Exam-time charcha

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s interaction with students on Monday, titled ‘Pariksha Pe Charcha’, which lasted for full 90 minutes, has generated a lot of interest across the country. While the Prime Minister’s talk touched upon several vital issues ranging from preparation for examinations to dealing with de-motivation and mood-swings, balancing extra-curricular activities and studies, rights versus duties, exam-time pressure from parents and teacher and future career options, what he finally stressed on was that the present generation of high school and plus-two stage students would have to play a key role in India’s development in 2047 when India celebrates one hundred years of the country’s Independence. “Today, I am talking to students who would be playing a key role in India’s development in 2047, when we mark a hundred years since Independence. I hope this generation takes it upon themselves to act on some of the fundamental duties enshrined in our Constitution,” Prime Minister Modi said. He sounded like a teacher, but a kind, loving and understanding teacher, who also urged the students – especially those who are preparing for their Class-X and Class-XII Board examinations – to be confident about their own preparations for the examinations. “Do not enter the examination hall with any sort of pressure,” he said, asking students not to worry about what the others were doing. “Have faith in yourself and focus on what you have prepared,” he went on to say. Turning toward teachers and parents, he said that the way ahead lies in pursuing, not pressurising children. Parents and teachers should inspire children to do things that bring out their inner potential, instead of pressurizing them, he said. The Prime Minister also touched upon the issue of worry among parents over children spending too much time on the mobile phone and the computer. “Fear of technology is not good. Technology is a friend. But, mere knowledge of technology is not enough. Its application is as important. Technological trends are changing quickly. It is essential to stay updated with these trends,” he said, knowing fully well that not all parents were convinced. It was interesting to note that the Prime Minister also expressed his concern over too much of time spent by people in fiddling with their mobile phones. “These days there is a common sight — four members of a family are seated but each of them is on the phone. Can we think of a technology-free hour? Or, mark a space where no technology is permitted. This way, we will not get distracted by technology,” he said. Expressing his concern over high school students also spending more time on extra-curricular activities, he very rightly said – “Not pursuing co-curricular activities can make a person like a robot. Yes, this would require better time management. Today opportunities are many, and I hope youngsters will make use of them. Moreover, what is not good is when the passion of the children becomes fashion statements for parents. Extra-curricular activities need not be glamour driven. Let each child pursue what he or she likes,” he added. It was very interesting to see a Prime Minister addressing the issue of motivation and de-motivation, which are so commonly discussed by students, parents as well as teachers. In fact, the Prime Minister’s take on these two factors came in response to a question asked by a student as to how to deal with the issue of losing interest while studying, especially ahead of the Board examinations. His response was that motivation and de-motivation were very common issues among students, and that everyone goes through these feelings. “We should not look at failures as setbacks or stumbling blocks. We can add enthusiasm to every aspect of life. A temporary setback does not mean we cannot succeed in life,” he said, adding an optimistic note – “In fact, a setback may mean that the best is yet to come.”

Though his critics always try to find faults with him, the ‘Pariksha Pe Charcha’ is definitely a very good initiative that was first started by the Prime Minister in 2018, at the same venue — Talkatora Stadium in New Delhi. This year too, the event had received nearly 2.6 lakh of entries from students; out of which 1,050 students were selected on the basis of an online essay competition conducted by the Human Resource Department. And as Prime Minister Modi elaborated on the fallacy of marks and grades and the significance of extra-curricular activities in a student’s life, social media hailed the opportunity provided to the young Indian minds to have a direct and fruitful conversation with him.