Teaching AI, Discovering Raipur

I was introduced  to Mr. Pankaj Tiwari, the Director of CCRC at Kalinga University through a mutual friend. They were planning to conduct to MasterClass for manufacturing veterans at Raipur and they asked me if I could conduct it. I loved the opportunity and decided to go ahead.

I was invited to take a Master Class in AI at the Kalinga University, Raipur, Chhattisgarh. I had a couple of interactions with team Kalinga and found them very warm and welcoming. They were very hospitable. I was received at the airport by one of the department members. I had not been to Raipur before and wanted to look around and explore a bit. With that in mind, I had planned to reach 2 days before the MasterClass. The next morning they had arranged for a sightseeing and I was accompanied by one of the other department members.

We first visited Purkhouti Muktangan. It’s a beautiful open-air museum in Naya Raipur, spread over 200 acres, showcasing Chhattisgarh’s rich culture and traditions. As you walk through, you’ll see life-sized sculptures of tribal people dancing, farming, and celebrating their customs. The museum also has traditional houses built with clay walls and decorated with colorful patterns, giving you a real feel of tribal life. These houses show how different communities in Chhattisgarh live, making the experience even more immersive. Along with murals and models of famous landmarks, this place is like a living storybook of the state’s history and art. I found it absolutely beautiful, but I wish I had more time to explore it fully!

Next we visited Gadh Kalewa. If you want to try real Chhattisgarhi food in Raipur then Gadh Kalewa is the place! It is an open-air restaurant with a simple, village-style setup. I tasted some local dishes like udad wada, airsa… If you like trying local food and enjoy sitting in an open space, you should visit Gadh Kalewa. I really liked it, but I wish I could have eaten more!

Next to Gadh Kalewa is the Mahant Ghasidas museum. It was built in 1875 by Raja Mahant Ghasidas of Rajnandgaon. It has a beautiful collection of ancient coins, sculptures, paintings, weapons, tribal artifacts, and historical Sheela Lekh (stone inscriptions). Most of the artifacts in the Mahant Ghasidas Museum are from Chhattisgarh. The museum has two floors filled with old coins, paintings, weapons, and statues. Some of the statues are really beautiful and show the rich history of Chhattisgarh. One of my favorite parts was the tribal section, where you can see the traditional clothes, tools, and musical instruments used by the local tribes. It feels like stepping back in time! Another fascinating thing was the Sheela Lekh—ancient stone inscriptions with old writings. It was amazing to see how people wrote and recorded history so many years ago. The place is quiet and peaceful, so you can take your time looking at everything. If you enjoy learning about history and culture, this museum is worth a visit.

The day after I arrived was my AI master class. Every time I take a session on AI and its applications, I meet curious minds—people eager to understand how AI can help in their work and daily life. This time was no different.

The class was filled with professionals from the manufacturing sector, all experienced and eager to learn. I started by giving them a simple introduction to AI and then shared several real-world use cases, especially from manufacturing, that they could actually start using.

What made the session even more exciting were the hands-on exercises. These helped them get a feel for how AI works and gave them the confidence to explore it further. It was also a great chance for me to hear different perspectives from people in the field.

But the day didn’t end there.

After the session, the team from Kalinga had a surprise planned—a small birthday celebration for me! It was such a thoughtful gesture. We even had a little jam session, laughed, and spent time getting to know each other better.

From learning and laughter to culture and cuisine, my Raipur visit had a bit of everything. This trip gave me not just a platform to share my knowledge, but also memories, conversations, and connections that I’ll cherish for a long time. Raipur made me feel right at home, and I came back with some really nice memories.