PM's homework to teachers: 'Promote swadeshi'

PRIME Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday evening described teachers as the foundation of India's future and said their service to society is "one of the highest forms of national service".

- RAJESH KUMAR THAKUR @ New Delhi EJAZ KAISER @ Raipur

Speaking to National Awardee Teachers in New Delhi, a day before their felicitation by President Droupadi Murmu on Teachers' Day, Modi said the country's deep respect for teachers remains "a powerful force in nation-building."

"Honouring teachers is not just a ritual but recognition of their lifelong dedication to Rashtra-nirman (nation-building)," he told the gathering. He said millions of teachers across India, like this year's awardees, dedicate themselves to education with "sincerity, commitment, and a spirit of service."

The Prime Minister drew on the Guru-Shishya Parampara (mentor-disciple tradition), saying it had always been central to India's civilisational ethos. "In India, a Guru is not just a provider of knowledge but a guide for life. As we build a developed India, this tradition remains our strength. Teachers like you embody this heritage. You impart literacy and also instill a spirit of living for the nation in the younger generation," he said.