Punjab Youth delegates  returned back to home stat after successfully completing their week-long exposure visit to Manipur

Bathinda, March 31, 2023: A group of 46 students from the state of Punjab who went on a weeklong exposure visit to Manipur under the Government of India’s Yuva Sangam Programme, returned back to Punjab with beautiful memories of their trip on March 30, 2023. The students shared their experiences during the reception ceremony held at the Central University of Punjab under the patronage of Vice-Chancellor Prof. Raghavendra P. Tiwari.

While welcoming the students back home, Prof. Sanjeev Thakur, Nodal Officer, Yuva Sangam, CUPB, informed the Vice-Chancellor that in this trip the students got an opportunity to meet Governor of Manipur, Anusuiya Uikey; Chief Minister of Manipur Nongthombam Biren Singh; Minister of State for External Affairs and Education Dr. Rajkumar Ranjan Singh; and many other dignitaries.

On reaching Manipur University, the student delegates of Punjab  received a warm welcome from Prof. N. Lokendra Singh, Hon'ble Vice-Chancellor, Manipur University and the entire university fraternity. Students of Manipur presented them folk dances including Thougal Jagoi, the Mao-Naga dance of the Chithuni Festival, Raas Leela (a Manipuri classical Indian dance), and Thang-Ta a traditional martial art of Manipur. Participants shared that this visit helped them learn about the culture and traditions of Manipur people and experience the scenic beauty of Manipur State.

The participants also shared the experience of their visit to Kangla Nogpok Thong Park, Imphal; Shri Bijoy Govindaji Temple, Imphal; Manipur Olympian Park, Sangaithel; Marjing Complex at Heingang; Ima Keithel (the world's Largest Only Women's market); Loktak Lake; Indo-Myanmar Friendship Bridge; Indian National Army (INA) Headquarters. and other places in Manipur.

Prof. Rajinder Kumar Sen, one of the four faculty members who went along with the Punjab student delegation, mentioned that the entire tour provided the participants with multi-dimensional exposure to Paryatan (Tourism), Parampara (Traditions), Pragati (Development), Prodyogik (Technology) and Paraspar Sampark (People-to-people connect) of Manipur state.

In his presidential address, Vice-Chancellor Prof. Raghavendra P. Tiwari stated that Yuva Sangam was mooted by the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, as an initiative to build up close ties between the youth of the North East and the rest of India in the spirit of Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat. He appreciated the participants for gracefully representing the culture of Punjab in the Manipur state and learning about their culture. Prof. Tiwari appealed to them to stay connected to their Manipur buddies and share their positive experiences of Manipur with friends in Punjab. This will create a strong bond between people living in border states in the western and eastern parts of India.