Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister Diya Kumari was felicitated in Kolkata during a courtesy meeting at ITC Sonar by Sundeep Bhutoria, founder of the Rajasthan Forum and a noted culturist. Bhutoria honored the Deputy Chief Minister with Bengal's traditional kantha dupatta and presented her a handwritten copy of Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore's Gitanjali.
Rajasthan Forum's cultural and tourism initiatives
During the meeting, Bhutoria briefed Kumari on the various cultural, literary and social initiatives undertaken by the Rajasthan Forum, and discussed the organization's upcoming programmes and future plans. He highlighted the Forum's role in promoting Rajasthan's art, culture, literature and folk traditions.
Deputy CM Diya Kumari 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 organization 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."
Request for dedicated tourism desk
Bhutoria requested the Deputy Chief Minister to consider placing a full-time Tourism Department official at the Rajasthan Information Centre in Kolkata to promptly address the large volume of queries from tourists in West Bengal planning to visit Rajasthan. He noted that such a dedicated official used to spearhead and streamline the local tourism centre in the past.
"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. 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," said Bhutoria. "Rajasthan Forum offers its full support to the Rajasthan Tourism Department to help further boost tourism between the two states."
About Sundeep Bhutoria and Rajasthan Forum
Bhutoria is widely recognized as an active promoter of art, culture and literature across India, particularly in Rajasthan and Bengal. His contribution towards the preservation and promotion of Indian folk art, cultural heritage and traditional values has been widely appreciated. A globetrotter who has visited around 50 countries, he has written extensively on tourism through his books, newspaper columns and articles.
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 towards 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 also fostering cultural and social ties between Rajasthan and other parts of India, including West Bengal. The Forum is currently headed by Pandit Vishwamohan Bhatt.
