Don’t allow tech to take control of lives: PM to students

Jan 20, 2020
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that students should look at technology as a friend even as he cautioned them against allowing technology to take control of their lives. The Prime Minister was addressing a select audience of students, teachers and parents at the ‘Pariksha Pe Charcha’ event, on Monday.

Pointing out that social networking is important, the Prime Minister said that today social networking is dominated by the social media. Cautioning against allowing technology to take control of lives, the Prime Minister encouraged people to go out and personally interact with the people.

The Prime Minister said that students should ensure that at least one hour per day should be kept free of technology. He asked the gathering of students, parents and teachers if they could keep one room of their homes, totally technology-free.

The prime minister was replying in response to questions about the importance of technology posed by two students, Deepesh Rai from Sikkim and Divya from Andaman and Nicobar.

‘Pariksha Pe Charcha’ is an initiative by the Prime Minister to help the student community overcome examination-related stress. Students from across the country are invited to field questions to the Prime Minister and selected students are invited to meet him.

He advised the student community to approach exams with self-confidence rather than with stress.Two students said that they tend to forget everything when they see the question paper during examinations, and asked the prime minister for a solution.

Responding to their query, the Prime Minister reminded the gathering as to how people shake their two-wheeler before starting it. “It’s not scientific but everybody does it. Tennis players warm up. Why do they do? It creates a comfort zone for them.” he said.

Stating that everyone has their own way of creating comfort zones for themselves, the Prime Minister advised students to compose themselves for a moment after getting the question paper. Then everything will come back into focus, he said.

The Prime Minister advised students to approach the exams with confidence. “If you go with stress, it will go against you. Go with self-confidence. Select the easiest question answer it first.

“Taking the easier things first accustoms you and gives you confidence.” the Prime Minister advised the student community.

He gave the example of spin-legend Anil Kumble bowling with injury during a match against West Indies and Rahul Dravid and V.V.S. Laxman partnership of 376 runs in a test match against Australia as the “power of motivation and positive thinking”.

While interacting with the students ahead of the board examinations named ‘Pariksha pe Charcha’ at Talkatora Stadium here, Modi said, “Motivation, de-motivation are very common. Everyone goes through these feelings. In this regard, I can never forget my visit to ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) during Chadrayaan and the time spent with our hardworking scientists.”

Modi was responding to a question asked by a student from Rajasthan named Yashashri who wanted to know what to do if the board exams put the students mood off.

Responding to her question, Modi said, “We can add enthusiasm to every aspect of life. A temporary setback doesn’t mean success will not come. In fact, a setback may mean the best is yet to come.”

Citing the example of 376 runs between Rahul Dravid and V.V.S. Laxman during the test match played at Eden Gardens in Kolkata in 2001, Modi said, “Do you remember the India-Australia test series in 2001? Our cricket team was facing setbacks. The mood was not very good. But, in those moments can we ever forget what Dravid and Laxman did. They turned the match around.”

Laxman and Dravid hauled India out of the pits with a 376-run partnership. It was on March 14, 2001 that Laxman and Dravid essayed two of the most iconic knocks in Test cricket. At the start of Day 4, India were 254 for 4. The Kolkata test match victory ended Australia’s 16-match winning streak while this match was only the third instance in history when a team had won a match after given a follow on.

Citing another example of spin-legend Kumble, Modi said, “Similarly, who can forget Kumble bowling with an injury. This is the power of motivation and positive thinking,” Modi added.

In 2002, Kumble while playing against West Indies in Antigua, was hit on his chin and injured during batting. But he emerged from the pavilion with his face bandaged ready to bowl. Kumble bowled 14 overs and became the first bowler to dismiss West Indies great Brian Lara while bowling with a broken jaw.

Around 2,000 students, from across India, are participating in the Pariksha Pe Charcha programme. Of these, 1,050 students have been selected on the basis of their entries in an essay competition that was held as part of Pariksha Pe Charcha. The event is an initiative by the Prime Minister to rid exam tensions in the student community.

The HRD Ministry along with MyGov had conducted the short essay competition on five themes for children studying in classes 9 to 12.

Four students hosted the live program which included a direct interaction between the prime minister and the audience comprising students, teachers and parents. IANS