China’s First Lady Peng charms students with calligraphy, work hard ethos

While her husband was closeted for talks with India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi, China’s First Lady Peng Liyuan, the celebrity singer, was weaving her spell on students at a South Delhi school.

Student and teachers at the Tagore International School in New Delhi put their best foot forward in welcoming China’s First Lady to their school. Peng, on her part was the epitome and grace and charm, as she wooed the students and smiled for the cameras.

On September 18, students and teachers were brimming with excitement as Peng interacted with them and watched a cultural programme, and even did some Chinese calligraphy.

During the hour-long interaction, Peng addressed a select group of students encouraging them to learn and work hard.

Peng started learning calligraphy at the age of five from her father. She showed the children her flair with the brush as she wrote: “It is important for all of us to keep learning and work hard to achieve the goal we have set in life.”

The students, too, presented their dancing skills to the first lady, as they swayed to Rabindranath Tagore’s famous poem, “Where the mind is without fear”, in Kathak, Kuchipudi and Bharatanatyam.

After the event Peng shook hands and hugged some students and teachers, and even kissed two young boys on the cheeks.

The school has a special arrangement with a Chinese school, whereby Chinese teachers have been invited to teach Mandarin to students. Indian students also learn Tai Chi and calligraphy and students in China learn Kathak and yoga.

Since 2001, under an exchange programme, students and teachers have been also been going to China to learn and participate in a wide range of cultural and academic programmes.

In 2010, China’s Premier of the State Council Wen Jiabao also visited the school. During his visit he encouraged the pupils to learn the Chinese language and culture, in order to strengthen communications between the two countries and serve as young ambassadors of China-India friendship.

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