A special wedding held in Kota, Rajasthan is making headlines from social media to administrative corridors. IPS Sujit Shankar and IAS Charu of Rajasthan cadre got married on the country’s first heritage Chambal River Front (IPS Sujit Shankar-IAS Charu Marriage). The six-kilometre long riverfront, built at a cost of Rs 1,200 to Rs 1,400 crore, looked like a film set in the wedding photos. Despite the grand venue and high-profile guests, the ceremony remained a low-key affair.
IPS Sujit Shankar hails from Bihar and is currently the Superintendent of Police of Kota Rural District. The bride, IAS Charu, hails from Uttar Pradesh. She recently moved from Tripura cadre to Rajasthan cadre through marriage. His first posting was as SDM in Ramganj Mandi, which falls in Kota rural area. Due to their respective postings and backgrounds, the marriage had already become a topic of discussion in administrative circles.
Many big leaders and officials attended the wedding and the events preceding it. On November 29, Education Minister Madan Dilawar attended the sangeet ceremony, while on November 30, Energy Minister Hiralal Nagar blessed the new couple at the wedding. Many senior police and administrative officers were also present. However, the ceremony was not ostentatious, rather it was a simple and intimate atmosphere. Both the families welcomed the guests in a traditional manner.
The grandeur of Chambal River Front was attracting everyone’s attention.
Chambal River Front, built on the 2.75 km long bank of Chambal River, is a unique heritage site in itself. Highlights of the river front include the 225-foot high marble statue of Chambal Mata, the world’s largest bell (at Brahma Ghat) and 26 to 27 special ghats showcasing the architecture of nine regions of Rajasthan including Rajputana. This marriage, a beautiful combination of administrative grandeur, cultural heritage and simplicity, is much talked about on social media.