Prime Minister Narendra Modi interacted with students, teachers and parents across India and the world during the sixth edition of Pariksha Pe Charcha.

The event saw the prime minister shell out wisdom on handling criticism, the pressure of expectations and skillfully managing time. During his interaction, he was asked how he deals with negative things being said about him by the media or the opposition.

In response, PM Modi said that he considers criticism a purification exercise for a robust democracy. However, he pointed out the significant difference between constructive criticism and blame game. He urged the students to focus on the former and ignore the latter.

During the 90-minute interaction at Delhi's Talkatora Stadium, PM Modi shared valuable life lessons, using examples from his own experiences and clever one-liners. He stated that when one performs well, expectations for them increase. He gave his own example, saying that it doesn't matter how many elections he wins, the question is always how big the next victory will be.

A student asked PM Modi how to focus on her studies as an average student. While appreciating the girl student for being honest about her limitations, PM Modi said that an average person becomes extraordinary when they do extraordinary deeds.

He added that despite the challenges of the pandemic, India has emerged as a bright spot in the global economy. He pointed out that many nations, despite having economic experts, have struggled, whereas India, once considered an "average" nation, has thrived. He acknowledged that there were those who questioned how a government without economists could handle the economy, but India's success has proven them wrong.

PM Modi encouraged students to learn a few sentences in Indian languages other than their mother tongue. He particularly highlighted the importance of Tamil, describing it as one of the oldest languages in the world. He shared that during his UN address, he spoke a few lines in Tamil to showcase his pride in the language and the fact that it took birth in India.

On the ever-increasing screen time in students’ lives, PM Modi advised them to observe “digital fasting” and demarcate “no technology zones” at home. He said we need to ensure that we do not become slaves to technology.

PM Modi's responses to the questions from students, teachers, and parents could also be seen as a reflection of his views on the current political climate. He emphasized the difference between constructive criticism and unfounded allegations, highlighted India's strong economic recovery post-pandemic and the expectations people have of him, which align with the current public discourse surrounding him.

Digital Fasting

Get Swarajya in your inbox.