Madurai to enter Twin Cities Partnership with Camberley for cultural exchange and educational collaboration

The Pongal celebrations in the ancient city of Madurai will mark the signing of a Twin Cities Partnership with Camberley, a town in the United Kingdom. Mayor of Surrey Heath Louise Ashbery and her delegation will visit Madurai and Theni during the festival and sign the agreement with the Madurai Corporation Commissioner. Camberley is the home town of Colonel John Pennycuick, the British engineer who built the Mullaperiyar Dam.

“The agreement marks a new chapter in cultural exchange, educational collaboration, and global development between the two cities. The visit of Mayor Councillor Louise Ashbery and her delegation symbolises a renewed bond between the two regions, rooted in history and focused on future progress,” said Santhana Beeroli, a documentary film-maker, who had earlier traced the memorial of Colonel John Pennycuick and his family members.

Chitra Vijayan, Commissioner of the Madurai Corporation, has already written to Louise Ashbery regarding the Twin Cities Partnership, as Chief Minister M.K. Stalin is keen on fostering such agreements. “The Government of Tamil Nadu and the Madurai Corporation welcome your proposal to explore a formal twinning arrangement. We share your belief that such a partnership holds significant potential for fostering cultural, educational, and economic exchanges,” Ms. Vijayan said in her letter.

Tamil Nadu’s Minister for Minorities and Non-Resident Tamils Welfare  S.M. Nazar has already visited St. Peter’s Church in Camberley.

In her response, Louise Ashbery said she was interested in visiting Tamil Nadu “to learn more about the historic city of Madurai, explore the links between our communities, and gain a deeper understanding of Tamil culture”. “I am particularly keen to learn more about Colonel John  Pennycuick and the lasting impact of the Mullaperiyar Dam on the region,” she added.

Mr. Beeroli said Ms. Ashbery and her delegation would meet the Chief Minister on January 11 in Chennai before travelling to Madurai, where they would participate in the Pongal celebrations on January 14 and sign the agreement on January 16. The partnership is a long-term collaboration between cities in different countries, aimed at promoting cooperation in education and research, culture and heritage, tourism, economic development, and urban governance and sustainability.

Mr. Beeroli noted that one of the most impactful outcomes of the partnership would be the creation of new academic and scholarship pathways for Indian students. “Through this initiative, students from Tamil Nadu will gain access to U.K. universities, exchange programmes, and joint research opportunities. It will especially benefit students from Madurai and surrounding regions, offering them global exposure and access to high-quality education,” he said.