Students in the Central Government run schools across the country couldn’t have a more exciting session than the one they had with Prime Minister Modi on the Teachers’ Day on 5 September. Luckier even were those 12-14 year old boys and girls who savoured the novelty of spending two precious hours with the Head of the Government, who prefers to call himself ‘The First Servant of India’. As ‘Modi Sir’s Class’ began with three students (one boy and two
Kaga Bhushundi SpeakEth
Suman K Sharma
girls) in New Delhi’s Maneckshaw Auditorium regurgitating their memorized speeches in a pucca elocution-exercise manner, one dreaded how would the 1000-strong youthful audience, known for its attention span of a butterfly, sit through the whole rigmarole. But at the end of the day, the youngsters were seen beaming with gratified smiles. How could 63-year old Modi connect with them so readily?
‘He spoke to the youngsters as one of them,’ said Kaga Bhushundiji. ‘Did you notice that during the entire session, Modiji never used the word “baccho”? Instead, he addressed them ‘bal-mitro’ and with that expression he bridged the wide gap of age and everything else between his young audience and himself.’
‘But Kagaji, wasn’t the day meant to uphold teachers’ primacy in the society? Modi in his nifty little address made a passing reference to “exporting quality teachers” and then got busy with students. What about this great tradition we have of honouring our gurus?’
‘Modiji went a step further, son. He told the youngsters to be good students and aspire to become better teachers in their own turn. Imagine what heights India can achieve if every qualified person in the country were to adopt his suggestion to take one class a week in a school of her choice! That’s the best complement any generation can pay its teachers.’
‘I doubt if professional teachers would like this idea. It may hurt teaching shops.’
‘Modiji’s concern was not teachers but the taught, particularly those in the lower grades. When a girl asked him what he thought of improving girls’ education, he said every school should have a separate toilet for girls so they don’t have to leave the school after Class 3 or 4 for want of this utility. Citing Japan’s example, he wanted school children to concentrate on learning rather than acquiring bookish knowledge. Children should have fun and masti, he meant to say.’
‘What sort of advice was that? Students have to study books to score better grades.’
‘Son, Modiji didn’t belittle importance of books. Why only text books, read everything that comes your way, he said. A school-going child should grow-up to be a competent and healthy citizen and not like the one Modiji caricatured. An unemployed educated man approaches a philanthropist for a job and it turns out that he has nothing to rest his claim on except his MA degree. In Bharat today, there are any number of degree holders, but very few who possess necessary skills to do a job satisfactorily.’
‘But when a girl asked Modi what he planned to do about skill development among girl students, he was eloquent on importance of girls’ education in general without tackling the issue the girl had actually raised.’
‘A Prime Minister does not have to discuss his plans in a chat with a school girl. At his level, a hint at the course he wants to take should be adequate.’
‘There, there, Kagaji. Prime Minister Modi talking to a mere school girl! All said, he behaved as a politician out to nurture his electorate. At the time of next elections, the 14-year olds that comprised his audience would be the first time voters. Who else will they vote for but Modi!’
‘You are being too cynical, son. Modiji defined what politics means to him. It’s not a profession, he said, but a labour of love for his 125-crore family that has chosen him its head. You may say that was a platitude. But tell me which of your Prime Ministers, including the so-called “Chacha” Nehru, found time to sit down with school children, share with them the memories of his own boyhood, gave them avuncular advice on matters of their interest, without appearing to talk down to them. Most important of all, which of the prime ministers afforded an opportunity to the boys of girls all over India to air their views publically? No wonder Modiji’s young interlocuters would be talking of him as ‘Apna PM’ for some time to come.
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