Don't make life serious, Modi to medical students (To go with: India lagging in medical research: Modi)

"Why are you so serious"? This was how Prime Minister Narendra Modi broke the ice with 500-odd students graduating from the AIIMS attending their convocation Monday.

As soon as Modi rose to address the 42nd commencement ceremony of the country's premier medical institute, the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, he told the students, who were somewhat overawed by the occasion, and by the prime minister's presence: "You have probably been very tensed and worried studying for your examination and now you should be relieved. So now is the time to be happy, why are you serious?"

Modi said it was important for the students to be always cheerful even as they fulfilled their responsibilities as doctors and medical professionals, in all seriousness.

"Don't make life serious. Deal with problems and go ahead," he said.

The prime minister got the maximum laughs and applause when, while winding up his convocation address, he said: "I am also surprised why I got this opportunity (to come at the convocation) as I am neither a patient nor a doctor."

Amid peals of laughter from the gathering, Modi said: "I got this opportunity as I am the prime minister of this country and in our country unfortunately we (the prime ministers) are everywhere."

At the beginning of his address, he said he felt good to be among such learned people as he had never been a good student himself.

Modi had some interesting examples to give as well when he urged AIIMS students to give back to society as it had contributed much towards their becoming top medical professionals. He also asked the graduating students to ensure that they follow what they preach.

"For example a doctor who specializes in cancer, should not be smoking away through the day," the PM quipped, adding that sometimes patients take their doctor's advice as gospel truth and would be misled by their actions.

The 'chaiwala' connection was also brought in as Modi gave an example of the ubiquitous night-time tea seller at hostels who provide tea to students studying late into the night.

"You should remember the tea seller's face as you must have woken him up and asked for tea in the night. So, now you should think of what you can give back to him."

During the campaign for the Lok Sabha polls, the BJP had highlighted the then prime ministerial aspirant Modi's past as a humble tea seller to connect with the masses.