Fifty youth from various districts of Tamil Nadu have embarked on an educational and cultural exchange visit to New Delhi under Phase VII of the Yuva Sangam programme, an initiative of the Ministry of Education, Government of India, under the Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat campaign.
The Central University of Tamil Nadu (CUTN), the nodal institution for selecting Tamil Nadu delegates, has been paired with the Delhi University for the programme. The delegation was formally flagged off from the university campus on Saturday by Senior Professor Sulochana Shekhar, Vice-Chancellor (in-charge), and Professor R. Thirumurugan, Registrar along with senior faculty members. The week-long visit is scheduled from October 26 to 31, with the team expected to return to Chennai on November 3.
The 50 member delegation was selected through a stringent process from among applicants representing different districts of the State. Five faculty members will accompany the students during the visit.
Addressing the participants, Prof R Thirumurugan, Registrar, said "the journey has been designed around the five fundamental principles of Tourism, Tradition, Progress, Technology and People-to-People Connect." He urged young delegation to make the most of the opportunity to explore the country and gain first-hand experience of India's rich diversity.
In her keynote address, Senior Professor Sulochana Shekhar, Vice Chancellor (in-charge) explained the importance of celebrating cultural plurality, strengthening national integration and nurturing meaningful relationships among young people from different regions. She encouraged the delegates to explore Delhi's cuisine, traditions, climate and lifestyle while appreciating the cultural similarities and differences between the national capital and Tamil Nadu. Emphasising the spirit of national unity, she concluded her address with the words, "Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat” inspiring the students to approach the exchange with curiosity, openness and enthusiasm.
Dr. R. Parameshwaran, Librarian, and senior faculty members including Prof. Balasubramania Raja, Prof Renuka Devi, Prof. Radha, Dr. Muthu Pandiyan attended the inaugural ceremony.
As part of the send-off, the youth delegates were honoured with traditional angavastrams before the bus carrying the delegation was flagged off from the CUTN campus, marking the beginning of their journey towards greater cultural understanding and national integration.