In a bid to resonate with younger voters, the Prime Minister has started incorporating Gen Z terminology into his public interactions. Notably, he used the word “aura” during a recent meeting with CEOs and founders of space startups earlier this month, and again in a discussion with teachers on Friday. This shift in language reflects a broader effort by political leaders to connect with the younger generation and engage them in current political dialogues.
The conversation did not end here, PM Modi remarked, “Then people won’t listen! PM Modi on Friday hosted National Teachers’ Award winners at his residence, engaging in some light banter yet thought-provoking interaction on innovative teaching methods, public speaking, screen addiction and drug abuse. Teachers today need to be constantly aware of the implications and fears surrounding this and observe whether such measures are causing any behavioral changes in the children.
PM Modi was quick to remark, “So, you mean to say that to be a public speaker, one shouldn’t have an aura? “No, one should have it. Yours is already there, sir,” she answered. They will just keep looking at your aura. The teacher added with a smile, “They could just keep looking at you, sir. He was addressing a group of CEOs and founders of space startups at the time. Speaking to one of the National Awardee Teachers, Prime Minister Modi asked her for a tip to enhance his public speaking skills. “If I were your student and wanted to become a skilled orator, what tips would you give me? What should I do? “First of all, you need to be confident. “They must be interviewing their parents at home too. Like, ‘Why did you cook this? Why did you cook it this way? Who made this decision? How much was spent on the budget?'” he quipped. The teacher laughed and added, “Yes, sir. And now, just for fun, all the kids in my school want to be reporters. It is also a day to pay homage to Dr. S. Radhakrishnan. PM Modi also raised concerns over increasing screen time of young children and stressed that it is important for students to show interest in sports to break free from the addiction. He spoke about the importance of designing programs that allow children to engage more in creative activities. “Screen time has now become a form of addiction. A thought occurs to me: if a child begins to take a keen interest in sports, and by sports, I don’t mean video games, but actually play on the field, they might gradually break free from that addiction. In this context, the more we engage children in creative pursuits, the more we should make it a habit to design programs that foster this… PM Modi also spoke about the rising issue of drugs in major cities and universities, saying that rules are often imposed on students without explanation. He urged teachers to be aware of the implications and fears surrounding this and observe whether such measures are causing any behavioral changes in the children. “Regarding the issue of drugs, which has surfaced in some major cities or universities, there is often a lack of awareness; sometimes rules are simply imposed without explanation. PM Modi added that while he was addressing the teachers present in the room, he wished to convey his message to the entire education community – that one must look beyond textbooks to truly connect with children. “I am addressing you all, but I also wish to convey a message to the entire education community: we must step beyond textbooks and syllabi to truly connect with children’s lives. We must not let childhood die out; teachers are best positioned to preserve it. It is a teacher’s duty to ensure that the child remains alive…” The prime minister also asked if efforts are being made by teachers to identify hidden talents in students who may not excel academically.
Here is what happened when the National Teachers’ Awards winners were invited to 7, LKM yesterday.
The word came up on Friday during the Prime Minister’s interaction with National Teachers’ Award winners, when a teacher told PM Modi that she was nervous because of his “aura”. Earlier last month, PM Modi had stressed creating an “aura” around the private sector in space research so that people worldwide feel that if they want to make a career, they should go to India. He said that if he were a student, what advice would the public speaking teacher give him? Confidence comes through a lot of practice,” the teacher said, only to admit moments later that she was feeling nervous herself. Another awardee told the prime minister that she teaches students how to conduct interviews in an innovative way. To this PM Modi said that students must be interviewing their parents at home, asking questions over cooked food at home. Sharing a video of the interaction on X, PM Modi said, “Teachers’ Day is about appreciating the strong contribution of teachers to our society.
To this, PM Modi recalled an initiative of his own in Kashi, where he is an MP from. “Since you’re working on this subject, I’m the MP from Kashi. So, I started a campaign there for breast cancer awareness.
The interaction came after President Droupadi Murmu conferred the National Teachers Awards on 48 school teachers at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi on Friday. Teachers’ Day is celebrated every year on September 5 to mark the birth anniversary of former President Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, a philosopher, scholar and teacher whose legacy continues to be honoured through the day dedicated to educators across the country. ( With inputs from ANI )
And I’m very happy that these days, women are coming forward on their own for check-ups,” he said, adding that the initiative had once helped register a Guinness World Record for the maximum number of people screened in a day.
Teachers Emphasize Individual Strengths in Education
During a recent discussion, a teacher highlighted the importance of recognizing the unique talents of each student, stating, “It’s possible that a child might not be good at academics. But God has given everyone some strength. Do you teachers try to identify their talent?” In response, another teacher affirmed this commitment, saying, “We try a lot. In fact, that’s our endeavour, because I believe every child in our school or class has a different quality, a different talent, a different challenge.”
The conversation also touched on broader health issues, including breast cancer awareness. A teacher involved in advocacy efforts shared her initiatives aimed at educating women about the disease in schools.
