Bhubaneswar: Nineteen-year-old Ranjan Juanga, a member of the Juang tribe of Keonjhar district, came to know about the country of Brunei on Friday.

Over lunch, Ranjan chatted with Dato Paduka Sidek Ali, the high commissioner of Brunei to India about the tiny country on the island of Borneo.

Like Ranjan, around 27,000 students of Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS), Bhubaneswar, got the chance to interact with high commissioners, deputy high commissioners and representatives from the high commissions of 53 Commonwealth countries over lunch on Friday.

KISS, Bhubaneswar, in partnership with the British Council, India, hosted the Commonwealth Big Lunch on the institute premises to encourage people to get together and celebrate their Commonwealth connections through food. Dato, who came with his wife Mariaratna Sidek, said: "It was a wonderful opportunity for people of all ages to bring the Commonwealth family together as they work towards a common future."

The lunch was served by senior students of the institute. The Commonwealth Big Lunch is an international initiative launched by the UK Prime Minister Theresa May. KISS bears the distinction of being the only venue in Asia to host the event.

"The Commonwealth is very vibrant and young and so is India. Its future is shouldered by its youngsters and with the institute having so many young minds, we thought it would be the right place to spread the message. We have been working for the last three months to make it happen," said Alan Gemmell, director of British Council, India.

Yogita Sabar, another student of the institute from Nuapada district, was seen discussing the goals of the Commonwealth with Alan.

"Initially, I could not understand what he was saying but he was very patient and made understand me the idea behind the lunch and its significance," she said.

The lunch menu was typical Odia fare with rice, dal, mixed vegetables, chicken curry, khatta, sweets and pampad.

KIIT and KISS founder Achyuta Samanta said it was a matter of pride for Odisha to host the dignitaries from 53 Commonwealth countries.

"They will certainly carry a part of Odisha with them and in the long run it will strengthen India's connections with the world," he said.

The delegates released 53 white pigeons as a symbol of the students and inaugurated the Commonwealth Hall on the institute premises.

British Council also signed an memorandum of understanding with the state government on Friday to develop new teacher training programmes.