40 NRI youth visit Goa to ‘reconnect with roots’

Panaji: Tirochinee Nicole Naidu is a third-generation Indian born in South Africa, but could easily pass off as a local, as she explores the quaint streets of Fontainhas. Exploring baroque architecture of the churches in Goa and feasting on fish curry rice, she and her companions have much to binge on while on tour.
“This is my first time in India, and the experience has been very exciting and novel. It has been an interesting experience to come to Goa especially, which doesn’t look like anything like the rest of India in terms of art and architecture,” she told TOI.
She is a part of the 40 Indian diaspora youth aged 22-29 are taking in the culture in Goa as part of the Know India programme, to“reconnect with their roots”.
Organised by the ministry of external affairs, this 60th edition of the programme is being organised in association with the government of Goa.
The youth have arrived from Fiji, Guyana, Israel, Malaysia, Mauritius, Myanmar, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago. Three MEA officials are also in the state accompanying the youth on their ten-day study tour in Goa that ends September 11.
The youth who are highly educated and professionals in their own field include doctors and even government officials.
They already visited Reis Magos Fort which was restored in 2008 by INTACH and the government of Goa where Architect Gerard da Cunha involved in the restoration of the fort also explained the restoration process to them.
The group visited the Candolim- Sinquerim stretch, Church of St Anne in Talaulim and the Basilica of Old Goa before it shut for maintenance work.
At the ‘All About Alcohol’ museum, they were introduced to centuries old distilling equipment and learnt about locally brewed alcohol Feni and how it got a GI tag.
The youth also explored the capital city of Panaji visiting the Old Secretariat, Old GMC, and participated in heritage walk around Fontainhas, visiting the Latin Quarter, Maruti temple etc and attended a Goan mando performance by Sonia Shirsat.
“The office of the Commissioner of NRI Affairs has chalked out a detailed programme for the participants,” director for NRI affairs Anthony D’Souza.