As Bengal continued to earn accolades one after the other — from the Durga Puja winning the world heritage status and tongue smacking Rasogolla clinching the GI standing — the State intelligentsia is upbeat over the inclusion of Shantiniketan the Abode of Peace founded as an educational institution by Poet Laureate Rabidranath Tagore in the UNESCO world heritage list.
“We have been silently watching with a painful heart how our very own Viswa Bharati was fast becoming the epicenter of a political tug ofwar for the past few years … In the midst of all these it is heartening to see Shantiniketan win the UNESCO World Heritage status …that is yet another feather on our cap,” said Suhardo Dutta a professor in Calcutta University.
Another painter of national repute refusing to be identified said, “being a son of a someone who was once taught by Rabindranath Tagore I feel proud … but it will be better if Shantiniketan is left alone with its unique culture and traditions set by Gurudev … all that powers that be must immediately stop playing with the honour of this prestigious institution.”
Dr Shefali Sengupta an educationist and a nephew of famous writer Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay said, “this is one moment I feel proud not only as an Indian or a Bengali but also a humanist because amongst everything Tagore represented humanism and of courseinternationalism.”
Earlier the Archeological Survey of India wrote on X: “A momentous achievement for India as Santiniketan, West Bengal, has been officially inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List, becoming the 41st World Heritage Property from India. This historic decision was made during the ongoing extended 45th World Heritage Committee Meeting held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.”
The decision was taken by The International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS).
Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted his comments saying, “Delighted that Santiniketan, an embodiment of Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore’s vision and India’s rich cultural heritage, has been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. This is a proud moment for all Indians.”
This whereas Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee who was presently touring Spain wrote, “Biswa Bangla’s pride, Santiniketan was nurtured by the poet and has been supported by people of Bengal over the generations. We from the Government of West Bengal have significantly added to its infrastructure in the last 12 years and the world now recognises the glory of the heritage place. Kudos to all who love Bengal, Tagore, and his messages of fraternity. Jai Bangla, Pranam to Gurudev.”
Shantiniketan is situated in the Birbhum district of Bengal. Rabindranath Tagore’s father Maharshi Debendranath Tagore had set up an Ashram there in 1863 apparantly to escape the din and bustle of Kolkata --- then an utterly anglicized Calcutta. About 40 years later poet, lyricist, author and philosopher Rabindranath Tagore transformed the Ashram into a school of art in 1901 following the Gurukul tradition.
Santiniketan which continues to be a residential school (presently a central university with the Prime Minister being its Chancellor) and centre for art based on ancient Indian traditions and a vision of the unity of humanity transcending religious and cultural boundaries was upgraded to Viswa Bharati (a World University) in 1921 by the Poet Laureate.
Covered by ancient trees, a glass house more popularly known as house of Upasana Griha (prayer) and numerous buildings representing a mixture of various architectural forms --- based not wholly on the British colonial architectural orientations of the early 20th century --- Viswa Bharati Shantiniketan represents approaches toward pan-Asian modernity, drawing on ancient, medieval and folk traditions from across the region.
The institution has been associated with a galaxy of big names like Indira Devi Chaudhurani, Krishna Kripalani, Dinendranath Tagore, Abanindranath Tagore, former Prime Minister of India Indira Gandhi, Oscar Award winning director Satyajit Ray, Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen and iconic artists such as, Ram Kinker Baij and Jogen Chaudhuri, Kanika Bandhopadhyay, Udai Sankar, Charles Freer Andrews, Leonard Knight Elmherst, Khan Abdul Gaffar Khan, Martin Kampchen.