Santiniketan is India’s choice for world heritage site

‘Yatra Visawam Bhavati Ekanidam’ – where the whole world meets in one nest. Rabindranath Tagore, India’s first Nobel laureate, wanted Santiniketan to be that spot, where the whole world would settle, forgetting illusory geographical boundaries.

Little wonder then that India’s nodal authority Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) submitted Santiniketan as its official entry this year for Unesco’s list on World Heritage Sites.

ASI has submitted the dossier on Santiniketan to Unesco’s world heritage centre in Paris, and has received a letter from the body, saying the dossier received is as per operational guidelines.

“There are two reasons Santiniketan was sent as a nomination. Next year marks the 150th birth anniversary of Gurudeo Tagore. It is also a location where you come across elements of outstanding universal value in terms of landscape, education, landmark sculptures and murals and innovative architecture. In many ways, it was revolutionary by 20th century standards,” said Gautam Sengupta, director general, ASI.

The government of India had appointed Mumbai-based conservation architect Abha Narain Lambah and Kolkata-based architect Manish Chakraborty to prepare the dossier.

“Throughout the world there is a need to focus on 20th century heritage, as Unescohas realised that the heritage was being under-represented. Santiniketan has a great cultural significance. It still wields influence, right from intellectuals to farmers,” Lambah said.

April 18 is celebrated as World Heritage Day.