As the Former Deputy Director General, Government of India in the Ministry of Tourism, New Delhi, recognized as a pioneer in areas of Tourism Service Excellence, Marketing and Promotions globally and prosperity though Tourism Education. He had his education from Delhi University with MA (Hons) in History and Diploma in Tourism from University of Paris (France). He had his studies in London (UK) world Tourism organization sponsored Management course in Tourism (Spain). He holds proficiency in Indian language and speaks French and Japanese fluently. He had 20 years of Overseas the member of diplomatic corp in mission assignments through the Ministry of Tourism to be part of Indian Missions overseas in UK, France, Spain, UAE, South Africa, Middle East countries and had been to 80 countries overseas. He holds various postings in India last being Regional Director, India Tourism, Mumbai. He was now offering professional Service to the National Apex Body of Travel and Tourism Industry – Indian Association of Tour Operators as Executive Director based in Delhi. He has authored four books related to Tourism. He was also visiting faculty in Delhi University, Jammu University Institute of Tourism and Travel Management, Government of India, Delhi and many other Private Institutes which promotes Tourism Education. He runs his own travel Journal “Safari Plus” where in he contributes tourism articles mainly to help students who do not have the ability to buy costly books about Tourism. His articles appear regularly in National and International Press.
PROFILE
GOUR KANJILAL known globally as “GK” and Professor Kanjilal
Bureaucrat, Technocrat, Diplomat, Educationist, Journalist Travel & Tourism with 30 Years teaching experience in India and abroad Institutes of Tourism.
1945 – Born on 1st July 1945 in Kolkata (West Bengal)
Father – (Late) Mr. Keshablal Kanjilal (K.L. Kanjilal) (Belong to Former East Bengal (later settled in Kolkata/Delhi)
Mother – Mrs. Bijoli Prabha Kanjilal (B.P.D.Kanjilal) (Late)
1962 – Passed Higher Secondary from Raisina Bengali Higher Secondary School, New Delhi.
1965 – Passed B.A. (Hons) History from Delhi University with distinction.
1967 – Passed MA (History –Modern India) from Delhi University
1969 – Taught History in Private Colleges, worked as conference Executive in UNCTAD SECTT (UNO) in Delhi.
1969 – Joined Government of India Service (Ministry of Tourism as Information officer and posted to India Tourist Office Kolkata.(looked after all states in Eastern Region and visited Orissa, Sikkim, Bihar, A & N lsland and North East states.
1971 – Learned French language from French consulate and Japanese from Japanese consulate under Ministry of Tourism Language Programme and got scholarship to study Tourism in Paris/Vichy (France).
1974 – Was in Paris/London under government training programme on government scholarships from France/UK governments.
1975 –Became Asst. Director in the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India after UPSC Interview.
1976 – Married to Susmita (daughter of Late Shri Sukhamoy Banerjee and Mrs Jharna Devi). Now she passed away in march 2018.
1978 – Attended PATA Convention in Delhi, first ever PATA convention in India only daughter Ms. Suparna born on 19th January, 1978 (now in USA and has Doctorate from Duke University.
1979 – Attended UNWTO Refresher course in tourism/Resort Development organized by UNDP.
1980 – Dy. Director Indian Institute of Tourism & Travel Management/Acting Director setup by the Ministry of Tourism for education in Tourism organized first ever Management Development/Executive Development Programme in Tourism field and re-organized the syllabus with basic inputs gained in UK/France.
1982 – Posted to India Tourism office in London (UK) and looked after UK, Scotland, wales and British Islands.
1982 – Joined special tourism course in University of Surrey (UK) and several tourism related seminars, read tourism related papers focusing India.
1982 –Organized Tourism Related exhibitions/workshops/cultural events for Festival of India held in 1982 in UK as part of Ministry of tourism events in Festival of India all over England, Scotland, wales, Northern Ireland.
1983 – Visited Ireland for special Holiday show on India as part of Festival of India covering Limerick, cork, Shannon and Dublin and “Know India Seminar”.
1986 – Returned to India as Director (Hospitality/Protocol) and worked for visit India events/global Media Relations work and handled promotional activities.
1986 – Posted to India Tourism Goa as Head and promoted first ever charters to India on regular basis and conducted WTO sponsored Executive Development Porgramme for WTO member countries on behalf of Ministry.
1987 – Posted to Delhi as Director (Planning) and looked after IITTM/IISM/NIWS and other undertakings of the Ministry of Tourism. (Handled over 1000 Parliament Questions till 1990) and gained insight of tourism activities of government on hand.
1990 – Transferred to India Tourism office in Paris (France) as Director and looked after Franco –fone countries – Belgium, Luxemburg and French colonies, La Reunion, Guadalupe and in charge Spain, Portugal, Tunisia and Morocco and introduced over 40 new tour operators for India destinations for the first time. With direct interaction and they are still doing India and are in touch with me even today.
1990-94 – In France and visited Spain WTO Head office for a Tourism training, visited Portugal for 500 years of discovery and boosted India relations, visited Netherlands for India Seminar and aviation contracts with Air India/KLM, visited Seville for India Pavilion for Seville Int. Expo, visited Palma Majorca, WTO and attended meetings to represent India in deliberations visited Vienna (Austria), East Germany, Germany, ITB Berlin, Hungary, Cheko Slovakia, Poland etc under tourism exchange and Tel Aviv (Israel) for first ever Tourism Bilateral. Onmy own, visited Russia, Yugoslavia, Bulgaria to get experience of tourism scene in those countries. Visited Scandinavion countries for tourism exhibitions as per directives from head office. (Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Norway) visited Italy and Greece for tourism workshops and holidays.
1995 – Promoted as Deputy Director General (Adventure and Domestic Tourism) and Regional Director (India Tourist office Delhi) Principal, Indian Institute of Skiing and Mountaineering, Gulmarg/Delhi Principal, National Institute of Water Sports and IITTM (training Division) DDG (TT) and Dy. DG (Publicity) and Regional Director India Tourist office Delhi all on additional charge.
1998-2003 – Posted to Dubai (UAE) as Regional Director (Gulf, Middle East and Africa) Promoted 40 countries all together covering Emirates Baharain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qutar, Yemen, Iran, Iraq, Cyprus, Turkey, Lebanon, Egypt, South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Mauritius, Seychelles, Madagascar, Botswana and put the first mark of Indian tourism in a big way. Over 100 tour operators were introduced for the first time from these unexplored markets towards India.
2003-2005 – Transferred as Regional Director India Tourism Mumbai (West) and till superannuation remained posted there. Had promotional tourism activities in Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Chattisgarh, UT of Dadra Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu. Conducted skill development programme, guide training programme, first ever Chinese language guide course and participated in Travel expo’s in these states as partners.
Visited:- all most all North East states of India and all states in India as visiting faculty, Tourism promoter and consultant after retirement and in office postings and IITTM Training programme in these states between 1990-2004.
2005 – Returned to Delhi and joined as visiting faculty in IITTM, Kuoni Academy, Thomas Cook Institute of excellence in Mumbai, Bundelkhand and University, Jammu University and Kumaun University and many private Institutes and lectured at these centers. Wrote 200 tourism related articles which appeared in National and trade press, vernacular press.
2006 – Joined as Consultant/Executive Director Indian Association of Tour Operator (IATO) in New Delhi and continued till 2018. Also become Advisor for Association of Buddhist Tour Operators (ABTO).
Honours Received:-
1990-95 – Received Tourism Honour for recognition of services from Mayor of Rouen, Caun, Dijon, Angers, Lyon and Valence (France).
1999-2000 – Received Honour of Tourism for services to Travel Trade from DNTA, KANOO Holidays, Egyptian tourism, South African Tourism Emirates Airlines/Gulf air, and most Friendly Indian Representative ever in the Gulf by Indian Association Dubai and Iran travel bodies, Turkish Trade in Travel Trade, West India.
2003:– Wrote four books on Tourism. (i) Compendium of Tourism Articles (ii) Indian Tourism – An inner view.
Visited: 26 states/UTS of India/80 countries of the World and saw tourism Scene.
Social work:- Run school for poor childrens as one of the Board members in Loknath Ashram at Sangam Vihar, charitable dispensary for poor attached to Ashram at C.R. Park, and Blind Society.
Blood Donation & Medical Camps, Fund raising etc under corporate social/Individual Social responsibility for social upliftment and personal contribution to the society.
Member Board of Trustee in Bangiya Samaj C.R. Park, Committee of Trustee Desh Bandhu Chittaranjan Society, Life member New Delhi KaliBari, Mandir Marg, Banga Bhavan, Hailey Road, Delhi and all most all Bengali organizations in Delhi, C. R. Park, Advisor – Kali Mandir Society, Hotel Sheetal Regency, Mathura, Advisor in many other Charitable organizations all over India.
Visiting Faculty: IITTM, Thomas Cook, Banarsidas Chandiwala hospitality Institute, Guru Nanak Dev Khalsa College, Karnal and many private Institutes of Travel and tourism and Hospitality Management (Twelve such teaching bodies) all over India and Institutes in Dubai, Sharjah, London, Paris as Indo logiest.
Work as Consultant for different Schools/ Tourism related organizations, charitable organizations and organize shows/events to raise funds for charity work.
Press Job:- Safari Plus and write articles in various National & Trade Press. (Written over 800 articles)
Language Spoken:- Know Hindi, French, Japanese, English, Bengali, Sanskrit (read and write and understand, Punjabi, Oriya, Bhojpuri to some extent.
Hobby:– Keenly interested in Drama, Music, Sports (Represented College team for football, Athletes and Drama in Delhi University) played for Delhi sporting club, interest in travelling and write travelogue, like to eat varied food, meet people, share thoughts and experience.
Own website: – For interacting with trade member’s friend’s www. Gourkanjilal.com and updates are given Facebook: Gour Kanjilal.
Like:-
Religious discourse, yoga, daily Puja at temple in house and Gourmet for Various global food. Child education, women’s Rights, good governance form priorities in my life. Bhagavad Geeta, Gandhi Ji, Rabindranath Tagore, Ramakrishna Dev gospels and many more my favorites:- songs of Kishore Kumar, Mukesh, Anup Jalota, Ajoy Chakraborty, Bhajans and Plays.
BY TRUE INDIAN & TRUE BENGALI in spite offerings to settle abroad, preferred to be in my India and serve my country till death.
Motto:–
Honesty, service, love to all, respect all. Visited over 200 pilgrimage centers in India for religious purpose and feel purified. Visited 12 centers of pilgrimage in the world covering Hindus, Christians, Muslims, Persis, Buddhists, Jains, Sikhs and many more.
Over Rs 20 lakhs given on charity for education and social services and this will continue all my life and now forming trustee which will continue my work on charity.
Contact me at (M) 9871261503, E-mail: gourkanjilal@gmail.com, Visit for Consultancy: With Prior Appointments only, Website: www.gourkanjilal.com
Need Everybody’s blessings. OM Shanti – Namaskar – Jai Hind.
