New Delhi: In a recent announcement on social media, UNESCO declared that Santiniketan, a town in West Bengal, has earned a coveted spot on the UNESCO World Heritage List during the 45th Session of the World Heritage Committee held in Saudi Arabia on Sunday.
“New inscription on the @UNESCO #WorldHeritage List: Santiniketan, #India. Congratulations!” UNESCO posted on X.
🔴BREAKING!
New inscription on the @UNESCO #WorldHeritage List: Santiniketan, #India 🇮🇳. Congratulations! 👏👏
➡️ https://t.co/69Xvi4BtYv #45WHC pic.twitter.com/6RAVmNGXXq
— UNESCO 🏛️ #Education #Sciences #Culture 🇺🇳 (@UNESCO) September 17, 2023
Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to X (formerly known as Twitter) to express his delight and described it as a “proud moment for all Indians.”
“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,” PM Modi said.
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. https://t.co/Um0UUACsnk
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 17, 2023
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…
— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) September 17, 2023
Reacting to Santiniketan’s inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List, West Bengal Minister and TMC leader Shashi Panja said, “Today is a proud moment for Bengal. It’s a proud moment for India.”
#WATCH | Delhi: On Santiniketan being inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, West Bengal Minister and TMC leader Shashi Panja says, "Today is a proud moment for Bengal. It's a proud moment for India…" #shantiniketan #UNESCO pic.twitter.com/X6Rvn6VeZW
— NewsMobile (@NewsMobileIndia) September 17, 2023
About Shantiniketan:
Shantiniketan, situated in West Bengal’s Birbhum district, is renowned for being home to Visva Bharati University. This picturesque town draws thousands of visitors annually.
Founded in 1901 by the renowned poet and philosopher Rabindranath Tagore, Santiniketan served as both a residential school and a centre for artistic pursuits deeply rooted in ancient Indian customs. Its essence lay in a visionary concept aimed at fostering the interconnectedness of all people, transcending the constraints of religion and culture.
In 1921, Santiniketan became the home of a ‘world university’ known as “Visva Bharati,” founded with the vision of fostering the unity of humanity.
Santiniketan embodies a unique perspective on pan-Asian modernity. It takes inspiration from a rich tapestry of ancient, mediaeval, and folk traditions spanning the entire Asian continent.