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Foreign students connect with Indian culture in Pune
Students coming from abroad form an integral and diverse part of the college environment
Students coming from abroad form an integral and diverse part of the college environment. On Sunday, a special interaction programme was held to connect such students studying in Pune with the local culture. More than 35 students from various countries took part in the programme, where they discussed their perspectives and issues concerning India.
The event was hosted by the Anam Prem organisation in Baner, and former Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU) vice-chancellor Prof Nitin Karmalkar was the chief guest.
Sharing his views, prof Karmalkar said, “I savour being a part of such programmes where we get to interact with students from all over the world. Anam Prem is doing an admirable job of making these students feel at ease. Some of them have had difficult times in the past, but we hope that through such programmes, they will feel being part of our culture and society. The idea is to exchange cultures and bring peace to the world.”
Hailing from Afghanistan, Farzana Amiri is studying Mass Media and Communication in the city. She said such events make them feel at home.
“It was a fantastic experience for me because we were all separated from our families, and then such a warm welcome touched our hearts. During the programme, I called my mother in Afghanistan, and she returned the love to all foreign students. I will always remember Pune and, in particular, such connecting programmes.”
Another foreign student, Valentin K from Germany, who is pursuing his masters in economics at SPPU said, “We appreciate this programme as it demonstrates Indian people’s openness towards visiting students. It was a warm and welcoming environment for us. When I first arrived in Pune five months ago, it was a tricky time for me. But now I adore the city and its inhabitants.”
Dennis Kotti, a student from Kenya, who is studying medical technology, said, “It is a good initiative to bring all of the foreign students from various countries together, and it feels like home to us.”
Nitin Panse of the Anam Prem organisation explained the motive of the programme, saying, “We have done this interaction with foreign students on the university campus for many years, but this year it was held privately. However, the goal was the same: to connect with these students and make them familiar with Indian culture, hospitality, and how we could assist them in any way we could.”
