Brinda Rani Panda, a Class IX student of KC Public School in Berhampur, has achieved a remarkable dual honor by being selected to interact with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and winning a national award for her artistic talent. She was among the 37 students from across India chosen to participate in the ninth edition of Pariksha Pe Charcha, held in New Delhi on January 25.
A Dream Meeting with the Prime Minister
Brinda, the daughter of a police officer, was the sole representative from Odisha to engage in discussions with PM Modi on exam preparation strategies. Recalling the moment, she said, "I felt like a dream come true when I met with Prime Minister." She greeted him with "Jai Jagannath," to which he promptly responded in kind and inquired about her home state.
Insightful Exchange on Time Management
During the session, Brinda posed a written question to the Prime Minister about managing time effectively before exams. "To my surprise, he grasped the essence of my query and provided a detailed response to it, which I will follow rest of my life," she shared. PM Modi advised preparing a priority-based list of important tasks for the next day before bedtime, then evaluating performance and planning anew each evening. "He replied to my query and explained very well within five minutes," Brinda noted, highlighting the practical wisdom imparted.
National Recognition Through Veer Gatha Project
Beyond this interaction, Brinda is also one of the Super 100 winners of Project Veer Gatha, a joint initiative by the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Defence. Her painting, which depicts great Indian warriors who sacrificed their lives for the nation, was selected in the secondary stage (classes IX and X). For this achievement, she received a cash prize of Rs 10,000, a medal, and a certificate at a ceremony in New Delhi on the same day as Pariksha Pe Charcha.
School Pride and Preparation
AK Mishra, the principal of KC Public School, expressed immense pride in Brinda's accomplishments. "We are very much happy as Brinda, the only student from the state to win an award in Veer Gatha in the secondary stage and to participate in Pariksha Pe Charcha," he stated. He mentioned that the Veer Gatha 5.0 process began in August last year, with Brinda dedicating approximately four days to prepare her award-winning painting.
Selection Process and Broader Experience
Brinda was selected for Pariksha Pe Charcha after applying online and submitting questions about future skills in demand that could boost employment and economic growth. Following the events in Delhi, she visited the Rashtrapati Bhavan and attended the Republic Day parade on Kartavya Path on January 26 before returning to Berhampur, capping off an inspiring national journey.
