If, for a moment, one keeps aside the position of the author, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, his book Exam Warriors, which deals with examination phobia, could be just another quick guide for students to take it easy during examination time. Evaluating the book sans the ‘Prime Minister preaches’ part, it’s a 15-minute flip-through effort that walks a student through the path to preparation. The advice is nothing different from what a student would get from a parent or a teacher: not to stress, sleep well, eat well, exercise and to prepare and plan well. The booklet even begins well, with the first advice of celebrating exams just like a festival: an annual event that involves much planning, discussion and preparation. And telling students that just like a festival, they are not alone, but joined by their mates across the country in taking exams. As for the book itself, the publishers have done a good job of supplementing it with an easy font and attractive layout peppered with pictures, diagrams and activities, such as one to chalk out a daily routine.
But the persona of the PM can’t be ignored, and the book makes no effort to do that, what with it being an extension of the Mann ki Baat radio programme that is broadcast across all channels. Several bits of advice come laced with Modi’s own experiences of “victory in adverse situations”, including elections. Page after page is devoted to various yoga asanas, complete with diagrams. In the end, just to make sure everyone gets it that it is the prime minister who is doling out the advice, separate letters have been addressed to parents and teachers.
We all know about the youth vote bank and the impending Lok Sabha elections, so likening the booklet to an election pamphlet is not difficult. Only, this one is almost 200 pages long!
