Under the National Integration Tour organized through the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad’s(ABVP) project, Student Experience in Regional Understanding(SERU), representatives from Ladakh was bid an emotional farewell by ABVP Delhi members as they departed for the next phase of their journey in Haryana. The tour, which began on February 26, will conclude in Leh on March 10. During this period, the participants will stay with local families across cities in Delhi, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu to promote cultural exchange and mutual understanding.
It is noteworthy that Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) has been actively working in Ladakh since 1990. The organization aims to familiarize students from Ladakh with the diverse culture of India while also promoting Ladakh’s local traditions across the country. With this objective, the Student Experience in Regional Understanding(SERU) Yatra was initiated in 1991. Under this initiative, students from Ladakh are sent to different states of India, where they stay with local families. The program provides an opportunity to understand India’s diverse folk traditions and social structures.
A group of 30 representatives stayed in Delhi for the past three days. During their visit, they explored several historical landmarks and learned about their significance. On the first day, after a grand welcome at Indira Gandhi International Airport, the representatives visited the Delhi Legislative Assembly, where Assembly Speaker Shri Vijender Gupta introduced them to the history and functioning of the Assembly. Subsequently, office-bearers of the ABVP-led Delhi University Students’ Union welcomed the delegation at the University campus and guided them through a historic cell associated with the freedom movement, where Shaheed Bhagat Singh had once been imprisoned. Following interactions with host families, the participants proceeded to stay with their respective families.
On the second day, February 27, the representatives visited the Parliament House and the Prime Ministers’ Museum, where they learned about the democratic values embodied in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. After the visit, they attended a lunch and interaction session hosted by Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology and Minister of State for the Department of Atomic Energy and Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh. During the interaction, the Minister engaged in a meaningful discussion with the students regarding their future aspirations. Later, the delegation visited Akshardham Temple, where they experienced India’s cultural heritage and enjoyed the light and sound show.
On the final day of their Delhi tour, the representatives visited Rashtrapati Bhavan, including Amrit Udyan and Ashoka Hall, where they were introduced to the historical significance of the premises. Following the visit, the students interacted with Delhi Chief Minister Mrs. Rekha Gupta, who remarked that ABVP’s initiative is a commendable step toward strengthening national unity and serves as an effective medium for cultural exchange and promotion. After this interaction, the students also held a dialogue session with Delhi’s Education Minister Shri Ashish Sood. Subsequently, the representatives experienced travel on the Delhi Metro before departing for Gurugram for the next phase of their journey.
ABVP Delhi State Secretary Sarthak Sharma stated that the National Integration Tour has successfully fulfilled its objectives, as within just three days the representatives developed strong emotional bonds with their host families. He noted that families bid farewell to the Ladakhi students with tearful eyes as they moved to the next destination. The students expressed that they now feel they have a second home in Delhi where they can return without hesitation. He added that the tour represents an important step toward strengthening national unity, and after spending three days together, the participants also formed close bonds with ABVP Delhi members.
