Srinagar Sept 21: A 13-member media delegation from Jammu and Kashmir undertook a week-long study tour of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry from September 13 to 19 under the aegis of the Press Information Bureau (PIB), Srinagar, providing journalists with first-hand exposure to the region’s educational, technological, industrial, cultural and historical landscape.
The study tour was conceived as an opportunity for journalists to move beyond their familiar geographical and social environment and gain direct knowledge of the institutions, developmental initiatives, cultural traditions and heritage of another part of the country.
A significant component of the tour was the delegation’s visit to IIT Madras, where the journalists gained insights into higher education, scientific research, technological innovation and entrepreneurship.
The experience at IIT Madras also offered useful perspectives for Jammu and Kashmir, particularly in relation to the growing importance of innovation, research, skill development, entrepreneurship and industry-academia collaboration in regional development. Exposure to such institutions can help journalists communicate emerging opportunities and developments in science and technology to wider audiences.
The delegation also visited the DakshinaChitra Heritage Museum at Muttukadu, a prominent institution dedicated to preserving the traditional architecture, handicrafts, lifestyles and cultural practices of South India.
One of the distinctive features of DakshinaChitra is the preservation and reconstruction of traditional houses representing Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala. Historic structures have been carefully relocated from their original locations and reconstructed, demonstrating how tangible cultural heritage can be conserved and presented to future generations despite rapid urbanisation and changing lifestyles.
The experience carries particular significance for Jammu and Kashmir, which possesses a rich and distinctive architectural and cultural legacy. Traditional wooden houses, historic mosques, temples and shrines, together with Kashmiri handicrafts, carpet weaving, papier-mâché, wood carving and other indigenous arts, constitute an important part of the region’s cultural identity.
However, changing lifestyles, rapid urban expansion and modern construction practices are placing increasing pressure on traditional forms of architecture and craftsmanship. The Tamil Nadu experience therefore offers useful lessons on the importance of documentation, conservation, institutional support and public awareness in protecting cultural heritage
The tour also demonstrated that heritage preservation need not remain confined to the protection of old structures. Cultural heritage can function as a living economic and social resource, supporting tourism, traditional livelihoods, handicrafts, entrepreneurship and community participation.
The study tour highlighted wider role of journalism in documenting society. Journalism is not restricted to political, administrative and day-to-day news reporting; it can also contribute to the preservation of history, culture, language, traditional knowledge, art, etc.
The special efforts of PIB Director, Kashmir, Qazi Salman, played a significant role in making the study tour possible and purposeful. Through effective planning, guidance and coordination, he helped facilitate the delegation’s exposure to a wide range of educational institutions, industrial centres, cultural landmarks and historical sites across Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.
The tour also provided journalists an opportunity to observe how institutions, cultural organisations and communities preserve their heritage while adapting to contemporary economic and technological changes. Such experiences can contribute to more informed reporting on development, education, culture, tourism and social transformation.
Qazi Salman’s coordination further contributed to strengthening journalistic and cultural linkages between Jammu and Kashmir and other regions of the country.
The study tour thus emerged as a meaningful platform for knowledge exchange, professional development, cultural interaction and inter-regional dialogue.
