Jharkhand governor interacts with foreign students at Lok Bhawan, highlights India’s knowledge tradition
THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK Ranchi, Sept 22: Governor Santosh Kumar Gangwar on Tuesday interacted with foreign students and researchers pursuing higher education…
THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK
Ranchi, Sept 22: Governor Santosh Kumar Gangwar on Tuesday interacted with foreign students and researchers pursuing higher education and research in India under the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) scholarship programme and highlighted India’s long tradition of knowledge, education and cultural exchange.
Speaking at Lok Bhawan, Ranchi, the Governor said India had been recognised as a land of knowledge and learning since ancient times, with students from different parts of the world travelling to renowned centres of learning such as Takshashila, Nalanda and Vikramshila.
He said the participation of students from countries including Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Iraq and several nations in Africa and the Middle East reflected the strong academic and cultural ties between India and their respective countries.
Gangwar said India’s philosophy of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam”, or the world being one family, emphasises the importance of knowledge and dialogue in bringing nations and people closer.
Referring to India’s spiritual and philosophical heritage, he said the land of Lord Buddha and Lord Mahavira had conveyed messages of peace, compassion, non-violence and harmony to the world. He noted that these values had assumed greater relevance in the contemporary world.
The Governor also underlined the growing importance of international cooperation and referred to India’s engagement with the global community. He said India was moving forward with the resolve of building a ‘Viksit Bharat’.
Students urged to explore Jharkhand
Speaking about Jharkhand, Gangwar highlighted its rich tribal and cultural heritage, forests, waterfalls, hills, natural beauty and mineral resources.
He encouraged the visiting students to explore the state’s cultural and natural heritage during their stay. He also urged them to understand India’s history, diverse traditions, culture and democratic values alongside their academic pursuits.
Such experiences, he said, would enrich their academic journey and remain memorable throughout their lives.
The Governor said the foreign students should not be viewed merely as students from their respective countries but also as potential bridges of friendship and mutual understanding between India and their home nations.
He expressed hope that they would return to their countries with positive memories of India and share their experiences with their families, friends and fellow citizens.
IIT (ISM) students share experiences
The interaction was attended by foreign students pursuing various courses at IIT (ISM) Dhanbad under the ICCR scholarship programme.
Prof. Rajni Singh, Dean (International Relations), IIT (ISM), said internationalisation was not limited to students travelling across countries for degrees, but also involved bringing together diverse cultures, perspectives, languages and academic disciplines.
She said IIT (ISM), with its century-old academic legacy and growing global engagement, was continuously strengthening its international academic environment.
Students attending the interaction came from Nepal, Sudan, Iraq, Thailand, Tanzania, Syria, Cambodia, Ghana, Uganda, Yemen, Bangladesh, Liberia, Ethiopia, Somalia and Sri Lanka.
ICCR scholarship promotes global academic ties
The role of the ICCR scholarship programme in promoting international education, cultural exchange and people-to-people relations was also discussed during the interaction.
The programme provides students from different countries an opportunity to pursue education in India while gaining first-hand exposure to Indian society and culture.
The foreign students shared their academic experiences and spoke about their lives in India, their interactions with Indian society and their educational journeys.
Officials from the Regional Passport Office, Ranchi, represented the ICCR Regional Office, Patna, whose jurisdiction covers Bihar and Jharkhand.
