Addressing a crowd almost 2,000 students from schools across the country, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said students should not be afraid of failure in exams or in their lives in general and consider it as a part and parcel of their everyday lives. "Good marks in exams are not everything," he told the students during the 'Pariksha Pe Charcha' event at the Talkatora Stadium in New Delhi on Monday. "We have to come out of this thinking that exams are everything," the prime minister added.
While interacting with the students ahead of the board examinations, 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," adding, "Some people had told me not to attend the launch event saying 'there is no surety, what if it fails'. I told them that is the reason I must be there."
"We can add enthusiasm to every aspect of life. A temporary setback doesn't mean success is not waiting. In fact, a setback may mean the best is yet to come," he said. 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 or their results discouraged the students. Citing the example of 376 runs between Rahul Dravid and VVS 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."
Modi also said everyone should keep abreast of the latest technology but it should not be allowed to govern lives. "We should have the strength to keep technology under our control and ensure it does not waste our time. One room in our homes should be technology free. Whoever enters will not carry any gadgets," he told the students. He urged students to spend their spare time with the elderly.
The PM also highlighted the importance of taking on extra-curricular activities and said there is a growing tendency among parents to push their children into activities considered 'glamorous'. "Parents should take time out to find out what their children want to do instead of pushing them into activities that are considered glamorous which they can discuss in their conversations with their friends," he said.
This was the third edition of Prime Minister's interaction programme with school students 'Pariksha Pe Charcha 2020'. The first edition of the Prime Minister's Interaction Programme with school and college students 'Pariksha Pe Charcha 1.0' was held at Talkatora Stadium on February 16, 2018.
