Dr.Shankar Prasad Kala
Full Name: Dr. Shankar Prasad Kala
Also Known As: Shankar Kala, Meeshankavi
Born: 22 September 1954
Birthplace: Papdyana/Gopeshwar area, Garhwal, Uttarakhand, India
Nationality: Indian
Profession: Tourism Researcher, Writer, Social Activist
Known For: SET/VIPRO Movement, Gandhian Tourism, Zero Time Theory of Tourism
Education: P.G. Diploma in Tourism, P.G. Diploma in Journalism, M.A. Sociology, Ph.D. Tourism, Legal Studies
Alma Mater: Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University (reported)
Research Interests: Tourism, Sociology, Himalayan Ecology, Sustainable Tourism
Movement: Stop Exploitive Tourism (SET) / Vinashkari Paryatan Roko Andolan (VIPRO)
Tourism Philosophy: Gandhian Tourism
Notable Theory: Zero Time Theory of Tourism
Notable Work: Pilgrimage and New Tourism in Garhwal Himalaya
Field of Work: Responsible Tourism, Social Welfare, Environmental Protection
Years Active: Since the 1980s (as reported)
Dr. Shankar Prasad Kala is an Indian tourism researcher and social activist associated with the study of tourism, its social consequences, environmental protection and the equitable distribution of tourism benefits. His work, as described in his biographical materials, emphasizes the relationship between tourism, society, culture and the natural environment.
Kala is associated with the Stop Exploitive Tourism (SET) movement and the Vinashkari Paryatan Roko Andolan (VIPRO), initiatives that he describes as efforts to address exploitative tourism practices. His stated areas of interest also include Gandhian tourism, responsible travel, pilgrimage in the Garhwal Himalaya and the relationship between tourism and peace.
The historical details of his research, international correspondence, conference participation and recognitions should be assessed using independently published sources and original documentary records.
Early life and education
According to the biographical information supplied for this article, Shankar Prasad Kala was born on 22 September 1954 in the Garhwal region of present-day Uttarakhand, India. His family background is associated with the Himalayan region.
Kala pursued studies in several disciplines, including tourism, journalism, sociology and law. His educational qualifications are reported as follows:
- Postgraduate Diploma in Tourism, 1978.
- Postgraduate Diploma in Journalism, 1979.
- Master of Arts in Sociology, 1982.
- Ph.D. in Tourism, 1986.
- Further legal studies, including LL.B. and LL.M.
His studies brought together social science, communication, legal studies and tourism. According to his account, this multidisciplinary background influenced his approach to tourism policy, community welfare and environmental protection.
The institution, award of each qualification and the reported academic distinctions should be supported by university records or other reliable sources.
Tourism research and philosophy
Kala's stated approach treats tourism as a social activity rather than exclusively as an economic industry. He argues that travel should contribute to the welfare of travellers, local communities and the surrounding environment.
He has proposed that tourism planning should consider social and cultural consequences alongside economic objectives. His work also raises questions about unequal access to tourism facilities, the effects of commercialization and the protection of environmentally sensitive destinations.
Definition of tourism
Kala has attributed the following definition to his work:
Tourism is a social institution established by society for the upliftment of the tourist or traveller and the entire environment around him through the desired act of travelling.
The wording above is reproduced from the material supplied for this biography. Its publication history and any formal acknowledgement by the World Tourism Organization (UN Tourism) require documentary verification.
Tourism and peace
Kala's account of his research refers to the international conference titled Tourism: A Vital Force for Peace, held in Vancouver, Canada, in October 1988.
He states that a research paper titled Tourism and the Man was accepted for presentation in a conference commitment session. He also reports that financial circumstances prevented his attendance.
The conference programme, paper acceptance correspondence and related records would be appropriate sources for establishing the details of this account.
Zero Time Theory of Tourism
Kala is associated with a concept he calls the Zero Time Theory of Tourism. According to his description, the theory is intended to contribute to the understanding of tourism and tourism development planning.
A detailed account of the theory's principles, original publication date, methodology and subsequent academic reception would be needed to assess its contribution to tourism studies.
Gandhian tourism
Kala has advocated an approach he calls Gandhian tourism, drawing on principles associated with Mahatma Gandhi, including truth, non-violence, equality, cleanliness, love and purposeful action.
The principles described in his materials include:
- Encouraging respectful and non-violent conduct.
- Promoting fair access to tourism benefits for economically disadvantaged communities.
- Encouraging purposeful and meaningful travel.
- Protecting local culture and traditions.
- Maintaining environmental and personal cleanliness.
- Reducing exploitative practices in tourism.
- Considering tourism as a means of social and community development.
These principles form part of Kala's stated tourism philosophy.
SET and VIPRO movement
The Stop Exploitive Tourism (SET) movement and the Vinashkari Paryatan Roko Andolan (VIPRO) are central to Kala's account of his social activism.
The movement is described as an effort to challenge tourism practices that, in its proponents' view, place commercial interests above social welfare, environmental protection and the interests of local residents.
According to Kala's materials, the movement developed in the Garhwal Himalaya region during the 1980s and subsequently communicated its concerns to national and international institutions.
Its stated areas of concern include:
- The environmental effects of poorly planned tourism.
- The commercialization of culturally and religiously significant destinations.
- The unequal distribution of tourism infrastructure and economic benefits.
- The protection of children and vulnerable people from exploitation.
- The inclusion of lower-income communities in tourism planning.
- The development of tourism policies that take social and environmental impacts into account.
The movement's founding date, scale, international recognition and specific institutional endorsements require confirmation through contemporary publications and archival evidence.
Three principal demands
Kala's stated programme identifies three principal demands:
- Recognition of travel as a fundamental natural human right through appropriate international consideration.
- Tourism planning that prioritizes peace, social welfare, environmental responsibility and the interests of travellers and host communities.
- Tourism infrastructure and development policies that also serve low-income and middle-income populations, rather than disproportionately benefiting wealthier groups.
These demands reflect the objectives described in the movement's own materials.
World Tourism Day and Gloomy Day
Kala's materials describe an annual protest against the commercialization of tourism. The initiative calls for 27 September, the date observed internationally as World Tourism Day, to be marked as a Gloomy Day in recognition of what the movement considers the negative social and environmental consequences of exploitative tourism.
The movement's stated activities include candle-lighting, public appeals, reflection on environmental damage and calls for changes in tourism policy.
The materials also refer to 22 September as a day of prayer for forgiveness and reflection. These observances are presented as part of the movement's own programme; their dates, duration and participation should be documented independently.
Publications
Pilgrimage and New Tourism in Garhwal Himalaya
Kala is associated with a book titled Pilgrimage and New Tourism in Garhwal Himalaya.
The work is described in his materials as examining ways to develop pilgrimage tourism in the Garhwal Himalaya while protecting mountain ecology, cultural traditions and the interests of local communities.
A complete bibliographic record, including publisher, year of publication, edition and ISBN where applicable, should be added after verification.
Research paper: Tourism and the Man
Tourism and the Man is identified in Kala's biographical account as a research paper associated with the 1988 Vancouver conference on tourism and peace.
The conference programme or an archived copy of the paper would help establish its exact title, authorship and presentation status.
Awards and recognition
Kala's supplied biographical materials list several awards, distinctions and other forms of recognition. These include:
| Year | Reported recognition | Verification needed |
|---|---|---|
| 1992–1993 | Rahul Sankrityayan Centenary Rajbhasha Maulik Lekhan National Award | Official award record and exact award title |
| 1997 | Listing in Marquis Who's Who in the World, 14th edition | Original edition and entry |
| 1998 | International Man of the Year | Awarding organization and official record |
| 2000 | Rashtriya Hindi Sevi Sahasrabdi Samman and Medal | Award certificate and organizer details |
| 2001 | Padmashri Dr. Laxminarayan Dubey Smriti Samman | Award record |
| 2004 | Kalidas Samman | Organizer and award documentation |
| 2007 | Shri Samman | Awarding organization and certificate |
| 2010 | Bengali Kavita Academy Samman | Academy record |
| 2025 | Rashtriya Atal Samman | Organizer and official award record |
This list reflects the claims in the supplied biographical materials. Inclusion in an encyclopedia should follow verification of each award's official name, awarding body and recipient.
Support and correspondence
Kala's account refers to support for the SET/VIPRO movement from environmental activists, scholars and public figures, including:
- Sunderlal Bahuguna, environmentalist associated with the Chipko movement.
- Chandi Prasad Bhatt, environmentalist and social activist.
- Radha Bhatt, social activist.
- D. D. Pant, physicist and former academic associated with the Himalayan region.
- Other scholars and organizations reportedly involved in environmental and tourism discussions.
His materials also refer to correspondence with tourism institutions and government offices, including correspondence attributed to the World Tourism Organization and the President's Secretariat.
Specific endorsements, quotations, official letters and institutional responses should be included only when the original documents or reliable published accounts can be examined.
Views on tourism development
Kala's stated position is critical of tourism development models that prioritize luxury consumption and commercial revenue without adequately considering local communities and environmental costs.
He argues that public investment and taxation should not result in tourism facilities that predominantly benefit wealthy visitors while poorer communities bear a disproportionate share of the costs.
His work advocates more equitable planning, the protection of fragile Himalayan ecosystems and stronger consideration of the cultural and social consequences of travel.
These positions form part of his wider interest in responsible and community-oriented tourism.
Legacy and continuing work
Kala's stated work brings together tourism research, social activism and environmental concerns. Through the SET/VIPRO movement and his proposed concepts of Gandhian tourism and Zero Time Theory of Tourism, he has sought to encourage debate about the purpose of travel and the responsibilities of tourism planners.
The historical influence and academic significance of these contributions should be evaluated through independent scholarly research, published works, archival material and documented evidence of the movement's activities.