SHILLONG, March 16: A delegation of 40 youths from Meghalaya, accompanied by five NEHU staff, on Thursday reached Shillong after attending an intercultural exchange tour of Uttar Pradesh.
According to a statement here, the intercultural exchange tour was an initiative of the Ministry of Education, Government of India, under the aegis of Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat mission’s Yuva Sangam.
During their trip, the students visited many historical and educational sites such as the Imambara, the Rumi Gate, Raj Bhavan of Uttar Pradesh, Clock Tower, Kukrail Reserve Forest, CSIR-CIMAP Lab, SAI NCOE complex, Gomati Riverfront Park in Lucknow, and the holy cities of Ayodhya and Benaras (Kashi).
“During their stay in Benaras, the students visited Benaras Hindu University, the Dashawamedh Ghat, the Kashivishwanath temple and the Sarnnath to witness the site of Lord Buddha’s first sermon after enlightenment. The students also enjoyed shopping for the varanasi sarees on the streets of the ancient city of Varanasi,” the statement said.
Meanwhile, the youth returnees have expressed their elation at being provided an opportunity to visit Uttar Pradesh for the exposure trip.
Ibansara Khongjoh, a student of Economics from St. Anthony’s College, said she has returned home with wonderful memories of Uttar Pradesh.
“To learn about the culture of UP was good,” she said, adding that people of Lucknow were “very embracing in nature, especially the students.”
Another student, Yowanka Lyngdoh of NEHU, expressed her gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for giving the youths of Meghalaya an opportunity to learn about the culture of Uttar Pradesh.
“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 make them learn about the faith of the people of Uttar Pradesh,” she said.
Lyngdoh also expressed her gratitude to Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Lucknow, and Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, for their hospitality, and the SSB forces for their security and the UP Police for their support in escorting the students in crowded places.
Marysha T Sangma, a student of English from NEHU, said she had never travelled by train before and that this trip provided her an opportunity to experience travelling by train for the first time.
“Although the travelling was hectic and tiring, the journey gave me an opportunity to make many friends, both from Meghalaya and Uttar Pradesh,” Sangma said.
She also mentioned that the trip gave her an opportunity to learn about the life, culture and educational opportunities out of the state of Meghalaya.
