High-profile teachers strike all the right chords

The country has seldom witnessed such high-profile teachers holding classes one-after-another. First it was Prime Minister Narendra Modi and then President Pranab Mukherjee, who decided to don the cap of ‘masterji’ to rollout the unique Teachers’ Day celebration, to commemorate the birth anniversary of nation’s second President S Radhakrishnan.

Modi on Friday said being in politics or joining the armed forces were not the only way to serve the nation. He said there were several other ways to contribute to nation building. Modi was interacting with students in New Delhi on the eve of Teachers’ Day.

Answering to the query of a student, Modi said politics required good people from all walks of life to clean it which has unfortunately acquired a bad name. He also announced that he had issued <g data-gr-id="34">direction</g> to replace character certificate issued routinely by the schools with aptitude certificate.

When asked by a student that shortage of power is a hurdle in achieving the objectives of Digital India, Modi said there were villages with no electricity and in next one thousand days, the government intended to provide power to 18,000 villages.

On the other hand, President Pranab Mukherjee decided to enlighten the students on nation’s political history. Mukherjee said democracy gave <g data-gr-id="37">chance</g> to common people to fulfil their aspirations. 

Teaching students to mark the Teachers’ Day at Rajendra Prasad <g data-gr-id="30">Sarvodya</g> <g data-gr-id="31">Vidhalaya</g> School located in the President estate, Mukherjee said <g data-gr-id="58">establishment</g> of <g data-gr-id="59">multi-party</g> democratic system with <g data-gr-id="60">Parliamentary</g> form of government was an important event.

Referring to his political career, President Mukherjee said it was because of democracy that he reached the Raisina Hills. Replying to a question, Mukherjee said the basic problem in the country was <g data-gr-id="35">challenge</g> of poverty and resource constraint and admitted that there was some imbalance in the design of government organs which needs to be corrected. 

He said the Constitution gave people of India opportunity to make own laws. He also spoke about justice, liberty, equality and fraternity guaranteed by the Constitution.