A delegation of 40 youth from Meghalaya, accompanied by five NEHU staff, were bid adieu by the team of Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University in Lucknow yesterday evening.
The team reached Shillong today after being received at Guwahati Railway Station.
The intercultural exchange programme is an initiative of the Union Ministry of Education under the aegis of Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat mission’s Yuva Sangam. The Meghalaya youth were also accompanied by a ministry official observer, Surinder Naik, who was with the youth from day one.
Speaking about the tour, NEHU public relations officer Davidson Pyngrope, who accompanied the students, stated that “the intercultural exchange was a success as it provided a platform for the students to not only learn about the culture of Uttar Pradesh but also have exposure to the institutes of higher learning in Uttar Pradesh, like various CSIR labs such as the Central Institute for Medicinal and Aromatic Plants and the century-old Banaras Hindu University in Varanasi. The educational tour of these institutes is certainly going to inspire our students to pursue higher education in institutes like these.”
The students visited many historical and educational sites like the Imambara, Rumi Gate, Raj Bhavan, Clock Tower, Kukrail Reserve Forest, CSIR-CIMAP lab, the SAI NCOE complex and Gomati River Front Park in Lucknow.
The trip also included the visit to the holy cities of Ayodhya and Varanasi. During their stay in the latter, the students visited Banaras Hindu University, the Dashawamedh Ghat, the Kashivishwanath temple and Sarnnath, the site of Lord Buddha’s first sermon after enlightenment. The students also enjoyed shopping for Varanasi sarees in the streets of the ancient city.
Ibansara Khongjoh, a student of economics from St Anthony’s College, said that “she has returned with wonderful memories of Uttar Pradesh.” She also stated the people of Lucknow were very warm by nature and she will always remain in touch with the students she met there.
Another student, Yowanka Lyngdoh of NEHU, said, “The Yuva Sangam scheme gave the students an opportunity to learn about the working atmosphere of the Raj Bhavan. The visits to Ayodhya and Varanasi made us learn about the faith of the people of Uttar Pradesh.”
Marysha T Sangma, a student of English from NEHU who had never travelled by train before, said of her experience, “Although the travelling was hectic and tiring, the journey gave us an opportunity to make many friends both from Meghalaya and Uttar Pradesh as I am an introvert.”
