In a conversation with FinancialExpress.com at the Adventure Tourism Meet in Shillong, Jnandip Borgohain, Founder and Programme Director of Kite Manja, spoke passionately about creating meaningful adventure experiences that go beyond thrill-seeking. For Borgohain, adventure is not just about physical challenges but about self-discovery, teamwork, and respect for the environment. “We need to see adventure as a learning tool,” he said. “It’s about connecting with nature and understanding yourself through that experience.”
Kite Manja, which he founded, is an experiential learning organisation that integrates outdoor education with leadership and life skills. The programmes are designed for schools, youth groups, and communities, encouraging participants to explore their surroundings while developing resilience and empathy. “When you take young people outdoors, they begin to understand the value of nature. That understanding becomes the foundation of sustainability,” Borgohain explained.
Speaking about the Northeast’s adventure potential, he pointed out that the region offers immense diversity from rivers and forests to mountains and caves yet much of it remains underexplored. He believes that with the right infrastructure, training, and safety standards, the Northeast can become a major adventure hub. “There’s so much potential here,” he said. “But it has to be managed responsibly so that the natural and cultural fabric of the region is not disturbed.”
He was also optimistic about how platforms like the Adventure Tourism Meet in Shillong can help spark collaboration and awareness. “Events like this bring everyone operators, educators, and policymakers to the same table,” he said. “That’s when real conversations about sustainable adventure tourism can begin.”
For Borgohain, the goal is simple yet profound: to nurture a generation that experiences adventure not as consumption but as connection with the land, with communities, and with themselves.