Hello there reader! Here is a quote which you may have heard before: “Life is like a jigsaw puzzle, if you have to see the whole picture, you have to put it together piece by piece.” Each piece represents a memory or an event in one’s life. I want to share a piece of my puzzle with all of you; My Experience at the 30th National Children’s Science Congress.

Here’s a small recap of what had happened before this (if you haven’t read my first article already, which I will be linking here at the end): Me, along with my partner Aamna Rehan and guide Ms. Varsha Arunkumar, had participated in Kuwait Children’s Science Congress 2022, and were selected to represent Kuwait along with 3 other teams in the 30th National Children’s Science Congress that took place in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, from 27th to 31st January.

Preparations for this event started early January. Day after day passed by, and we were getting closer to the big date, 25th of January. And finally, after a long wait, THE DAY WAS FINALLY HERE! The adrenaline rush was real! Excitement, happiness, and a swarm of other emotions filled within me. We were at the airport by around 8:30 PM; my guide and the two other teams were there as well. The flight was at 1:20 AM, and we would reach by 7:15 AM (IST). Travel went pretty smooth, and we finally reached the SAL Institute (after a quick refreshment stop at our hostel). The campus is huge, and we took a part of our time to explore it. After lunch, our tourism around the city of Ahmedabad began.

Our first stop was at the Sabarmati Ashram, the place which witnessed the launch of the historic Dandi Salt March. We got to see Gandhiji’s abode, and many of his belongings were preserved. We even saw his walking stick and glasses. Gandhiji was a simple and humble man in all ways: his way of living, his clothing, even his residence. The house has just enough for a normal lifestyle, the kitchen isn’t humongous, rooms are all average sized, it bears witness of his simplicity. A magnificent structure in all ways. The atmosphere at the Ashram is also peaceful and calming. There are plants and small animals and birds all around, and since the Ashram lies on the banks of the Sabarmati River, one can have mesmerizing view of the river. Imagine sitting in the shade of a tree, with sound of chirping birds, watching the sunset, a river with water ever so still; that is exactly the ambience here. There are also huts with different exhibits of Charkhas which one can view.

After this, we continued with our exploration of the city, and we were now going to Atal Bridge. During the travel, I spent most of my time looking outside, watching the moving city, and though it’s not my first time in a city, it had a special charm to it. It felt a lot like my hometown Ernakulam, which is also quite similar to these busy (and noisy) roads.

We finally reached the second stop, Atal Bridge. It’s named after the former Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee. The design of the pedestrian bridge is spectacular to look at; it has taken inspiration from the kite festival held in the city. We took a walk over the bridge, and since it was 26th January (Republic Day), there were kites of the Indian flag being flown, which was also beautiful to look at.

After a dinner at the SAL Campus, we headed back to our rooms by around 10, and that concluded Day 1. An exciting but exhausting day came to an end. The city has a lot more to offer, and I would see more in the days to come. More blogs coming your way on the next days of the trip. So, till the next blog, good bye!

Link to Kuwait Children’s Science Congress 2022: A Platform to Showcase Different Ideas in the World of Science: https://www.indiansinkuwait.com/news/65480-Kuwait-Children-s-Science-Congress-2022-A-Platform-to-Showcase-Different-Ideas-in-the-World-of-Science/