the Aligarh Muslim University asks PM @narendramodi - what must be our considerations while picking subject choices and career choices.
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) January 29, 2019
Shambhavi from Banaras Hindu University asks- how can one pick a good career and prepare well for exams.
A viewer of @NewsNationTV comments that every child has different strengths. How can we expect that every student will be good in mathematics or science.
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) January 29, 2019
Clarity of thought and conviction are essential.
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) January 29, 2019
Yes, science and maths are essential but there are other subjects too worth exploring. There are opportunities in so many areas now: PM @narendramodi #ParikshaPeCharcha2
Zenith from Moscow tells PM @narendramodi that after last year's Townhall programme, her parents became a lot more relaxed when it came to subjects like exams and career. #ParikshaPeCharcha2
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) January 29, 2019
अभिभावकों का सकारात्मक रवैया बच्चे की जिंदगी की बहुत बड़ी ताकत बन जाता है: PM @narendramodi #ParikshaPeCharcha2
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) January 29, 2019
Jairpeet Singh is a student based in Tehran, Iran. He is asking PM on the need on encouraging our children constantly and how constant encouragement makes children very happy. #ParikshaPeCharcha2
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) January 29, 2019
आप अपनी तुलना अपने पुराने रिकॉर्ड से कीजिए, आप competition अपने रिकॉर्ड से कीजिए, आप अपने रिकॉर्ड ब्रेक कीजिए, आप अगर खुद के रिकॉर्ड ब्रेक करेंगे तो आपको कभी भी निराशा के गर्त में डूबने का मौका नहीं आयेगा: PM @narendramodi #ParikshaPeCharcha2
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) January 29, 2019
Sara Sadaf from Kuwait makes a few points on the need to further improve education systems and ensure that exams are not only reduced to rote learning but also showcase what students have learnt. #ParikshaPeCharcha2
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) January 29, 2019
Our learning cannot be reduced to exams only. Our education must equip us to face various challenges of life as well: PM @narendramodi #ParikshaPeCharcha2
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) January 29, 2019
In a nation like ours, the subject of depression is very worrying.
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) January 29, 2019
Our culture has mechanisms to cope with this.
The more we talk openly about aspects relating to depression and mental health, it is better.
We must always express, never suppress: PM @narendramodi
A person does not always get depressed all of a sudden. There are signs that show a person is heading into depression.
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) January 29, 2019
Ignoring these signs is not a good idea. On the contrary, we must talk about this: PM @narendramodi #ParikshaPeCharcha2
Counselling is not bad thing.
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) January 29, 2019
Talking about ones problems is very good: PM @narendramodi
