Chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday advised students to stay calm even when they have to do excess work.

“You may have to work very hard…. We all have to work hard…. At times you may be overworked…. But matha garam koro na (don’t lose your cool),” she said.

“There are innumerable cells in our brain…. By losing your temper you could cause damage to the brain…. Remain cool to manage your brain… Stay calm, accept work with smile.”

Mamata was speaking at Netaji Indoor Stadium during the felicitation of 354 toppers of this year’s Madhyamik, Higher Secondary, ICSE, ISC, and the CBSE’s Class X and XII exams.

She advised the toppers “not to study all the time”. She offered several tips to live a healthier life.

“Don’t be a bookworm. Don’t study all the time. You should do other activities, too. Listen to music. Watch good movies. Exercise regularly,” she said. “This will benefit your body and brain. Regular walking, too, can boost your brain. Eat nutritious food.

“Khoon kharapir cinema dekhbe na (don’t watch movies of violence). Such movies can have a negative effect on your minds and can also cause damage to the brain,” she said.

She expressed happiness that Madhyamik and Higher Secondary examinees had scored high marks like students of ICSE, ISC and CBSE Class X and XII.

The state Madhyamik and Higher Secondary curriculums were revamped and a parity has been established with the Delhi boards, she said.

The scores in the Bengal board are now as high as the Delhi boards because of the revamping of the curriculum, the chief minister said.

“There was a time when Delhi-board students would score more than 90 per cent marks whereas students of Bengal board scored much less,” she said.

“I am happy that the disparity does not exist any more. I have heard Delhi-board students have scored 100 per cent this year. Bengal board students have not scored a perfect 100; but their marks, too, are high and almost close to 100 per cent. We had been trying to establish this parity for a long time.”

Two Higher Secondary examinees have scored 99.6 per cent marks — the highest — this year.

The tenth highest score secured by 26 students is 99.2 per cent, which is 0.4 per cent less than that of the two toppers.

The ISC saw two students scoring 100 per cent marks. One is from La Martiniere for Boys’ School in Calcutta.

Sixteen students shared the second rank with 99.75 per cent and the third rank was shared by 36 students with 99.50 per cent marks.

“It is good to see so many students from the state board scoring 90 per cent marks. I am happy that ICSE, ISC and the CBSE students, too, have performed very well,” Mamata said.

In the past, she had referred to the shortage of administrative officers from Bengal. On Wednesday, too, she spoke about it. She told the students to go for the Indian Administrative Service.

She requested students to return to Bengal after finishing their studies abroad or in other states in the country.

The students received laptops, mementos, certificates, books, sweets, chocolates and a bouquet each.