Santiniketan, situated in West Bengal has been engraved in UNESCO’s list of World Heritage Sites. This was announced while the 45th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee was being held in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Historic buildings, landscapes and gardens, pavilions, artworks and continuing education and cultural traditions accumulate and give Santiniketan an outstanding universal value.
It has become the 41st UNESCO World Heritage Site in India and the third in West Bengal. Previously the Sundarbans National Park and the Darjeeling Mountain Railways were also in UNESCO’s list. West Bengal’s Durga Puja also made its space in “Intangible Cultural Heritage of humanity” under UNESCO.
Rabindranath Tagore’s ideas, works and vision are on associated with Santiniketan
This recognition celebrates and reinforces the global significance of Santiniketan’s cultural and educational inspiration. UNESCO’s recognition encourages the identification, protection, and preservation of cultural and natural heritages, such that of Santiniketan, and are considered to be of outstanding value to humanity.
Several political leaders such as Narendra Modi and Mamta Banerjee and others reacted to this enlistment of Santiniketan in UNESCO’s Heritage List.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his delightment and reposted UNESCO’s tweet on X that declared the inclusion of Santiniketan in UNESCO’s Heritage List. “This is a proud moment for all Indians.”, he wrote.
Mamta Banerjee congratulated the people of the state and posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, writing, “Glad and proud that our Santiniketan, the town of Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore, is now finally included in UNESCO’s World Heritage List. Kudos to all who love Bengal, Tagore, and his messages of fraternity. Jai Bangla, Pranam to Gurudev.”
Amit Shah also congratulated the citizens by posting a tweet on X, expressing his joy on this momentous occasion. He also congratulated on the inclusion of the Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysalas in Karnataka in the Heritage List.