Reviewed by Anija Athulduwa
As twenty-one students from the Oriental Music Society of TCK embarked on an incredible experience while journeying to Assam and Delhi of India, they got to explore two different Indian subcultures spanning across the two cities. They were supposed to spend twelve full days there with the intention of performing a folk music event at the Charaideo Festival 2025.
Their first appearance at the cultural show was colourful and memorable on the night of 11th January. They felt proud to be Trinitians with the accolades received that evening. The next day, the team visited a Buddhist monastery and one of the largest tea factories in Assam, followed by a cricket tournament and a cookery competition that educated them on the diverse culinary environment of a foreign land. On their journey out of Assam, they visited the Kaziranga National Park renowned for the endangered Indian One Horned Rhino. After spending the night at an eco-resort near the park, the students went on a safari early in the following morning while spotting several species of wildlife including the One Horned Rhinos and the Brahmaputhra river.
Next day, the group visited Delhi after a 48-hour journey by train. The Delhi tour covered the visit to Agra Fort and the Taj mahal, a visit to the Delhi University where they got the opportunity to meet some of the students from Sri Lanka. They were also privileged enough to have a tea with the Ambassador for Sri Lanka while having the rarest opportunity of visiting Rashtrapati Bhavan (The President’s House) afterwards.
Thus, this expedition was not a mere tour for these students. It was a magical event which added glamour to their story of TCK, to re-live for years to come. They gained more experience in team building while helping others and most importantly, they improved their leadership skills while enhancing their presentational skills. Moreover, they learnt to take prompt decisions, seeing the crucial aspect of time management. With several tasks at hand, they honed their organizational skills. Further, they made new international friendships, while learning about the much respected and celebrated Indian Culture.
Their story is incomplete if they do not pay tribute to their teachers in charge: Mr Chamila Maddegoda and Mrs. Jayanthi Wijekoon for giving them the opportunity to explore their inner strengths through this inspiring as well as unforgettable journey!
