No Time to See Delhi, Am Mainly at Work: What PM Said to Students

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is interacting live with millions of young students and teachers across the country at a Delhi auditorium with about 700 children in the audience. Many more have linked in via satellite.

Here are the highlights of his address:

• All those who are present on this occasion, all the students and friends, this is a fortunate occasion for me that those who have dreams for India, I got a chance to interact with those students
• Today is Teacher's Day, but this day is losing its significance slowly
• There might be many schools where September 5 is not even remembered like this
• We need to highlight the importance of a teacher in society
• Feel blessed to have the opportunity to address students who are the future of India
• We need to find out why the best students don't want to become teachers
• Why can't we ignite that spirit in a student that he can also be a good teacher
• Dr Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan served this country well, he did not celebrate his birthday, he celebrated it for teachers
• There is a huge demand of teachers across the world. Why can't our children think they want to become good teachers.
• Most people credit their mother and teachers for their success
• Teachers are usually role models for students
• On August 15, I had said that every school needs to have toilets for girl students
• A Japanese teacher told me that students and teachers in his school clean toilets
• We want to make nation-building a people's movement
• As students I am sure you have several dreams. If you are determined to move ahead nothing can stop you. Our youth are talented.
• Importance of technology is increasing everyday,we must not deprive our children of technology, if we do then it's a social crime.
• One should play and sweat. Life shouldn't be bogged down by books
• Most of the work today is done by 'Google Guru'. It may give information but that isn't knowledge
• Your teacher may have issued a slew of instructions, you can adhere to that after going from here, we'll have an interaction.
• My best wishes

PM Modi Takes Students' Questions

• I have not got time to see Delhi. It is only home to office and office to home.
• Don't think there is much change between being chief minister and prime minister. Yes, I have to work as hard, perhaps get up earlier
• My experience as chief minister has helped me a lot
• It is said that experience is the biggest teacher but a person's experience also depends on his education
• Never thought as a child that I will be PM. I was never even the class monitor.
• Dream of doing things. Keep doing and in the process if you may become something. But there is lot of joy in doing.
• A student asks PM, 'what will you gain after talking to us?' PM Modi says 'Everything is not about 'labh' (benefit).
• The country is tired of looking at our faces on TV. Today they got to see so many students.
• What is my biggest gain? That on TV for the entire day you children are all over.
• I am a task master. I work hard and make others work hard too. But as the shastras say everyone is looking for the answer of 'who am I', I am also yet to understand who I really am.
• A student from Imphal asks: How can I become the PM of India? PM Modi replies: Start preparing for 2024 elections... and it also means till then I do not have any threat. India is a democracy and anybody can become the PM. But when you are taking oath as the PM do call me for the ceremony.
• A student asks PM Modi: 'What difference did you see between Japan and India in terms of education?' The Prime Minister answers: In Japan, they give importance to learning. And I saw parents do not drop their children to school. Parents treat all children equally.
• From a teacher's perspective, there should be no discrimination between students on the basis of ability. Every child has some ability and a teacher's job is to bring out the best in that child.
• Can there be any child who isn't naughty? Childhood experiences are very important. I was also naughty. We used to go to marriages and quietly staple people's clothes together. But you've promised me you wouldn't do such things.
• Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Dr Raman Singh has taken many education initiatives in Dantewada.
• We must ensure that girls do not drop out of schools. We're implementing many measures and the results will be visible soon.
• You should all become good students, that would be the best contribution to to developing India.
• A student's question: How can we children help you in country's progress? PM Modi replies: A lot of you dump the school bags right after reaching home. A lot of you think that serving the country means dying for the nation. Not it's about simple things. If it is about saving electricity, go and inquire about electricity bill, have you ever taken interest in family business? You can suggest how can you bring the bill from 100 to 90. By saving electricity you can save the environment, we need to focus on small things to serve the nation.
• We must love nature, change our habits. I recently met Nagpur's Mayor. He told me they shut off street lights on full-moon nights and ask people to come out and enjoy the moon lit night. People actually do that and in the process, we save a lot of electricity. So, small things like these help us save our environment. How many of you have witnessed the sunset, or a full moon? These habits have gone.
• We should not treat politics as a profession. We must accept this as a form of serving people. When I think all my countrymen are part of my family, then I don't feel tired. In fact I am inspired to do more.
• PM Modi on the importance of reading: 'Read comic books if you like them but develop a habit of reading'. I noticed that I began reading less than I would like to after I was elected PM.
• The whole world is facing an energy crisis and we must save electricity.
• We must see how girls can get schools close to their homes so that they don't drop out.
• Even the most developed nations in the world lay great importance on skill development. Not just degrees but skills are also essential.
• I just want to tell you: keep the child inside you alive, keep smiling and playing.
• Teachers must share an important bond with students. Students must share important moments of their lives with their teachers.