The Institute of Social and Cultural Studies, like every year, organized a Summer Internship Programme for undergraduate students. The institute’s initiative received a participation of students from the Department of Political Science, St. Xavier’s College, Kolkata. As a part of the internship programme students were given opportunities to have an interactive session with experts on multiple topics including Soft Power Diplomacy and Neighbourhood Policies. The students attained a learning session on drafting their SOP.

The students were further been taken for various institutional visits. They were taken to Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Institute of Asian Studies (MAKAIAS) on 2nd July, 2024 as part of their summer internship programme with undergraduate students of the Research and Postgraduate Department of Political Science at Xavier’s College (Autonomous), Kolkata. The students were oriented on the working of the institute by Dr. Sarup Prasad Ghosh, Hon’ble Director and Member Secretary, MAKAIAS. They proceeded to explore the general library followed by the research archives enriched with academic resources. The staff members at MAKAIAS also escorted the students to their Research fellow office and guest house. Finally, the students got an opportunity to engage in a candid discourse with Dr. Radharaman Chakrabarti, Hon’ble Chairman, MAKAIAS as well as Dr. Sarup Prasad Ghosh, Director, MAKAIAS on “India and South Asia – Politics and Policies”. It was an interactive session with the students receiving valuable insights on foreign policy, diplomacy and international politics with respect to India and South Asia.

The students also visited Sri Aurobindo Bhawan on July 9,2024, which was organized by ISCS. For the students,the much anticipated visit, commenced with a tour around Aurobindo Hall, where crucial incidents and major milestones of his life were on display, such as how he assisted in the struggle for independence and about Mirra Alfassa, also referred to as “THE MOTHER”. TheTrustee Member, Shri Ujjal Bose, an advocate by profession, spoke to us and briefly discussed about Sri Aurobindo and his life journey.

Aurobindo originally attended King’s College to study for the Indian civil services, but after returning home, he got actively involved in the freedom movement, and was arrested in the aftermath of a number of bombings linked to his organization. During his stay in the jail, he had mystical and spiritual experiences, after which he left politics for spiritual work and went on to share his spiritual knowledge to the world including the concept of integral yoga. We proceeded to tour the children’s library, the general library, and the meditation ground (where Sri Aurobindo’s relics were kept). The entire setting exuded peace and tranquility.

And finally, to capture a memory of this beautiful experience we took a group photo in front of Sri Aurobindo’s statue. The students were also given a book, on “LIFE FOR STUDENTS” from the organization and made their way home, filled with a wealth of memories, good experiences, and moral principles.

As a part of the internship the students were given opportunities to attend other events, too.The Institute organized a Session on A Talk With A Diplomat which was addressed by Ms.Kajari Biswas,Director, Policy Planning and Research, Ministry of External Affairs, MEA – the students got enthusiastic to converse and exchange ideas on India’s diplomatic relations with neighbourhood.The tour of the Passport Seva Kendra under the supervision and guidance of the Customer Service Manager of PSK, Mr. Gagan Sharma was indeed an insightful and thoughtful endeavour. The students were exposed to and briefed about the sequential approach and method of getting passports renewed/made, the crowd controlling and management inside the PSK and the tasks of the 3 main sections inside the PSK. The students had the felicitous opportunity to meet the reputed Assistant Passport Officer, Ms. Nivedita Rao, who with her affable nature and encouraging words wished them luck and shared some insights of her profession. All in all, the students had an enriching experience of witnessing the quintessential model of Public-Private Partnership inside the PSK where GoI in collaboration with Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) ensures smoothness and efficiency in rendering Passport Services to the citizens.

The insternship ended with a powerpoint presentation by the students themselves on various topics highlighting India-Neighbourhood relations and contemporaray challenges like energy security,society and policy.Some students also shared their thoughts through write-ups, the best of which were published in ISCS’s Bi-Monthly. Students received their participation certificates from the Director Shri Arindam Mukherjee who also presented hampers to some of the students for their presentations and write-ups.