Rajasthan Forum Seeks Dedicated Tourism Desk to Boost Bengal-Rajasthan Travel Ties
Kolkata/IBNS: Two states, two heritages, one shared afternoon at ITC Sonar. Rajasthan's Deputy Chief Minister Diya Kumari was felicitated in Kolkata on Monday during a courtesy meeting with Sundeep Bhutoria, Founder of Rajasthan Forum and a noted culturist, in an exchange that wove diplomacy with the unmistakable warmth of cultural ceremony.
Mr Bhutoria honoured the Deputy Chief Minister with Bengal's traditional kantha dupatta — hand-stitched, generations-old in technique — and presented her a handwritten copy of Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore's Gitanjali, the timeless masterpiece that first carried the voice of Bengal to the world.
It was a gesture layered with meaning: two states acknowledging each other not through protocol alone, but through the languages of craft and verse.
During the meeting, Mr Bhutoria briefed the Deputy Chief Minister on the cultural, literary and social initiatives undertaken by Rajasthan Forum, walking her through the organisation's upcoming programmes and longer-term plans.
Deputy CM Diya Kumari, responding to the gesture, said, "Rajasthan's rich cultural heritage is our invaluable legacy. The efforts made by Rajasthan Forum towards the promotion of art, culture, literature and folk traditions are truly commendable. I am confident that the organisation will continue to play a significant role in giving Rajasthan's glorious heritage a new identity at national and international levels through its cultural initiatives."
Mr Bhutoria is widely recognised as an active promoter of art, culture and literature across the country, with particular depth of engagement in Rajasthan and Bengal. His contribution toward preserving Indian folk art, cultural heritage and traditional values has been widely appreciated. A globetrotter who has visited some fifty countries, he has written extensively on tourism through his books, newspaper columns and articles — credentials he brought directly into Monday's conversation.
Beyond the cultural exchange, the meeting carried a practical ask. Mr Bhutoria requested that the Deputy Chief Minister consider placing a full-time Tourism Department official at the Rajasthan Information Centre in Kolkata, to address the steady stream of queries from West Bengal residents planning trips to Rajasthan. He pointed out that such a dedicated official had, in the past, effectively spearheaded and streamlined the local tourism center's operations—a precedent he believes is worth restoring.
With Jaipur ranking among the top three tourist destinations in India, and a substantial share of its visitors travelling from West Bengal, Mr Bhutoria underlined the need to strengthen this on-ground support.
"While Jaipur is among the top three cities of India drawing tourists from across the country and the world, a significant number of these tourists are from West Bengal," he said.
"A dedicated, full-time tourism department officer's presence at the Rajasthan Information Centre in Kolkata will go a long way in ensuring that local queries are promptly and efficiently answered. Rajasthan Forum offers its full support to the Rajasthan Tourism Department to help further boost tourism between the two states."
About Rajasthan Forum: Rajasthan Forum is a platform dedicated to celebrating and promoting Rajasthan's rich cultural, literary and artistic heritage. Founded by Sundeep Bhutoria, the Forum works toward preserving traditional folk art and customs while creating new avenues for their national and international visibility. Through literary discussions, cultural events and collaborative initiatives with eminent personalities and institutions, Rajasthan Forum seeks to give Rajasthan's heritage a contemporary identity, while fostering cultural and social ties between Rajasthan and other parts of the country, including West Bengal. The Forum is currently headed by Pandit Vishwamohan Bhatt.
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