New Delhi: iLEAD (Institute of Leadership, Entrepreneurship and Development) recently organised an exclusive educational tour for 30 leading educational consultants from across India to Murshidabad. The visit revealed the district’s unparalleled potential as a hub for experiential learning for students from schools and colleges alike.
Within just a five-kilometer radius, Murshidabad boasts more than 50 centrally protected monuments and 25 state-protected archaeological sites, offering students a living classroom of history, art, architecture, and culture.
Among the highlights of the visit was Tantipara, the historic weavers’ quarter where students of textile, fashion, and interior design can witness the making of Baluchari sarees, Garad silk, and Ahinsak silk, exquisite fabrics found nowhere else in the world. Each Baluchari saree takes nearly a year to complete, selling for ₹1 lakh locally and fetching ₹3 lakhs in Indian metros and ₹6–10 lakhs in international markets.
“Our aim was to help educators and consultants rediscover Murshidabad’s immense academic and cultural value. The district has the unique ability to bring lessons in history, art, entrepreneurship, and sustainability alive for students, something no textbook can replicate. This initiative is part of iLEAD’s vision to promote experiential learning that blends knowledge with real-world exposure,” said Mr. Pradip Chopra, Chairman of iLEAD.
Murshidabad’s artistic heritage is equally vibrant. The district is home to thousands of performing artists, from classical dancers and folk troupes to Ghazal and Bollywood singers, including the celebrated Arijit Singh, whose roots lie here. The neighboring areas of Ajinkya and Jaigarh are now fondly called the “Music City of India,” where young talents are passionately pursuing music and traditional dance forms such as Kathak and Bharatanatyam.