Message from Mr. V Nagaraj, Vice Chairman, SGI It is our pride privilege to highlight ‘Sambhram International Students’ Association’[SISA] dedicated to the cause of all International Students studying various courses @ Sambhram. We welcome them from various cultures across the World to be with us till they complete their courses and achieve the best to acclaim them as an achiever of Higher Education in their life. The world seems to be a village today across cultures; cultural assimilation is the need of the hour to manage the world in an excellent way for the betterment of humanity. Sambhram Group is honored having students from 26 Countries across the World to facilitate cultural diversity and materializing the mission to attain Global Village hood. All the Best to the International Students who come under the aegis of SISA Mr. V. Nagaraj AFGHANISTAN Afghanistan (literary means the land of Afghan), the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan is a sovereign state in central Asia which is bordered to Pakistan in south and southern east, Iran in west, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan in north and China in northern east, with a total land-measurement of 160,000 square miles. Its diverse topography and landscape ranges from fruitful forests, tropical deserts, inner plains and valleys, spectacular hills and firmamental mountains. Although Afghanistan is a landlocked country but its miscellaneous seasonal weather makes a marvelous life where spring brings about a humid weather with colorful scenery, a hot summer and arid autumn and freezing cold winter with the special beauty of snowfall. This territory companies thirty four provinces and Kabul as its capital city. Afghani (money) is used as a means of currency. It is a multilingual country of which Pashto and Dari (Afghani- Persian) are the official languages which are more commonly spoken in and beyond the country. Attan (dance) is our ancestral inheritance and is remarked as the national dance; Buzkashy as the national athletic play and QabuliPalaw and Shorba as the national dishes of the country. Afghanistan has rich cultural heritage, historical antiquity, and legendary hospitality which are on the tip of tongues across the globe. The Buddha idol and Amir recreational water dam in central Bamyan province are the ancient monuments and touristic spots of Afghanistan which grabs the attention of the world tourists. Afghanistan has an economy based on agriculture, handicraft industries, precious stones and mines and its domestic products such as textiles, apparel, hand woven rugs, non-alcoholic beverages, mineral water, food and so on. Afghanistan is one of the famous producers of fresh and dry fruits like pomegranate, grapes, apples, figs, pistachio, almond etc, which has thrived its exports thought the world. Although Afghanistan is a war-torn country but once it has legendaries like Ahmad Shah Durani who had boosted Afghanistan’s boundaries from eastern Iran to Indian capital Delhi which was called at the time “The Great Empire of Afghanistan.” Its recent changes, relations and strives seem to be preserving its integrity and pave the way for a new future. ANGOLA The Republic of Angola is a country in Southern Africa. It is the seventh-largest country in Africa, and is bordered by Namibia to the south, the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the north, Zambia to the east, and the Atlantic Ocean to west. Angola is a huge country and the climate in the north is much more topical than in the arid south. The indigenous languages with the largest usage are Umbundu, Kimbundu and Kikongo. Portuguese is the official languages of the country & Angolan kwanza is used as a means of currency. Angola’s largest national park, lona National Park, bordering the Atlantic ocean with gorgeous desert dunes, plenty of bird life and slowly recovering its larger mammals after some serious poaching during the war. One of Africa’s most beautiful natural wonders, the Ruacana Falls, is located in Angola. With an Atlantic coastline stretching for over 1,650 kms, mighty rivers flow into wide estuaries depositing sediments they have brought with them from the high plateaus to form numerous small inlands, bays and sandbanks and where excellent beaches can be found. When the discussion is about oil and diamonds, the country of Angola naturally gets mentioned. With the richness of its natural resources, locals have forgotten that warfare prevented economic stability ever since the 1970s. Visitors are rather scarce in their part of Central Africa, but it cannot be denied that the place is dotted with cultural richness and untouched geographic destinations. Through the years, the country’s security has been improved, and along with it, infrastructure advancements were made. Despite the introduction to metal structures, Angola remains to be an attractive place for travelers who have a knack for adventure and solitude. BANGLADESH Gorgeously green yet swamped with people. Bangladesh is a low –laying rural wonderland with silent rivers and golden paddy fields. Home to fabulous beaches, archaeological sites, historical attractions and diverse flora and fauna Bangladesh is regarded as a favorite destination for those who judge a place in terms of happiness rather than prosperity. Being mesmerized by its natural beauty the famous Bengali poet Jibonanonda Das said, “After death, taking rebirth I shall come back to this country again, may not be as human but as a kite, in order to inhale the beauty from height.” Modern Bangladesh emerged as an independent nation in 1971, achieving independence from Pakistan through nine month long war of liberation and by the sacrifice of 3 million lives. The vibrant speech of 7th March 1971, by the charismatic leader Sheikh Mujibur Rahman who is also known as the father of the nation, united people from all walks of lives and mentally prepared them for the war of liberation. The international mother language day declared by UNESCO on 1999, is mainly observed for commemorating the historical sacrifice made by some heroic Bangladeshi sons for the sake of preserving Bangla as their mother tongue in 1952 when Pakistan forcefully tried to impose Urdu as the state language. In Bangladesh almost all people speak and understand Bangla, a language which occupies an exalted position because of the richness of its literature. Bangladeshi culture has its own uniqueness and richness. The traditional native culture is a blender of native and sub continental mixtures. The rich culture of Bangladesh can be experienced in many forms, such as in traditional music, vibrant dance, religion, colorful art and literature. Fish and rice constitute the main diet of the masses, the vast majority of whom live in the country’s villages. A cotton lungi and a jersey called kurta are the common attire for men in rural areas. The urban people have, however, largely adapted to western costume. Sari is women’s universal dress, both in the cities and countryside. The culinary tradition of Bangladesh has close relations to surrounding Bengali North East Indian cuisine. Biriyani being one of the country’s most favorite dish, rich with an emphasis on fish, vegetables lentils and sweet-meat makes the traditional platter of Bangladesh. Cricket being most popular sports in Bangladesh it successfully co-hosted the ICC World Cup 2011 and also hosted ICC T20 World Cup 2014. BHUTAN Bhutan, a Buddhist kingdom on the Himalayas’ eastern edge, is a land of monasteries, fortresses and dramatic topography ranging from subtropical plains to steep mountains and valleys. In the High Himalayas, peaks such as 7,326m Jomolhari are a destination for serious trekkers. Taktsang Plaphug (Tiger’s Nest) monastery, a sacred site, clings to cliffs above the forested Paro Valley. Traditionally dishes were cooked in earthenware, but pots and pans have largely replaced their use. A typical Bhutanese meal consists of rice, a dish of chili and cheese, pork, beef curry or lentils. If there is any place you can seemingly turn back time, discover Buddhism and Hinduism, and see what it’s like to live harmoniously with nature in the 21st century, it’s definitely Bhutan. You will feel as if you have dived into the page of an Asian history book when you see their unique and breathtakingly beautiful architecture. You may never even want to leave after experiencing the warmth of the people and their value of respect and freedom of different people. It may be a small country seemingly hidden in the Himalaya, but it is one rich in culture, diversity and tradition unlike many other places you will see in the world today. BURUNDI The Republic of Burandi is a land locked country in the African Great Lakes region of Southeast Africa, bordered by Rwanda to the north, Tanzania to the east and south, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west. Sometimes it is also considered as part of Central Africa. Burundi’s capital is Bujumbura. A tiny little nation of soaring mountains and languid lakeside communities was ruled as a kingdom for over two hundred years and presently, Burandi is governed as a presidential representative democratic republic. The main language is Kirundi, a Bantu language. Both Kirundi and French are official languages. Swahili is used as a lingua franca along Lake Tanganyika and in the Bujumbura area. Burundian Franc is used as currency. For a look into the very heart of Africa, it is great to experience the natural and culturally diverse country. Here, you can experience adventures into lush rainforests, on the tops of hills, across lakes and beautiful beaches. There are so many sites to visit and things to do for those that are adventurous. Burundi is well known for their drumming, which is an integral part of their cultural heritage. Not only will you experience the ethnic sound of their drums, but also the grace of their dancers, and the ingenuity of their creative craftsman.