Sans Borders

Here as a part of Know India Programme from March 21 to April 12,“Chandigarh and Punjab are next after Kolkata and Orissa,” they tell us the trip is for a cross-section of youth from across the world and is conducted by the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs with a view to promote awareness on India. “Socio-cultural diversity,India’s all-round development,its emergence as an economic powerhouse,we’ve filled our knowledge tanks with it” says Saransh Sharma of CII adding how most of them did their homework before arriving in the country. In fact,couple of them caught up with extended families here for the first time! “What we are seeing and experiencing here is unmatched. Urban,suburban and rural India… it’s all so diverse. The culture has its own life and the nature is at its pristine best,” beams Karunithie Naidu from South Africa,who now wants to venture into various sectors including industry,development,commerce and trade in addition to learning more about the history,culture,traditions,and religion. But for now,in Chandigarh,its architecture and the French connection that’s

appealing. “The places and people here will surely make for brilliant coffee-table stories that I will share with my friends and family and the mementos from the shop will substantiate them,” Jhilik Mukherjee from Australia,wraps up the conversation and packs up about 40 Tees with ‘I Love Chandigarh’ on it. Here’s to borderless bonding!