New Delhi : Encouraging, motivational, inspirational… this was how many among the twitterati described Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Teachers’ Day speech and interaction with students Friday. However, some cynics didn’t miss the chance to criticise the speech and Modi’s insistence on speaking in Hindi.
People took to the micro-blogging site immediately after Modi’s speech and subsequent interaction with school children across the nation concluded.
Kavyashree, a Twitter user, said: “Sir, your speech was awesome, motivating and worth. We are really very proud and privileged to have you as PM.”
Madhur Gupta described the speech as “memorable, historical and outstanding.”
“Masterpiece and excellent speech and conversation by Modi Sir. Lucky to have you as our PM,” wrote Gupta.
Modi first addressed the students across the country and then had an interactive session with the children from Manekshaw Centre in Delhi Cantt.
Anoop Jain posted: “What a speech and an awesome interaction! Saw a teacher in our PM.”
Dressed in a cardomom green kurta, Modi, always the eloquent speaker, shared during the session his childhood pranks, raised the issue of importance of cleanliness, discipline, girl-child education and importance of reading books.
Some compared Modi to former prime minister Manmohan Singh who was known more for his reticence.
Ishtdeep Singh tweeted: “After a speechless PM for last 10 years, we finally have a PM who is eager to give speech. Hope he’ll balance the silence of last 10 years in 5 years.”
Ravindra Vasisht too shared the same sentiments.
“In the last 15 years I had not watched a single speech of any PM. It would bore me to death. Now try not to miss Narendra Modi speech,” he posted.
What was interesting during the speech was that Modi made it a point to respond to each question by the students in Hindi, even though many of these questions were posed in English from students from non-Hindi speaking regions in the south and northeast of the country.
This aspect came under severe criticism.
“My nephew doesn’t know a word of Hindi. Without translation, what is the use of PM Modi speech? Makes no sense,” DP Satish posted.
“If somebody asks you a question in English, you are expected to reply in English. If you don’t know English, somebody should translate it,” he added.
There was no dearth of people who were finding fault with this entire arrangement.
“Modi’s speech is sounding like something he should say at a Teacher’s training college or to a BEd class, not to schoolkids,” posted Rajyasree.
Whereas Vasudha Venugopal tweeted: “Come on children, ask some fun, interesting questions… not the ones your teachers have fed you with.”
Nevertheless, Nandita Iyer came up with a valid conclusion.
“Funny how so many people are watching the PM’s speech only so they can outrage and tweet about it,” she posted.