On Tuesday, retired Lt Gen KT Parnaik, the Governor of Arunachal Pradesh, engaged with students from Jharkhand, Puducherry, and West Bengal at Lok Bhavan in Itanagar, as part of the Youth Exchange Programme. This initiative included 44 students visiting from Jharkhand and Puducherry under the Ashtalakshmi Darshan program, along with 37 students from West Bengal participating in the Interstate Youth Exchange Programme. The Governor emphasized the importance of leadership for the students, encouraging them to pursue performance, reform, and transformation in their professional lives while fostering technology-driven development. He advised them to remain open to new ideas while remaining anchored in India’s rich cultural heritage.
He urged the youth to be innovative and enterprising, striving to be responsible contributors to society in the nation’s journey towards a developed India, or Viksit Bharat. The Governor called for ideal citizenship characterized by education, discipline, and motivation. Praising the foresight behind these youth initiatives, he described Ashtalakshmi Darshan as a vital program that connects the North Eastern Region’s youth with the rest of India and commended the Ministry of Youth Affairs for its role in the Interstate Youth Exchange Programme. The programs were portrayed as fostering a sense of unity and national integration.
In discussing the developmental achievements of Arunachal Pradesh, the Governor highlighted the state’s embodiment of unity in diversity, showcasing its numerous tribes and diverse cultural practices. He pointed out the state’s strategic significance as a peaceful buffer between Tibet and India, particularly in the context of India’s Act East Policy. To add vibrancy to the event, students from Jharkhand and Puducherry performed cultural presentations that enchanted the audience, while students from Rajiv Gandhi University showcased a diversity dance that exemplified Arunachal Pradesh’s rich and harmonious cultural tapestry.
