VARANASI, Oct. 28 -- The Yuva Sangam programme serves as a critical initiative for fostering national unity and encouraging youth participation in nation-building, said Banaras Hindu University (BHU) vice-chancellor Prof Ajit Kumar Chaturvedi on Tuesday. Prof Chaturvedi, who served as the chief guest at the programme's concluding ceremony on Tuesday, emphasised that the true impact of such initiatives is realized only when young people internalize these experiences and apply the lessons learned to their lives. The event, hosted in the committee room of the BHU central office, marked the culmination of a week-long exchange organised under the Union ministry of education's 'Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat' initiative. During the ceremony, Prof Chaturvedi presented mementos to the visiting student delegation from Kerala. "These programmes provide youth from different states the invaluable opportunity to understand each other's cultures, traditions, and lifestyles, thereby fostering mutual cooperation, harmony, and national integration," Prof Chaturvedi said. Dr Bala Lakhendra, the nodal officer for 'Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat' in Uttar Pradesh, presented a report on the delegation's visit, which ran from October 22 to 28. The 55-member group comprising 50 students and five teachers led by IIT Palakkad spent the week exploring the cultural, religious, and historical landscape of Uttar Pradesh under BHU's stewardship. The delegation's itinerary began on October 22, with a welcome at Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport, followed by an official reception and tree plantation drive.HTC...