Santiniketan was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List during the 45th session of the World Heritage Committee in Saudi Arabia on 17 September, as reported by ANI, a partner of TV BRICS.

Responding to a message from Vishal V Sharma, India’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to UNESCO, Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar wrote, “Congratulations. A fitting tribute to our first Nobel laureate, writer Rabindranath Tagore and all those who have kept his message alive.”

Earlier, Vishal V. Sharma wrote on his social media account that it was a great day for Indians as Shantiniketan has been inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

He also shared a video from the moment Santiniketan’s inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List was announced.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the inscription of Santiniketan (West Bengal) on the UNESCO World Heritage List as “a moment of pride for all Indians”.

Prime Minister Modi wrote, “Glad 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. It is a moment of pride for all Indians.”

Santiniketan, founded in 1901 by Tagore, was a residential school and arts centre whose concept is based on ancient Indian traditions and a vision of the unity of humanity transcending religious and cultural boundaries.

In contrast to the prevailing British colonial architectural orientations of the early twentieth century and European modernism, Santiniketan represents the heritage of pan-Asian modernity, drawing on ancient, medieval and folk traditions from across the region.

India has long sought UNESCO status for this cultural site located in Birbhum district.

Union Minister for Culture and Tourism, Kishan Reddy had earlier informed that Santiniketan has been recommended for inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List by the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS).

Photo: flickr.com