PV Narasimha Rao's contribution in economic liberalization needs to be recognized: President Mukherjee
- NDTV (@ndtv) September 4, 2015
- It took three years to draft the constitution
- There were 300 members, elected in a very complicated manner
- The first job of the constituent assembly was to elect a president
- The Constitution starts with - 'We the people of India -'
- These two words secular and socialist were added through 44th amendment in 1975
- The constitution gave Indian people power to make their own laws
President Pranab Mukherjee is now interacting with teachers and students at the Sarvodaya Vidyalaya inside the President' Estate in Delhi.
Here are the highlights of what he said:
- I was an average student from a backward area.
- My school was very far, a little more than five kms. I used to walk through paddy fields.
- I used to tie a towel around my waist and another on my head to protect my books and belongings.
- I was a very naughty boy. I did not want to go to school because I had to walk five kms every day.
Want to thank you all, and am happy children played a key role in this programme: PM @narendramodi
- PMO India (@PMOIndia) September 4, 2015
"There are many rumors that say I have a fashion designer. That's not the case. I have never met any fashion designer. I come from humble background...the weather in Gujarat is not that cold. So I wore kurta pyjama. I had to wash my clothes so I cut off the sleeves of my kurta."
"The first thing is, you have to become a good listener. Not just with ears but with eyes, thoughts - it will help your confidence. Secondly, don't think what other people will say. Don't worry. Thirdly, make notes on everything that interests you," the PM said.
"You are all Google-guru's students, take pointers from there. Watch speeches on YouTube", he added.
To speak well you need to be a good listener. And this will increase your confidence level: PM @narendramodi https://t.co/I8jovXoECQ
- PMO India (@PMOIndia) September 4, 2015
"Everybody gets a character certificate from school. I have issued direction to replace character certificate with aptitude certificate": PM to students
The PM told him, "I used to like outdoors activities. I wasn't very good in academics. I had to work for a living. But I was a keen observer of things."
"There is no recipe for success. There can be a resolve for success," he said.
The said he believes there is no dearth of good teachers in India. "Teaching is a profession to inspire a generation. I want to see people who have achieved something in their lives to dedicate an hour every week or 100 hours a year to teach students. This will make a huge change. There is no shortage of talent, but we just need to channelize it."
I don't think India lacks good teachers: PM @narendramodi pic.twitter.com/uisV4QjdmH
- PMO India (@PMOIndia) September 4, 2015
"We can do that with very small and simple things," the PM explained to him and added, "If a child saves even Rs 10 worth of electricity, that's a great help. Sometimes we waste food...if we don't do that, that's a great help. If we ensure that we don't don't waste natural resources, that's a huge help. If you teach your maid for half an hour and educate her, that's a huge help."
The PM replied, "If class 9 girls can make an app for waste management, what challenges can be there? Swachh Bharat is connected to people's habits. Everybody is supporting Swachh Bharat campaign. "
If school students are achieving so much, making Apps on Swachh Bharat & winning laurels then am sure India can be Swachh: PM #MyCleanIndia
- PMO India (@PMOIndia) September 4, 2015
"Everybody knows what politicians play," he laughed. When I was a boy, I had not heard of fancy sports. Kabaddi and kho kho only. I learnt swimming because I had to wash my own clothes and had to go to the lake."
The PM replied:
You are right, there are villages with no electricity. In next 1000 days we have taken up the effort to give power to 18,000 villages: PM
- PMO India (@PMOIndia) September 4, 2015
She asked: I want to be a great leader and contribute to politics. What should I do to become one?
The PM said, "Good people and people from all walks of life are required in politics. Do you recall how people from all walks of life joined Mahatma Gandhi during the freedom struggle? It benefitted the nation. Leadership quality is essential. You must also be clear why you want to be a leader: to fight elections only or to make a difference.
The first one to ask question to the PM is Malavath Purna, the youngest girl to climb the Mount Everest.
"Who has been the biggest influence on you", she asked.
The PM responded: "It is about having a receptive mind, people keep teaching us something or the other. You can learn something new even during a train journey. I have learnt a lot from my teachers. I spent lot of time in the library. Reading about Swami Vivekananda had a big influence in my life."
Here are the highlights of he's saying:
- Sometimes people ask me why do you spend time with students on Teacher's Day
- Students are the identity of a teacher
- Teachers play a big role in shaping students.
- A mother gives birth to a child, while his (guru) teacher gives him life (jeevan)
- When young, children are very impressionable
- Whatever their teacher says, they'll remember that for the rest of their lives
- If a teacher does not invest in his students, he is incomplete
- APJ Abdul Kalam loved children very much. Teaching was his passion. He wanted to be remembered as a teacher
- There must have been a great teacher behind every great doctor, engineer, scientist
- If a doctor saves someone' s life, his photo is published in a newspaper. But if a teacher makes a hundred doctors like that, they are hardly recognized. Today is the day to recognize and honour them
Interaction with school children is refreshing. The enthusiasm of children & their curiosity is always gladdening.
- Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 3, 2015
As a part of Teachers' Day celebrations, tomorrow at 10 AM I will attend a programme very close to my heart-interaction with school children
- Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 3, 2015
As students across the country wait anxiously to listen to the PM, NDTV spoke to some of them about their expectations.