Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s use of the word “aura” made headlines again on Friday as he interacted with National Teachers’ Award winners on Teachers’ Day.
During the interaction, a teacher told Modi that she felt nervous while speaking to him because of his “aura”. The prime minister responded with a light-hearted remark about whether a public speaker should have an aura.
“So, you mean to say that to be a public speaker, one shouldn’t have an aura?” Modi asked.
The teacher replied that he should have one and told the prime minister, “Yours is already there, sir.”
Modi then joked, “Then people won’t listen! They will just keep looking at your aura.”
The teacher responded with a smile that people could simply keep looking at him.
PM Modi asks teacher for public speaking tips
During the interaction, Modi asked one of the award-winning teachers who teaches public speaking what advice she would give him if he were her student.
“If I were your student and wanted to become a skilled orator, what tips would you give me? What should I do?” he asked.
The teacher advised him to be confident, adding that confidence comes through extensive practice. She then admitted that she herself was feeling nervous during the interaction.
The exchange prompted the light-hearted “aura” conversation.
Modi speaks about screen addiction
The prime minister also expressed concern over increasing screen time among children and urged teachers to encourage students to take part in sports and creative activities.
He said excessive screen time had become a form of addiction and suggested that participation in outdoor sports could help children gradually move away from excessive device use.
Modi also stressed the importance of creating programmes that encourage children to engage in creative pursuits rather than spending excessive time on screens.
‘Identify hidden talent’ in students
Modi asked teachers whether they actively identify talents among students who may not perform strongly in academics.
He said every child has some strength and urged educators to recognise abilities that may not necessarily be reflected in academic performance.
One teacher responded that every child has different qualities, talents and challenges and that identifying these differences is an important part of teaching.
PM Modi raises drug awareness
The prime minister also discussed concerns surrounding drug use in major cities and universities.
He said teachers need to understand the implications and fears surrounding the issue and should observe whether rules or restrictions imposed on students are resulting in behavioural changes.
Modi emphasised that teachers should look beyond textbooks and syllabi to connect with children’s lives.
“We must not let childhood die out,” he said, stressing the role of teachers in preserving children’s curiosity and development.
Modi discusses breast cancer awareness
The interaction also touched on breast cancer awareness. A teacher involved in awareness initiatives among women spoke about her work in schools.
Modi recalled an initiative in Kashi, where he is an MP, aimed at encouraging women to undergo breast cancer screening. He said women were increasingly coming forward for check-ups and recalled that the initiative had previously helped register a Guinness World Record for the maximum number of people screened in a day.
National Teachers’ Awards presented
The interaction followed the National Teachers’ Awards ceremony, where President Droupadi Murmu conferred the awards on 48 school teachers at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi.
Teachers’ Day is celebrated every year on September 5 to mark the birth anniversary of former President Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, the philosopher, scholar and former president whose contribution to education continues to be remembered across India.
