Kolkata : As the nodal institute for government’s ambitious programme, IIT Kharagpur kicked off Yuva Sangam Phase 3 in its most unique panache. A delegation of 50 students from IIITDM Jabalpur and other prominent institutions of Madhya Pradesh reached IIT Kharagpur, Kolkata as a part of the cultural and educational endeavour ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat Yuva Sangam’ programme.
The delegates will explore West Bengal from 23rd– 29th November and through this visit, the emphasis will be on increasing participation in the cultural exchange of traditions, heritage and historical milieu between the two states. Further promotion of tourism, tradition, technology and engagement are also part of the program. The students from MP were given a warm welcome by the Yuva Sangam team of IIT Kharagpur which was followed by an interactive session wherein they exchanged details about their journey.
As part of the itinerary, the delegation explored the heritage sites at IIT Kharagpur including Nehru Museum of Science & technology, Indian Knowledge System and Bharat Tirtha. Prof. Amit Patra, Acting Director, IIT Kharagpur addressed the delegation. He remarked, “This is the first time that this kind of initiative is taken by the government to encourage cultural exchanges between two states. It is quite refreshing to see students from different background, different discipline to come together and share their experiences. Under the able guidance of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, this initiative has created ripples in terms to promoting holistic development of students coming from different genres and places.” He mesmerized the audience by singing a song which was his original English translation, a tribute to the maestro of Bengal Rabindranath Tagore.
The team is also scheduled to will visit Rash Mancha, Jor Bangla Temple, Shyam-Rai temple, Radha Madhav Temple, Lalbandh, Dalmadal, Chhinnamasta Temple followed by a local sightseeing at Bishnupur. They will also visit Sabang, Pingla, Naya, Birsingha, Dakhineshwar Temple, Victoria Memorial, Eden Gardens, Thakurbari police museum along with Vidyasagar Industrial Park and an industrial visit to JWS Cement Factory among others.
Being the nodal officer of the programme, Prof. Bhargab Maitra, Dean Student Affairs, IIT Kharagapur stated, “We are proud as an institute to participate in such a magnanimous programme that inspires people to people connect symbolizing the rich diversity of Indian culture. The takeaways from this experience will evolve the students’ perception towards the cultural superiority of our country. In the future, as leaders they would utilize this knowledge towards nation building without losing the authenticity of our origins. Yuva Sangam Phase 3 is successfully implemented by IIT Kharagpur under the able guidance from Ministry of Education and we are humbled to be a part of it.”
This initiative has been launched after the remarkable success of the first phase of Yuva Sangam which was launched in February and concluded on a successful note witnessing an overwhelming participation of approximately 1200 youngsters visiting 22 Indian states. This was facilitated via 29 special tours where the mainstay was an exposure to the rich culture, heritage and diversity of the North-Eastern region during February-March 2023.
