Mahila university bridge course connects overseas students with Indian roots

Students from an international delegation practise yoga during a bridge course conducted by Sri Padmavati Mahila Visvavidyalayam (SPMVV) in Tirupati. | Photo Credit: K.V. Poornachandra Kumar Sri Padmavati Mahila Visvavidyalayam (SPMVV) has taken a step towards bridging the cultural gap between students living abroad and their roots in India by organising a bridge course on ‘Indian Heritage and Culture’ under the Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (PM-USHA).Students from Malaysia, Bangladesh, Taiwan and Botswana, including those of Indian origin, participated in the course to gain an insight into various aspects of Indian culture.Experts delivered talks on topics such as ‘Discovery of India: A journey through Indian heritage and culture’ and ‘Exploring Indian culture through languages and festivals’. The students were also taken to several places of cultural and historical interest in and around Tirupati to provide them with an experience beyond the classroom.As part of the community engagement programme, they visited Yerravaripalem village and interacted with local women.“The mouth-watering delicacies, textured apparel, subtle art, soothing yoga and meditation programmes and unique religious practices fascinated them,” said P. Vijayalakshmi, Director of the Centre for International Relations at SPMVV.The students also visited the Indian Culinary Institute (ICI), an autonomous body under the Union Ministry of Tourism, at its Yerpedu campus, where they sampled a variety of international and regional Indian dishes.Exploring artThe delegation visited Srikalahasti, known for its hand-painted Kalamkari art, and admired its distinctive patterns. At the TTD’s Shilpakalasala (sculpture school), they watched artisans transform raw granite into sculptures.“The students’ visit turned out to be fruitful and we look forward to hosting more such teams,” Vice-Chancellor Uma Vennam said. Published - August 21, 2026 06:41 pm IST