Santiniketan Finds Its Place On UNESCO's World Heritage List

Relevance: Prelims - Indian Heritage Sites

(Source: The Hindu, 09/18/2023)

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Why in the news?

• Recently, during the 45th Session of the World Heritage Committee in Saudi Arabia, Santiniketan, a town in West Bengal, earned its place on the UNESCO World Heritage list.
• Santiniketan is the 41st UNESCO World Heritage Site in India and the third in West Bengal, after the Sundarbans National Park and the Darjeeling Mountain Railways.
• The recommendation for Santiniketan’s inclusion was made by the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), which is the advisory body to the UNESCO World Heritage Centre.

About Santiniketan

• Santiniketan is a renowned cultural and heritage place located in Birbhum District, West Bengal, India.
• It was established in 1901, by Rabindranath Tagore, as a residential school and centre for art based on ancient Indian traditions and a vision of the unity of humanity transcending religious and cultural boundaries.
• It holds historical significance and is known for its association with Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore.
• In 1921, a ‘world university’ was established at Santiniketan, later recognised as 'Visva Bharati'.
• Santiniketan was originally named Bhubandanga, which was named after a local dacoit Bhuban.
• Initially, it started as an ashram (hermitage) founded by Rabindra Nath Tagore’s father, Debendranath Tagore, but eventually developed into a centre of art, culture, and learning

Features and Significance of Santiniketan

• Educational Philosophy: Santiniketan is celebrated for its distinctive educational philosophy, which places a strong emphasis on the harmonious integration of nature, creativity, and holistic learning. At its core, it embraces the concept of an open-air classroom, fostering an environment where students are encouraged to immerse themselves in learning while being intimately connected with the natural world.
• Artistic Heritage: This cultural and heritage gem is intricately adorned with magnificent sculptures, frescoes, murals, and paintings, masterfully crafted by esteemed artists like Rabindranath Tagore, Nandalal Bose (a trailblazing figure in modern Indian art), and Ramkinkar Baij (a revered sculptor and painter), among other luminaries of the art world.
• Historical Significance: Santiniketan holds a special place in history as it is intricately linked to Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore, who significantly contributed to its cultural and educational legacy. It stands as a testament to Tagore's vision and dedication to holistic education and artistic expression.
• UNESCO Recognition: Santiniketan is the second cultural treasure from West Bengal to receive the prestigious recognition of UNESCO, with the first being the inclusion of 'Durga Puja in Kolkata' in UNESCO's list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2021.
• Pan-Asian Modernity: Diverging from the prevalent British colonial architectural trends of the early 20th century and European modernism, Santiniketan embraced an approach towards a pan-Asian modernity. This approach drew inspiration from a rich tapestry of ancient, medieval, and folk traditions from across the Asian region, marking a departure from conventional architectural norms.

How is a World Heritage Site listed?

• A world Heritage site is listed by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) which was formed in 1945 and is based in Paris, France.
• It works for achieving peace and security by promoting international collaboration through educational, scientific, and cultural reforms in order to increase universal respect for justice, the rule of law, and human rights along with fundamental freedom proclaimed in the United Nations Charter.
• The International World Heritage Programme administered by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee establishes the sites to be listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
• The World Heritage Committee is responsible for the implementation of the World Heritage Convention (The Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage or the World Heritage Convention), defines the use of the World Heritage Fund and allocates financial assistance upon requests from States Parties.
• Currently, India is a member of the World Heritage Committee.

List of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India:

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FAQs

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Question: With reference to Madanapalle of Andhra Pradesh, which one of the following statements is correct? (UPSC 2022)

(a) Pingali Venkayya designed the tricolour Indian National Flag here

(b) Pattabhi Sitaramaiah led the Quit India Movement of Andhra region from here.

(c) Rabindranath Tagore translated the National Anthem from Bengali to English here.

(d) Madame Blavatsky and Colonel Olcott set up headquarters of Theosophical Society first here.