Former diplomat Jitendra Nath Misra warns students of digital distractions, urges reading habit
During the inaugural function of IIMUN, Kohima Conference, Former diplomat Jitendra Nath Misra described social media as a compulsive distraction
Former diplomat Jitendra Nath Misra speaking during the
inaugural function of IIMUN Kohima Conference at G Rio School.
- KOHIMA — Former diplomat Jitendra Nath Misra on
Thursday warned students about the dangers of digital distractions and urged
them to cultivate a reading habit grounded in literature, philosophy, and
history.
- Addressing the inaugural function of India’s International
Movement to Unite Nations (IIMUN) Kohima Conference, held at G Rio School,
Misra described social media as a compulsive distraction “in these troubled
times.”
- Advising students against reading only from screens or
engaging excessively on social platforms, he said that knowledge doesn’t come
from cell phones or computers but from reading, imagining, and perceiving.
- He stressed the importance of imagination alongside
curiosity and called on parents to find a balanced approach in managing their
children’s screen time. “If you are denied something, you become desperate to
do it. So you need a balance—not too much, not too little,” he said.
- Misra also encouraged teachers to foster environments where
students can challenge them, saying: “The more they challenge you, the better
you become as a teacher.”
- Secularism and
national identity
- Minister for Power and Parliamentary Affairs KG Kenye, who
also addressed the gathering, spoke about the significance of hosting an
international movement in the state and the enduring challenge of secularism
across the globe. He noted that while India is a land of diversity, the ongoing
struggle in geo-religious contexts remains one of humanity’s most difficult
issues.
