CHENNAI: Adorned with a flower garland and a saffron tilak on his forehead, Hasan Comert, a student of Economics from Turkey, listens with rapt attention to a seminar on the Right to Information and National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme as implemented in India.“When I came to India, I imagined everything would be about colours, food, spice, heat, IT. But it is much more complex than I expected,” he says. Hasan is one of the delegates from Fuji Maru, the 24th Ship for the World Youth Programme. The programme is meant to broaden the global view of Japanese youth, and includes 132 delegates from 12 other countries, including India. The leader for the Turkish delegation, Hasan says, “There is a huge disparity between what we have heard about India and what we have seen here. Visiting the centre for destitute women (Banyan), it was quite shocking to see how little they have and how the caretakers manage with less than adequate resources.”Many of the delegates say that their perspective of India changed, especially after visiting various institutions. Rina Onishi (24), a student of Modern Asian History in Naru, Japan, says, “Every day on the ship has been amazing, although at first it was like a cultural shock. I had no idea about India before I got on the ship. When I spoke to the Indian delegates, I heard so many different things.” What struck Rina was the attitude of the sexual minority group they met on a trip to the Indian Community Welfare Organisation (ICWO). “It was a wonderful experience interacting with them. When we were leaving, I could feel that they were full of kindness,” she says. The Indian caste system is something Rina does not comprehend. Speaking of Japanese customs, she says, “Our society is divided on various grounds. Here, I find it very different. It is very difficult to live in a society based on caste.” Sayami, also from Japan, says, “The environment here is so different. I hope to learn about the environment, as that is where my interest lies.” She adds that she is keen to enjoy the day here in Chennai, before the ship heads to Colombo on Tuesday. The delegates were also taken on field visits to villages around Chennai. Organised by the Rajiv Gandhi National Institute of Youth Development (RGNIYD), the village trips offered the delegates a chance to see Panchayati Raj system in action. Speaking to the delegates at a cultural function, Vice President of RGNIYD, CR Kesavan, said, “The youngsters should stay connected even after the trip ends on March 5. He added that youth should be one of the channels of world peace, and economic development.
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