A teenager travelling alongside Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the Delhi Metro on Teachers’ Day compared him with former President and educationist Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, saying both had played an inspiring role in the lives of students and the nation.
The interaction took place while PM Modi was travelling by metro for an event at Delhi University to mark its centenary celebrations. The Prime Minister later shared glimpses of the journey on his official X account.
Teen draws a connection with Radhakrishnan
During their conversation, the teenager spoke about the significance of Teachers’ Day, which is observed in India on September 5 to honour Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan.
He told the Prime Minister that Radhakrishnan had inspired generations of students and suggested that young people today had PM Modi as another source of inspiration.
The teenager also expressed his appreciation for the Prime Minister, making the exchange a memorable moment during the metro journey.
PM Modi chats with young passengers
The metro ride provided PM Modi an opportunity to interact informally with passengers, particularly children and students.
He was seen greeting people, shaking hands and interacting with a young child whose birthday he acknowledged. His conversations with students also touched upon their interest in the country’s development.
The Prime Minister encouraged young people to look beyond their textbooks and develop a wider reading habit. He recommended biographies and autobiographies of personalities from diverse fields, including sports, arts and science.
Modi recalls his earlier visit to Delhi University
During the centenary celebrations, PM Modi also recalled visiting the institution in February 2013, when he was serving in the Opposition.
Looking back at the intervening years, he said India had moved from what he termed “policy paralysis” towards “policy dynamism”.
He referred to challenges the country faced in 2013, including inflation, corruption, security concerns and slow economic growth, before contrasting them with what he described as stronger policy action and a more decisive approach to national security today.