On the occasion of Teachers’ Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi turned the tables on educators by assigning them “homework.”
Speaking during an interaction with National Teacher Awardees on Thursday, PM Modi urged teachers to lead campaigns promoting swadeshi products, thereby strengthening the ‘Make in India’ and ‘Vocal for Local’ movements.
“Today I am doing what you always do—giving homework,” Modi said. “I am giving you homework to lead campaigns to promote swadeshi products. I am confident that you will complete it.”
He suggested that schools observe ‘Swadeshi Day’ or ‘Swadeshi Week’, during which students would bring local products from home, discuss their origin and makers, and even organize marches in villages with placards encouraging the use of Indian-made goods.
PM Modi emphasized the importance of using indigenous materials in art and craft classes, as well as gifting Made in India items during celebrations to instill pride in local products. He encouraged interaction between students and local artisans to highlight the value of traditional crafts.
The Prime Minister also stressed the economic significance of self-reliance, citing India’s Rs 1 lakh crore annual edible oil import bill as an example. “If this amount had remained in the country, we could have built more schools and transformed countless lives,” he said.
He urged every teacher to sow the seeds of self-reliance in students, inspire them to ask what they can do for the nation, and communicate the importance of reducing dependency on foreign goods.
Quoting Mahatma Gandhi’s call for swadeshi, Modi said, “It is our generation’s duty to complete that mission and make self-reliance a life mantra.”
