Tripura, Tezpur varsities build cultural bridge through student exchange, TU VC Debabrata Das attended programme

By Our Correspondent

Agartala, November 14, 2026

In an effort to bring the diverse cultures of the Northeast closer through academic engagement, Tripura University and Tezpur University have organised a student cultural exchange programme, using traditional performances and discussions on tourism to underline the region’s shared heritage and development potential.

The programme, organised by the Department of Tourism Administration of Tripura University in collaboration with Tezpur University, brought together students and faculty members of the two institutions. Tripura University vice-chancellor Professor Debabrata Das attended the event, lending institutional importance to an initiative aimed at strengthening academic ties and promoting cultural understanding among young people.

The exchange, organised under the leadership of Dr Kushal Singh, Head-in-Charge of the Department of Tourism Administration, was designed to take learning beyond the classroom and give students an opportunity to experience the cultural and academic environment of another northeastern university.

Professor Das’s presence was a significant feature of the programme, which sought to promote interaction between institutions through shared cultural experiences and academic discussions. The initiative also highlighted the role universities can play in bringing together communities across the Northeast, a region marked by considerable ethnic, linguistic and cultural diversity.

The visiting students from Tezpur University were taken on a guided tour of the Tripura University campus, including its major academic facilities. The visit was followed by interactive sessions in which students and faculty members from both institutions introduced themselves and discussed their respective universities, academic activities and campus experiences.

But it was the cultural performances that gave the programme its distinctive character.

Students of Tripura University's Department of Tourism Administration presented the traditional Mog Dance and other folk dances of Tripura, offering the visiting delegation a glimpse of the state's cultural traditions. Students from Tezpur University responded with an energetic presentation of Bihu, one of Assam's most recognisable cultural expressions.

The performances brought the traditions of two neighbouring states onto a common platform. The contrast in dance forms, music and presentation also offered students an opportunity to appreciate the cultural identities of their counterparts.

For the organisers, the exchange was not merely a celebration of traditional performances. It was also an attempt to encourage younger generations to understand, respect and preserve the region's indigenous cultural heritage. Such direct interactions, they believe, can help overcome cultural unfamiliarity and strengthen a sense of regional belonging.

Tourism, another important thread connecting the two states, featured prominently in the academic sessions.

Students from both universities made presentations on the tourism prospects of Tripura and Assam, examining their natural attractions, cultural resources and possibilities for sustainable tourism development. The discussions highlighted the Northeast's considerable potential as a tourism destination, supported by its landscapes, indigenous traditions, historical sites and distinctive lifestyles.

The presentations also brought attention to the need to balance tourism expansion with environmental protection and cultural preservation. Sustainable and responsible tourism, the participants highlighted, should ensure that local communities benefit from tourism-related activities without compromising their traditional practices or natural resources.

The discussions were particularly relevant for the two states, which possess diverse tourism assets but also face the challenge of developing the sector without damaging the ecological and cultural foundations on which it depends.

The exchange provided students with an opportunity to approach tourism not simply as an economic activity but as a potential instrument of livelihood generation, heritage conservation and regional development.

Faculty members, including Dr Abhirupa Roy, Juwel Ghosh and Dr Rashmi Ranjan Choudhury, among others, participated in the programme and contributed to the academic and cultural interactions.

The event concluded with an exchange of mementoes between the participating institutions and a group photograph of students and faculty members, marking the spirit of friendship and cooperation that defined the occasion.

The organisers expect the initiative to encourage further academic, cultural and institutional collaboration between Tripura University and Tezpur University.

At a time when regional cooperation and the preservation of indigenous heritage have assumed greater importance, the programme offered a reminder that universities can serve as more than centres of formal education. Through student exchanges and shared cultural platforms, they can help build connections across state boundaries and give young people a deeper understanding of the Northeast.

The interaction between the two universities has thus opened up possibilities for sustained engagement, with cultural exchange and tourism studies providing common ground for future collaboration.

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