Vadodara: A 40-member student delegation from Chandigarh will embark on a week-long journey through Gujarat from Oct 10 to 16 to explore the state’s rich cultural heritage, industrial ecosystem and development model under the Centre’s Yuva Sangam Phase VII initiative.Central University of Gujarat (CUG) has been designated the state’s nodal institution for the programme, organised under the Union ministry of education’s Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat initiative. The youth exchange programme has paired Gujarat with Punjab to foster cultural exchange, strengthen mutual understanding and deepen bonds among young people from different regions.Addressing the media on Friday, CUG in-charge vice-chancellor Prof Atanu Bhattacharya expressed pride in hosting the visiting students. The itinerary features visits to some of Gujarat’s most prominent cultural and historical landmarks, including the Statue of Unity, Laxmi Vilas Palace, Fateh Singh Museum, Sabarmati Ashram, Akshardham Temple and the Narendra Modi Cricket Stadium.Beyond heritage and tourism, the programme will introduce participants to Gujarat’s development landscape through visits and exposure to sectors such as waste management, food processing, housing and sports. Interactions with chief minister Bhupendra Patel and governor Acharya Devvrat are also planned.To provide a deeper understanding of the state’s cultural identity, the students will participate in Gujarati language sessions, traditional games and daily yoga sessions, offering them an immersive experience of Gujarat’s customs, traditions and way of life.Prof Atanu Mohapatra, the programme’s nodal officer, said the planned activities would help students gain a meaningful understanding of Gujarat’s cultural traditions and development journey.In a reciprocal exchange, a 50-member delegation from Gujarat will visit Punjab from Oct 22 to 29. The Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Mohali, will serve as the nodal institution for the Punjab leg of the programme.The CUG’s Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat cell selected the participating students from approximately 5,000 registrations, following the Centre’s prescribed guidelines.Yuva Sangam is built around five key themes — tourism, traditions, development, technology and people-to-people connect. Through immersive learning and inter-state engagement, the initiative seeks to strengthen cultural understanding, celebrate India’s diversity and foster lasting connections among young people across states and Union territories.
