Kohima, March 20 (EMN): As part of the grand scheme known as “Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat” announced by the Prime Minister on October 31, 2015, on the occasion of 140th birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, a team comprising four assistant professors and 12 students including five girls and seven boys from various colleges in Madya Pradesh are on tour to Nagaland Manipur.
On March 19, the team visited Kohima and held an interactive session cum cultural exchange programme at Kohima College, Kohima. They also visited the WWII cemetery museum and also witnessed a cultural programme at Kohima Science College, (Autonomous), Jotsoma, in the evening.
During the interactive and cultural-change programme, Dr. Charu Chitra, associate professor of Government KRG, Gwalior, expressed her gratitude for the generosity and hospitality of the Nagas. The professor remarked that there is no barrier in art, music, emotion, and culture.
Thinuokhrienuo Tseikha, vice principal of Kohima College, hoped that the exchange programme would bring about unity as they get to know each other better and also uplift democracy.
In a cultural programme held in the evening, former principal of Kohima Science College and present additional director of higher education, Dr. I Anungla Aier, hoped that the team would carry good memories and stories and continue to be good friends with Nagas. She also hoped that the exchange programme would build better understanding among each other and contribute towards nation building.
The highlights of the cultural evening included performance on tati, otto (beat boxer), group song by M.Sc Geography and Botany department, musical piece by Veprezo, unity folk dance from Geo-Chemistry department and performances by the visiting team.
In an interaction, one student from Madyha Pradesh said he would share the same stories to the other people about Nagas that they are Indians and to respect them. “It is a beautiful place with beautiful people,” said a student.
On March 18, the visited Patkai Christian College (Autonomous) and joined in the Sunday worship service. An interactive cultural exchange programme was held thereafter in which the visiting team presented the famous Rajasthani dance Ghoomar and some Hindi songs much to the delight of the Patkai audience.
Befitting the occasion, the team had a rendition of the emotionally bonding song ‘Saare Jahan Se Achha, Hindustan Humara.’ The music department of Patkai presented a musical instrumental piece followed by a traditional Naga folk song by Shanchuiphy Keishing. The cultural exchange programme was enlivened further by a beautifully choreographed dance performance by Dimapur-based group called The Chosen Generation.
Such exchange programmes was organised with a view to celebrate the ‘unity and diversity’ and to maintain and strengthen the fabric of cultural and emotional bonds through exchange programmes in areas of culture, tourism, language, education, trade, etc.
Governor interacts with the team
State governor, PB Acharya, has invited the teachers and students from Madhya Pradesh, who are on the ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’ tour to Nagaland and Manipur for breakfast at Raj Bhavan Kohima on March 20.
Welcoming the teachers and students, Acharya encouraged them to learn as much as they could about the people and places they visit and to strengthen national integration. Stating that India is a democratic country and unity in diversity is the peculiarity of India, Acharya urged the visitors to be the bridge in linking the people of the country.
He also handed copies of local dialects and their meanings translated into English to the ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’ team.
The visitors were accompanied by the director of higher education, Kuholi Chishi and other officers from the department.
