| 11th KIP – Partner States – Orissa & Punjab |
| |
| About the 11th Know India Programme |
| |
Know India Programmes are organized by the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs, Government of India with the objective of familiarizing Indian Diaspora youth, in the age group of 18-26 years, with developments and achievements made by the country and bringing them closer to the land of their ancestors. The Programme provides a unique forum for students and young professionals of Indian origin to visit India, share their views, expectations and experiences and to bond closely with contemporary India.
The 11th Know India Program will involve a stay of three weeks in India for 22 participants from 9 countries, namely Armenia, Australia, Canada, Israel, Malaysia, New Zealand, Poland, South Africa and Trinidad & Tobago.
The first leg of the Program in Kolkata will begin with an Orientation session and sight-seeing and visit to Victoria Memorial. It currently serves as a museum and a tourist attraction. Built between 1906 and 1921, it is a majestic white marble building at the southern end of the Maidan and surrounded by a sprawling garden. The participants will then visit the Indian Museum. The ninth oldest regular museum of the world, Indian Museum, Kolkata, is the oldest institution of its kind in the Asia Pacific region and repository of the largest museum objects in India. The next day, visit to the Indian Institute of Management Campus in Kolkata and Birla Planetarium have been scheduled. The M. P. Birla Planetarium started functioning from September 29, 1962 as an educational, scientific and research institution and was formally inaugurated on July 2, 1963 by the first Prime Minister of India, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. This was the second major Planetarium to be set up in the commonwealth countries with London having a Planetarium a few years earlier to the one in Kolkata. This was the first of its kind in India and the largest in Asia.
The participants would then be taken to Orissa - a fascinating state with unspoilt beaches, sprawling lakes, luxuriant forests, teeming wildlife, superb monuments, exotic handicrafts, traditional tribes, colourful fairs and festivals, scintillating music & dances and cuisine. The participants thereafter visit the Kalinga Institute of Social Service, Ekamra Haat (Handicraft Arcade & Tribal Museum), Ratnagiri, Laliathgiri and Udaigiri in Cuttack (Buddhist Monuments and University), Konark temple - - the Sun temple of "Black Pagoda", so named because of the dark sheen that covered it over the centuries. Constructed in the thirteenth century by King Narasimha, probably as much as a monument to himself as to honour Surya, the sun god, it is an architectural and engineering wonder. Built in the shape of Surya's chariot, with 24 huge chariot wheels and pulled by seven straining horses, this is a breathtaking temple. The next visits are planned to Satpada and Chilka Lake in Puri. The participants spend sometime for local sight seeing and shopping at Bhubaneswar.
A five day visit to Punjab – the participants arrive at Amritsar and visit the Wagah Border - a ceremonial border on India-Pakistan Border (the only road border crossing between India and Pakistan), where each evening, there is a retreat ceremony called 'lowering of the flags’. At that time there is very energetic and thrilling parade done by Border Security Force, India and Pakistan Rangers soldiers. Participants also visit the Jallianwala Bagh - The Jallianwala Bagh Massacre, alternatively known as the Amritsar Massacre, which was named after the Jallianwala Bagh (Garden) in the northern Indian city of Amritsar where, on April 13 1919, while doing a peaceful demonstration on occasion of Punjabi New Year, British Indian Army soldiers under the command of Brigadier-General Reginald Dyer opened fire on an unarmed gathering of men, women and children. The next is Golden Temple - culturally the most significant place of worship of the Sikhs and one of the oldest Sikh gurdwaras. Then they drive to Kapurthala for lunch and sightseeing of historical monuments; visit sports goods manufacturing unit, Village Palahi (near Phagwara), PAU Campus in Ludhiana. The participants would then visit the Bhakra Dam in Nangal - a concrete gravity dam across the Sutlej River, near the border between Punjab and Himachal Pradesh in northern India which is Asia's biggest dam. It is 225.55 m (740 ft) high above sea- level; Kikar Lodge Eco Tourism Resort and then at Chandigarh, visit the Le Corbusier Museum, Rock Garden and Sukhna Lake. The participants will also visit CRRID, receive lectures on Punjab history and culture followed by a meeting with State dignitaries.
In Delhi the participants will have the privilege of meeting and interacting with the President of India Smt. Pratibha Devisingh Patil at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. They are also likely to meet the Comptroller and Auditor General of India and the Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs and Parliamentary Affairs. Other engagements in Delhi include visiting the Aurobindo Ashram for introduction to Yoga, meeting a woman NGO, visiting Doordarshan studio and various historical monuments. The participants will go to Agra – the land famous for the `Taj Mahal’ – known as `one of the 7 Wonders of the World’, before leaving for their respective countries. |
| |
| |
|
