Santiniketan: From Tagore's ashram to UNESCO World Heritage Site

Santiniketan is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that celebrates the legacy of Rabindranath Tagore, a Nobel laureate and a pioneer of Indian literature and education. The site was founded by his father Debendranath Tagore as an ashram for spiritual seekers of all backgrounds and faiths. Santiniketan offers a unique blend of culture, nature and history in the heart of West Bengal.

Santiniketan, a renowned cultural site in West Bengal, India, has been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The announcement was made by the international organization on 'X' on Sunday.

Santiniketan is the place where Nobel laureate poet Rabindranath Tagore established Visva-Bharati, a university and an ashram, over a hundred years ago. The site reflects Tagore's vision of harmony between nature, culture and education. India had been pursuing the UNESCO status for Santiniketan for a long time. The inclusion of Santiniketan in the list was decided at the 45th session of the World Heritage Committee held in Saudi Arabia.

Santiniketan, the abode of peace and learning founded by Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore, has been inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This is a moment of joy and pride for West Bengal and the entire nation, as Santiniketan represents the cultural and educational legacy of Tagore and his vision of universal harmony.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee congratulated the people of Bengal and the lovers of Tagore for this achievement. She said that her government has been committed to preserving and enhancing the infrastructure and facilities of Santiniketan for the last 12 years. She also thanked the UNESCO for recognizing the value and significance of this heritage site. She saluted Tagore and his message of fraternity in her post on X.

Abha Narain Lambah, a renowned conservation architect who had prepared a dossier for Santiniketan's nomination in 2009, expressed her delight and satisfaction at the news. She said that she had always believed in the beauty of Santiniketan, and that it was finally rewarded with the UNESCO inscription. She said that Santiniketan was a unique example of an integrated educational campus that blended nature, art, culture and spirituality.

Santiniketan, a town that hosts the renowned Visva-Bharati University, is a candidate for the UNESCO World Heritage List. The International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), a France-based NGO that works to preserve and promote the cultural and natural heritage of the world, has recommended Santiniketan for this recognition.

The town, situated about 160 km from Kolkata, has a rich history and legacy. It was founded by Debendranath Tagore, the father of Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore, as an ashram where people of all faiths and backgrounds could worship the Supreme Being. Debendranath Tagore, also known as 'Maharshi', was a prominent figure of the Indian Renaissance and a reformer of Hinduism. He built several structures in Santiniketan, such as the Santiniketan Griha and the Mandir, which have a distinctive architectural style and reflect his universalist vision.

Rabindranath Tagore, who inherited his father's spirit and ideals, established Visva-Bharati as a university that would foster international collaboration and exchange in the fields of arts, humanities, sciences and social sciences. Visva-Bharati became a central university and an institution of national importance by an Act of Parliament in 1951. The university has produced many eminent scholars, artists, writers and leaders who have contributed to the cultural and intellectual life of India and the world.

Santiniketan is a unique example of a place that embodies the fusion of tradition and modernity, spirituality and rationality, diversity and unity. It is a place that celebrates the human potential for creativity, harmony and peace.