Prior to the start of our trip, a Felicitation Function was organized for us on 04 Feb, 2021 at the Russian Cultural Centre in Chennai by BRICS Generation in association with the Russian Cultural Centre, IRCURF Chennai, Indo-Russian Friendship Society and DAIRIYAM Explorers Group by Prakruthi. Representatives from India Tourism, Indian Coast Guard, Pondicherry University and TV Brics participated in the event. Media Friends from Sun TV, The Hindu Tamil, Makkal Kural and Trinity Mirror were present in the event.

Invitation Card of the felicitation Function

The event was attended by about 40 people from across the city. Special invitees who could not make it to the function sent their wishes as voice or video messages. A video highlighting the essence of the program was uploaded by the Makkal Kural Team in their Online TV. The link to the video is shared here:

Video uploaded by the Makkal Kural Team showing the highlights of the event

Mr. Dipankar Ghose, Founder of Prakruthi, Mr. Muthukumar, President, BRICS Generation, Mr. Gennady Rogalev, Director of Russian Centre of Science and Culture, Chennai, Mr. N. Somasundaram, Commandant, Indian Coast Guard, Mr. Sirkazhi Sivachidambaram, famed Carnatic Singer, representatives from India Tourism and Pondicherry University and a lot more well-wishers participated and wished us a ‘Bon Voyage’.

Certain Special invitees who could not make it to the event sent their wishes electronically. Some of their wishes are available here:

Mr. D. Venkatesan, Regional Director, India Tourism – South, West and Central sent his wishes
Mr. Dev Barman, Regional Director, India Tourism – North East sent his wishes electronically
Wishes Prof. Sampada Kumar Swain, Head, Dept. of Tourism Studies, Pondicherry University
Wishes from Prof. Y. Venkata Rao, Coordinator, Travel for Tourism
Wishes from Prof. G. Anjaneya Swamy, Dean, Central University of Andhra Pradesh
Svetlana Kukava, Chief Editor, TV BRICS, Russia wishing us a great trip
The Prince of Arcot’s beautiful message

We were delighted when Commandant N. Somasundaram handed us the flag of Indian Coast Guard to carry with us throughout the trip. We felt very much honored to carry the flag with us. The Hindu Tamil carries this news.

The Hindu Tamil reporting on the event with special mention about the involvement of Indian Coast Guard

Other prominent media houses like Sun TV, Makkal Kural and Trinity Mirror too carried news about the event.

Sun TV News
News in Makkal Kural
Trinity Mirror’s Story

With so much of love and support showered upon us, our confidence boosted up and in the next three days we commenced our trip !!!