Report
Rai Saha
Photographs
Teerthankar Basak & Md. Sameer
BAJMC Sem 3
Mentor
Prof. Moumita De Das, Associate Professor, ASCO
MCES 2026: Unfolds the Vision of Purvodaya Through Culture, Spirituality and Economic Policy, with ASCO Students Capturing Every Chapter
On July 17, 2026 marked a significant milestone in India's cultural and policy landscape as MCES 2026, themed "Purvodaya," successfully convened Eastern India's first Cultural Economy Summit at Fairfield by Marriott, Kolkata. Organised and powered by the Maitri Cultural Economy Samiti (MCES) under the aegis of MaitriBodh Parivaar, the summit was held in close collaboration with the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, the Eastern Zonal Cultural Centre (EZCC), the Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Institute of Asian Studies (MAKAIAS), Mahindra, SmArt and the Bharat Ekatvam Foundation.
Guided by the spiritual vision of His Holiness Maitreya Dadashreeji and driven by the economic leadership of Shri Gopal Krishna Agarwal, Patron, MCES and National Spokesperson, BJP (Economic Affairs), the summit sought to redefine the way India perceives culture, not merely as an inheritance of the past but as a living, evolving economic force. Under the theme Purvodaya, meaning the "Rise of the East," the summit envisioned Eastern India as a catalyst for a new developmental narrative where Sanskriti, spirituality and economic policy complement one another in shaping sustainable growth.
Throughout the day, scholars, policymakers, economists, artists, spiritual leaders and cultural practitioners came together to examine how India's festivals, temple ecosystems, indigenous knowledge systems, crafts, traditions and heritage can become engines of employment, entrepreneurship and inclusive development while preserving the country's civilisational identity.
The summit unfolded through eight carefully curated segments, comprising the inaugural session, three thematic sessions, two parallel thematic sessions, networking interactions, the presentation of the policy report and a concluding cultural programme that celebrated the artistic traditions of Eastern India.
The Inaugural Session, themed "Governing the Cultural Economy: Institutional Roles and Policy Strategies," laid the foundation for the day's deliberations. The session was graced by Shri Gopal Krishna Agarwal, Shri Shailesh Puranik, Dr. Sarup Prasad Ghosh, Shri Shankar Ghosh, Smt. Purnima Chakraborty, and Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Hon'ble Union Minister of Culture and Tourism, Government of India, who addressed the gathering virtually. Together, the dignitaries emphasised that India's cultural heritage should be recognised not only as a source of identity but also as a strategic driver of economic development, capable of strengthening local economies while reinforcing national pride.
The discussions continued with Thematic Session I – Spiritual Traditions and Temple Economy: Perspectives from West Bengal, chaired by Prof. Nirmalya Narayan Chakraborty, Vice-Chancellor, Presidency University. The distinguished panel included Shri Kushal Choudhury, Secretary and Trustee, Dakshineswar Kali Temple and Debottar Estate; Shri Ravi Singh Chaudhary, Eminent Author and Public Thinker; Brahmachari Divakar Chaitanya, In-charge, Chinmaya Mission, Kolkata; and Paramatmanandaji Ji Maharaj, Spiritual Guru and Eminent Author. The session explored the economic significance of temple ecosystems, heritage restoration, spiritual tourism and the role of religious institutions in generating sustainable livelihoods while preserving authenticity and cultural values.
Thematic Session II – Reflections of Cultural Economy in Eastern India: Intersections of Culture, Society and Economy brought together Shri Ashish Giri, Director, Eastern Zonal Cultural Centre; Dr. Dhanpat Ram Agarwal, National Co-convener, Swadeshi Jagran Manch; Mrs. Meena Vishwanath, Deputy Director, SMaRT; Smt. Tramila Bhattacharya, actress and social worker; Dr. Sumit Sur, Ayurveda practitioner and researcher in Indian Knowledge Systems; and Shri Goutam Dey, Founder and President, Bharatacharcha Foundation. Through diverse perspectives, the speakers examined how cultural practices, traditional knowledge systems and community participation continue to shape regional economies and strengthen Eastern India's developmental landscape.
The historical continuum of Eastern India formed the basis of Thematic Session III – From Anga to Banga to Kalinga: Reimagining Ancient Cultural Linkages for Sustainable Cultural-Economic Connectivity. The session featured Prof. Byomakesh Tripathy, Vice-Chancellor, Gangadhar Meher University; Prof. Ramkrushna Pradhan, Dean, School of Social Sciences, Guru Ghasidas Vishwavidyalaya; Dr. Pritam Banerjee, Head, Centre for WTO Studies; and Prof. Rabiranjan Sen, historian and President, Vidya Bharati, West Bengal. Drawing upon the maritime and cultural exchanges that once connected Anga, Banga and Kalinga, the discussion explored how these historic linkages can inspire contemporary regional cooperation and sustainable economic connectivity.
Running simultaneously were two parallel sessions that expanded the summit's multidisciplinary discourse.
Parallel Session IV – Lifestyle Through Art: Restoring Heritage for Sustainability featured Dr. Joy Sen, Professor, Department of Architecture, IIT Kharagpur; Shri Swapan Thakur, researcher in folklore and cultural traditions; Smt. Sanghita Mitra, Founder and Secretary, Bharatpur Patachitra Shilpi Samiti; Dr. Shubham Amin, academician and art critic; and Mrs. Arpita Bose, Lecturer, Shree Chaitanya Mahavidyalaya. The session celebrated traditional art forms as living embodiments of sustainability, demonstrating how indigenous artistic practices continue to preserve cultural identity while supporting artisan livelihoods.
In parallel, Session V – Artificial Intelligence, Heritage Documentation and Intellectual Property Rights: Preserving Cultural Legacy in the Digital Age explored the transformative role of emerging technologies in safeguarding India's cultural wealth. The panel comprised Smt. Moumita De Das, Associate Professor, Amity University Kolkata; Dr. Somsubhra Gupta, Professor, Swami Vivekananda University; Shri Aditya Das, Head, Department of Commerce, Raghunathpur College; Dr. Anirban Das, Professor and AI researcher; and Shri Kaushik Maiti, Scientist, Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), Kolkata. The discussion highlighted how artificial intelligence, digital documentation and intellectual property frameworks can become indispensable tools for preserving cultural heritage in an increasingly digital world.
The summit concluded with the Valedictory Session and Presentation of the Policy Report, themed "The Way Forward and Roadmap for Cultural Economic Governance in Bengal: Envision Viksit Bharat @2047." The session featured addresses by Shri Rathindra Bose, Hon'ble Speaker, Government of West Bengal, and His Holiness Maitreya Dadashreeji, whose reflections underscored the importance of integrating India's timeless wisdom with contemporary governance and economic policymaking. As the programme drew to a close with a vibrant cultural presentation, Purvodaya had evolved from a theme into a shared vision.
More than a summit, MCES 2026 became a confluence of ideas where history conversed with the future, spirituality met public policy and culture emerged as an enduring economic resource. It demonstrated that the stories, traditions and knowledge systems inherited across generations are not relics of the past but living assets capable of inspiring innovation, creating livelihoods and shaping a more inclusive and culturally rooted model of development. In doing so, Purvodaya truly marked the dawn of a new conversation on Cultural Economy in Eastern India, laying a strong foundation for future collaborations between academia, government, civil society and young communicators.
OUTCOME FOR STUDENTS AND FACULTY MEMBER
Under the mentorship of Prof. Moumita De Das, ASCO, students received this prestigious opportunity, which was part of their Experiential Learning under UGC's NEP 2020. Beyond the distinguished speakers and thought-provoking deliberations, the summit stood as a testament to the dedication of its student volunteers, whose efforts were instrumental in documenting the event. Students from the Amity School of Communication (ASCO), Amity University Kolkata, actively contributed as rapporteurs, photographers and reel creators, working in close coordination with the organising team throughout the summit. Assigned across the thematic sessions, they meticulously documented keynote addresses, panel discussions and policy recommendations through rapporteur reports while simultaneously capturing the essence of the event through photography and short-form visual storytelling. Their work ensured that the ideas exchanged within the conference extended beyond the venue and reached wider audiences through impactful documentation.
The experience offered the students an invaluable opportunity to translate classroom learning into professional practice. Through real-time conference reportage, photography and digital storytelling, they developed practical skills in event documentation, visual communication, collaborative teamwork, professional ethics and deadline-oriented media production. Engaging directly with policymakers, academicians, economists, researchers, artists and spiritual leaders also broadened their understanding of the emerging discipline of Cultural Economy and the role of media in documenting policy discourse. Further strengthening ASCO's academic presence, Prof. Moumita De Das, ASCO also contributed to the summit as a speaker in Parallel Session V, on ‘Artificial Intelligence, Heritage Documentation and Intellectual Property Rights – Presereving Cultural Legacy in the Digital Age’. She also contributed to the Background paper, which was published officially by the organisers and ministers of tourism and culture Govt. of West Bengal.
In recognition of the ASCO students commitment and contribution, they were presented with Certificates of Appreciation.
REPORT ON EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING FOR ASCO STUDENTS
Under the mentorship of Prof. Moumita De Das, Amity School of Communication (ASCO) students received the prestigious opportunity to be associated with MCES 2026, under Experiential Learning as framed in UGC's NEP 2020.
ASCO student volunteers, actively contributed as rapporteurs, photographers and reel creators, working in close coordination with the organising team throughout the summit. Their efforts were instrumental in documenting the entire event.
The experience offered the students an invaluable opportunity to translate classroom learning into professional practice. Through real-time conference reportage, photography and digital storytelling, they developed practical skills in event documentation, visual communication, collaborative teamwork, professional ethics and deadline-oriented media production. Engaging directly with policymakers, academicians, economists, researchers, artists and spiritual leaders also broadened their understanding of the emerging discipline of Cultural Economy and the role of media in documenting policy discourse. Further strengthening ASCO's academic presence, Prof. Moumita De Das, ASCO also contributed to the summit as a speaker in Parallel Session V, on ‘Artificial Intelligence, Heritage Documentation and Intellectual Property Rights – Preserving Cultural Legacy in the Digital Age’. She also contributed to the Background paper, which was published officially by the organisers and ministers of tourism and culture Govt. of West Bengal.
In recognition of the ASCO students commitment and contribution, they were presented with Certificates of Appreciation.
IMP: The official report will soon be published by the Ministry of Culture, Govt. of India and MCES.
N.B: We are extremely thankful to Bharat Ekatvam and Maitri Parivaar Team
to provide us with this prestigious opportunity for our ASCO students under Experiential Learning and Extension Activity under UGC NEP 2020.
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