Shantiniketan of Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore included in UNESCO heritage list

Santiniketan, the prestigious seat of learning established by Asia’s first Nobel laureate Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore, has been included in the UNESCO heritage list. It is the 41st site in India to be included in the UNESCO heritage list.

The decision to include Santiniketan in the UNESCO heritage list has been taken at the 45th session of the World Heritage Committee in Saudi Arabia on 17 September 2023.

About Shantiniketan

Shantiniketan is famous as a university town in Bengal. Shantiniketan was founded in 1901 by Rabindranath Tagore in the rural areas of Birbhum district of West Bengal. It was established as a residential school and art centre. According to UNESCO “The school was based on ancient Indian traditions and a vision of the unity of humanity, beyond cultural boundaries, based on religious and religious traditions.”

Rabindranath Tagore established a world university, Visva Bharati, in Santiniketan in 1921. According to UNESCO “Santiniketan represents an approach toward pan-Asian modernity, drawing on the ancient, medieval and folk traditions of the entire region.” Later Tagore settled in Santiniketan.

Indian sites in UNESCO heritage list

A total of 41 Indian sites have been included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Of these, 33 are cultural sites, 7 are natural sites and Sikkim’s Kanchenjunga National Park is included in the mixed category.

In 2021, the Rudreshvara Temple (Ramappa Temple) in Palampet, Warangal, Telangana and the Indus Valley site Dholavira in Gujarat were included as the 39th and 40th sites in India, respectively.

The first Indian sites to be included in the UNESCO list were Ajanta, Ellora Caves, Taj Mahal and Agra Fort in 1983.

Role of the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS)

The Paris, France-based International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) had, a few months ago, recommended the inclusion of Santiniketan in the UNESCO World Heritage List. ICOMOS is an advisory body that recommends world sites for inclusion on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

ICOMOS is an international non-governmental organization consisting of professionals, experts, representatives of local authorities, companies and heritage organisations.

It is dedicated to the preservation and enhancement of architectural and landscape heritage throughout the world.