The decision to make Shantiniketan, West Bengal, a UNESCO World Heritage site was taken at the 45th World Heritage Committee meeting in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on September 17, 2023. Shantiniketan thus became the 41st UNESCO World Heritage Site to be included in India. It was a result of an ongoing effort by the Government of India since 2010 when the Ministry of Culture proposed Shantiniketan to be listed as a prestigious World Heritage Site.
Reasons for attributing Shantiniketan as a UNESCO World Heritage site
Shantinikatan, West Bengal, has qualified two of the ten criteria prescribed by UNESCO. It has met criteria IV and criteria VI. Criteria IV is about being an outstanding example of a type of building, architectural or technological ensemble or landscape which illustrates a significant stage in human history; Criteria VI, on the other hand, is related to being directly or tangibly associated with events or living traditions, with ideas, or with beliefs, with artistic and literary works of outstanding universal significance.
Architectural Significance
Shantikentan, West Bengal, qualifies as the first one as it was conceived as an experimental settlement in education and communal life in a rural setting. A perfect blend of education, art, nature and work, it represents the unique stage of human history where there is harmony and peace, as the name itself is suggestive of. The open-air classrooms are a testament to the fact that true knowledge resides in the lap of nature, and man’s craving for discovery begins from this very interaction.
Association with ideas of outstanding universal significance
Next, Shantiniketan also qualifies for criteria VI as it has been “directly and tangibly associated with the ideas, works and vision of Rabindranath Tagore and his associates, pioneers of the Bengal School of Art and early Indian Modernism”, to quote from the description given in the official declaration by UNESCO. It has played a crucial role in the backdrop of the Partition of Bengal with its phenomenal contribution in the field of artistic and intellectual renaissance in the early 20th century.
It had a significant role in shaping the beliefs and ideology of the leaders of the Indian Freedom Movement, including Mahatma Gandhi, Nehru and later Indira Gandhi, India’s first woman Prime Minister. A tribute to the legacy of internationalism that was fostered in the living institution, this tag also highlights the continued service to mankind that this rich cultural institution represents.
Integrity
Shantiniketan marks continuity and integrity as it is a contemporary university campus which makes use of historic buildings, landscapes and gardens, pavilions, and artworks. The place now exudes spirit and feeling in both the tangible buildings, artworks, pavilions, gardens and landscapes and also in the intangible attributes such as educational philosophies, building practices and cultural celebrations. This perfect blend has contributed to its selection to a major extent.
Authenticity
Shantiniketan exhibits authenticity through its ability to showcase Tagore’s philosophy and global learning. “There is a high degree of continuity in the spatial layouts of the Ashram, Uttarayan, and Kala-Bhavana areas. Despite changes in uses and new artworks in some areas, the buildings and other attributes retain their eclectic forms based on experimentation with techniques and materials ranging from brick, mud, coal tar, living tree, sandstone, glass, cast iron, thatch, timber, bamboo, laterite, precast concrete, and reinforced concrete” as per the official release.
The festive celebrations, including the Dol Utsav, make use of traditional Indian forms and rituals, including decoration of the site, use of flowers, alpana, chanting of Vedic hymns and blowing of conch shells. All these add authenticity to Shantinikatan and add to its innovativeness.
Global Impact
The global impact it has over the years has contributed to its selection. It fosters a culture of internationalism in a world which is constantly being divided by narrow limits of nationalism and parochialism. Humanity is attributed supreme significance, and Shantiniketan has continued to live up to the expectation of “where the world would form a single nest”, as set by Tagore himself.
Importance of UNESCO World Heritage Sites
UNESCO declared sites represent the shared heritage of humankind and emphasize the importance of preservation of the same for current and future generations. This is according to an international convention called Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, signed in 1972. The Convention is dedicated to the identification, protection, conservation, presentation, preservation and transmission of cultural and natural heritage throughout the world. These sites have a responsibility to represent our shared history and ensure conversation between different cultures and, hence are better preserved.
History of Shantiniketan, West Bengal
Originally established by Rabindranath Tagore’s father, Debendranath Tagore as an ashram in the Birbhum district of West Bengal where people from all religions and castes were welcome to meditate. Shantiniketan, as the name translated to English, means “Abode of peace”, the place was conceived as an abode where humanity binds all irrespective of man-made divisions. Later,
Rabindranath Tagore, the first Nobel Laureate from Asia, established it as a residential school on the line of ancient Indian Vedic Gurukul. The visionary poet wanted to revive the ancient Indian traditions with a vision to unite humanity, transcending the narrow confines of religion and culture just like his father did earlier. Established in rural West Bengal in 1901 by the renowned poet and philosopher, it became a central university and an institution of national importance by an Act of Parliament later in 1951.
Named as Visva-Bharati, meaning “communion of the world with India”, it remains one of the finest institutions for liberal arts in contemporary India. Open-air classes are held under canopies of trees, and the lack of restricting walls is symbolic of the kind of liberty that Tagore wanted to ensure in higher educational spaces. While the President of India serves as the ‘Paridarshak’ or visitor of the University, the Prime Minister serves as the ‘Acharya’ or the chancellor of the University. The governor of West Bengal de facto becomes the ‘Pradhana’ or rector of the Visva Bharati University.
UNESCO’s selection criteria
UNESCO has identified ten criteria which it considers for granting the prestigious tag of World Heritage Site. Out of them, four are natural, and six are cultural. The natural criteria include superlative natural phenomena or areas of exceptional natural beauty. The significant natural habitats for in-situ conservation of biological diversity, including those containing threatened species of outstanding universal value from the point of view of science or conservation, also make it to the list. There can be places of mixed heritage, which shows a blend of human heritage as well as natural beauty.
FAQ
1. Why was Shantiniketan recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site?
Shantiniketan was recognized for its outstanding contribution to human history and its association with significant ideas. It met the UNESCO criteria of being an exceptional example of a type of building and being directly associated with events or living traditions.
2. What is the significance of Shantiniketan’s architecture?
Shantiniketan’s architecture is significant as it represents a unique stage in human history where education, art, nature, and work coexist harmoniously. Its open-air classrooms symbolize the belief that true knowledge can be found in nature.
3. How is Shantiniketan associated with Rabindranath Tagore and his ideas?
Shantiniketan is closely linked to Rabindranath Tagore, a pioneer of the Bengal School of Art and early Indian Modernism. His vision of education and cultural enrichment, as well as his association with the institution, played a crucial role in its recognition.
4. What is the significance of Shantiniketan’s role in the Indian Freedom Movement?
Shantiniketan played a significant role in shaping the beliefs and ideologies of leaders of the Indian Freedom Movement, including Mahatma Gandhi, Nehru, and Indira Gandhi. Its emphasis on internationalism and its contribution to the intellectual and artistic renaissance of the early 20th century were influential.
5. How does Shantiniketan maintain its authenticity and integrity?
Shantiniketan maintains its authenticity through its preservation of historic buildings, landscapes, and artworks. The continued practice of traditional cultural celebrations, such as Dol Utsav, also contributes to its authenticity.
