PM Modi Uses Gen Z ‘Aura’ Lingo During Interaction With National Teachers

The word “aura” has also featured in PM Modi’s recent remarks. Earlier this month, while interacting with CEOs and founders of space startups, he stressed the need to create an “aura” around the private sector in space research so that people worldwide feel that if they want to make a career, they should go to India.

The term came up again on Friday when a teacher told PM Modi during his interaction with National Teachers’ Award winners that she was nervous because of his “aura”.

PM Modi quickly remarked, “So, you mean to say that to be a public speaker, one shouldn’t have an aura?”

“No, one should have it. Yours is already there, sir,” she replied.

The prime minister continued the exchange, saying, “Then people won’t listen! They will just keep looking at your aura.”

The teacher responded with a smile, “They could just keep looking at you, sir.”

PM Modi hosted the National Teachers’ Award winners at his residence on Friday, engaging with them on innovative teaching methods, public speaking, screen addiction and drug abuse while also exchanging light-hearted remarks.

During the interaction, PM Modi asked one of the National Awardee Teachers for advice on improving his public speaking skills. He asked what advice she would give him if he were her student and wanted to become a skilled orator.

“If I were your student and wanted to become a skilled orator, what tips would you give me? What should I do?” PM Modi asked.

The teacher advised him to remain confident, saying, “First of all, you need to be confident. Confidence comes through a lot of practice.”

She later admitted that she herself was feeling nervous during the interaction.

Another awardee told the prime minister that she teaches students how to conduct interviews through innovative methods. PM Modi responded that students must also be interviewing their parents at home, asking questions while food is being cooked.

“They must be interviewing their parents at home too. Like, ‘Why did you cook this? Why did you cook it this way? Who made this decision? How much was spent on the budget?’” he quipped.

The teacher laughed and added, “Yes, sir. And now, just for fun, all the kids in my school want to be reporters.”

Sharing a video of the interaction on X, PM Modi said, “Teachers’ Day is about appreciating the strong contribution of teachers to our society. It is also a day to pay homage to Dr. S. Radhakrishnan. Here is what happened when the National Teachers’ Awards winners were invited to 7, LKM yesterday.”

PM Modi also raised concerns over increasing screen time among young children and stressed the importance of encouraging students to take an interest in sports to help them break free from the addiction. He also spoke about designing programmes that allow children to engage more in creative activities.

“Screen time has now become a form of addiction. A thought occurs to me: if a child begins to take a keen interest in sports, and by sports, I don’t mean video games, but actually play on the field, they might gradually break free from that addiction. In this context, the more we engage children in creative pursuits, the more we should make it a habit to design programs that foster this...” PM Modi said.

The prime minister also spoke about the rising issue of drugs in major cities and universities, noting that rules are often imposed on students without explanation. He urged teachers to remain aware of the implications and fears surrounding the issue and observe whether such measures were causing behavioural changes among children.

“Regarding the issue of drugs, which has surfaced in some major cities or universities, there is often a lack of awareness; sometimes rules are simply imposed without explanation. Teachers today need to be constantly aware of the implications and fears surrounding this and observe whether such measures are causing any behavioral changes in the children,” PM Modi said.

PM Modi said his message was not limited to the teachers present at the interaction but was intended for the wider education community. He stressed the need to look beyond textbooks and syllabi to connect with children’s lives.

“I am addressing you all, but I also wish to convey a message to the entire education community: we must step beyond textbooks and syllabi to truly connect with children’s lives. We must not let childhood die out; teachers are best positioned to preserve it. It is a teacher’s duty to ensure that the child remains alive…” he said.

The prime minister also asked teachers whether they were making efforts to identify hidden talents among students who might not excel academically.

“It’s possible that a child might not be good at academics. But God has given everyone some strength. Do you teachers try to identify their talent?” he asked.

A teacher responded, “We try a lot. In fact, that’s our endeavour, because I believe every child in our school or class has a different quality, a different talent, a different challenge.”

The interaction also covered breast cancer awareness. A teacher working on breast cancer awareness among women spoke about her efforts in schools.

PM Modi recalled an initiative he had started in Kashi, where he is an MP, saying, “Since you’re working on this subject, I’m the MP from Kashi. So, I started a campaign there for breast cancer awareness. And I’m very happy that these days, women are coming forward on their own for check-ups.”

He added that the initiative had once helped register a Guinness World Record for the maximum number of people screened in a day.

The interaction followed the presentation of the National Teachers Awards to 48 school teachers by President Droupadi Murmu at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi on Friday.

Teachers’ Day is celebrated every year on September 5 to mark the birth anniversary of former President Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, a philosopher, scholar and teacher whose legacy continues to be honoured through the day dedicated to educators across the country.