Rabindranath Tagore's Shantiniketan is now a World Heritage Site

UNESCO conferred the title of a World Heritage site on Rabindranath Tagore's Shantiniketan, Birbhum. Takin to X, UNESCO made the announcement on Sunday. “BREAKING! New inscription on the @UNESCO #WorldHeritage List: Santiniketan, #India 🇮🇳. Congratulations!” tweeted the World Organization.

Established by Tagore in 1901, the residential school and art center known as Shantiniketan was inspired by traditional Indian customs and a belief in the universality of humanity that cuts across all barriers of race, religion, and culture. A ‘world university’ or ‘Vishwa Bharati’ was founded in 1921.
India has long sought a UNESCO designation for this cultural site in Birbhum district. ICOMOS, an international advisory organization, proposed that the landmark monument be added to the UNESCO World Heritage List a few months ago.

Calling it a ‘proud moment for all Indians’, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, “Delighted to know that Santiniketan, the embodiment of Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore's dream and India's rich cultural heritage, has been inscribed @UNESCO on the World Heritage List. This is a proud moment for all Indians.”

Taking to X, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee lauded this conferment. “Glad and proud that our Santiniketan, the town of Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore, is now finally included in UNESCO's World Heritage List. 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 last 12 years and the world now recognizes the glory of the heritage place. Kudos to all who love Bengal, Tagore, and his messages of fraternity. Jai Bangla, Pranam to Gurudev.”she tweeted calling Shantiniketan the pride of ‘Biswa Bangla.’