56 IIT-Gandhinagar students to explore ‘real India’ on ₹40k budget

Ahmedabad: Fifty-six students of IIT Gandhinagar (IIT-Gn) will embark on a 42-day journey across India this year under the institute’s Explorer Fellowship programme, the highest participation figure in the decade-old initiative’s history. The fellowship challenges students to explore interior villages, developing towns, and grassroots organisations — all on a budget of just Rs 40,000.

The programme requires the fellows to visit at least six states, including at least one in the country’s northeastern part and one each in the northern and southern parts, while travelling in sleeper-class train coaches or state-run buses and staying in budget places such as youth hostels and homestays.

Each cohort is encouraged to organise its travel around a self-chosen theme. Past themes have spanned architecture, dams, UNESCO World Heritage Sites, regional cuisines, and sartorial traditions. “One of the things we really enjoy in the fellowship programme is seeing students’ creativity each year in coming up with innovative themes,” said Prof Chetan Pahlajani, convenor of the initiative.

Last year, Ayush Bhagat, a B Tech student in materials science, covered Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, UP, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Goa. Focusing on music, dance, and local cultural traditions, he documented regional practices throughout his journey. “The biggest takeaway, however, was understanding India up close and forging strong bonds of friendship,” he said.

Fellow Rajani Meena, also from the 2025 cohort, cited a visit to the Shillong mountains as among his most memorable experiences. “We were above the clouds. It was truly unforgettable,” he said, adding that travelling on a tight budget had taught him financial management, adaptability, and a deeper understanding of travel as an experience rather than a comfort-seeking exercise.