Guwahati: Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with parents, teachers, and children during “Pariksha Pe Charcha” on Friday. During the conversation, the prime minister counseled parents against placing unnecessary pressure on their children regarding grades.
The prime minister said, “I urge the parents not to pressurize their children. But at the same time, students should also not underestimate their capabilities.”
“It is very natural for family members to have a lot of expectations and there is nothing wrong in that, but if the family members are having these expectations due to social status then it is a matter of concern,” he said.
The Talkatora Indoor stadium in New Delhi hosted the sixth iteration of the interaction.
During the discussion, a student also asked PM Modi, “What is more important? Smart work or hard work?” “Some people hardly work smart and some people smartly work hard,” the Prime Minister quipped.
“We should learn the nuances of these aspects and should work accordingly to achieve the desired results,” he said.
PM Modi used the parable of “The Thirsty Crow” to instruct pupils on how to differentiate between hard effort and clever labour.
He also illustrated the value of concentration using a cricket analogy.
“Like in cricket, a batter focuses on the ball thrown to him ignoring the shouts of fours and sixes from the crowd, students should also concentrate on their work,” said PM Modi. “Do not be suppressed by pressures. Stay focused,” he added.
He also spoke about the importance of time-management and advised the students to learn the skill from their mothers. “Have you ever observed your mother’s time management skills? A mother never feels burdened by the immense work she does. If you observe your mother, then you will understand how to manage your time well,” PM Modi told students.
A few students also questioned him on how he responds to criticism from the media and the opposition. PM Modi has a clever retort to that. This question is not covered by the syllabus, he declared. He added that “criticism is like purifying” in a democracy.
This year, more than 38 lakh students signed up to take part in Pariksha Pe Charcha (PPC), of which more than 16 lakh come from state boards.