"Dream, Dream, Dream! Conduct these dreams into thoughts, and then transform them into action."

- Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam

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Wanderlust

Whispers of Wisdom: Unveiling the Enchanted Legacy of Santiniketan

Santiniketan, a small town nestled in the heart of West Bengal, India, is a place where vibrant culture and captivating history converge. It pulsates with the echoes of an extraordinary visionary who carved its destiny - Rabindranath Tagore, the legendary poet, Nobel laureate, and philosopher. In 1901, Tagore breathed life into Santiniketan, fashioning it into an experimental school that defied convention. Like a phoenix rising, this humble institution would later blossom into the illustrious Visva-Bharati University in 1921. Even today, its hallowed halls resound with intellectual curiosity and boundless creativity. Visva-Bharati University stands as a testament to Tagore's audacious spirit, embracing a pioneering approach to education. Here, disciplines intertwine, harmonizing the arts, humanities, and sciences. It is a crucible where traditional wisdom meets modern thought, where innovation blooms and boundaries dissolve. But the allure of Santiniketan extends far beyond academia. UNESCO, the global custodian of cultural heritage, has acknowledged the profound influence of the Tagore family and the town itself. They have honored Santiniketan by designating it as a Creative City of Literature, a distinction that illuminates the profound impact of Tagore's literary genius and his dedication to the arts and education. With this accolade, Santiniketan emerges as a magnetic force, drawing in artists, writers, and scholars from every corner of the globe Here, the spirit of Tagore dances in the breeze, resonates in the rustling leaves, and imbues the very essence of this enchanting town. Santiniketan remains an eternal muse, igniting the flames of imagination in each new generation of thinkers and artists. Shantiniketan remains a vibrant cultural hub, attracting artists, writers, and scholars from around the world. The town's rich history and cultural heritage continue to inspire new generations of thinkers and artists, who strive to carry forward Tagore's legacy of creativity, social justice, and education for all.

7 Jul 2023
Wanderlust

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Shantiniketan's Gem: The World's First Living Heritage University

Visva-Bharati University in Shantiniketan is set to make history by becoming the world's first "living heritage university". This historic university, located in Shantiniketan, West Bengal, India, is expected to receive the heritage tag from UNESCO in April or May 2023.  This is a first-of-its-kind recognition, as the heritage tag is usually given to dead monuments, but Visva-Bharati University, being a living and functioning university, is poised to become the first ever to receive this prestigious recognition. Visva-Bharati University was established in 1921 by Rabindranath Tagore with the goal of advancing outdoor education, a concept that is still in use today. The university offers numerous institutes that provide courses in a variety of subjects, including the humanities, arts, music, and more. The guiding ideals of excellence in culture and cultural studies are still promoted by these institutes. The Kalo Bari, the Mastermoshai Studio, the murals and paintings on Cheena and Hindi Bhavan, among other various architectural constructions, are just a few of Visva-Bharati University's numerous distinctive features that make it special. These buildings demonstrate the university's dedication to safeguarding and promoting cultural heritage. In conclusion, Visva-Bharati University is a living example of India's rich cultural heritage and a testimony to Rabindranath Tagore's vision and commitment to promoting education and culture. The recognition by UNESCO as a "living heritage university" will ensure that this legacy will continue to be cherished and celebrated for generations to come.

10 Feb 2023
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A film on Tagore’s story to be screened at Cannes

A film on Rabindranath Tagore’s story is all set to be screened at the Cannes Film Festival’s. It will be screened in the Marche du Film section in the festival. Aneek Chaudhuri, a 24-year-old Kolkata boy has made a film that expresses the simplicity of Rabindranath Tagore through the complex style of Salvador Dali. Marche du Film is the business counterpart of the coveted festival and is considered one of the largest film markets in the world. This 143-minute film, shot largely at a palatial house in Canning in South 24-Parganas district, apart from Kolkata and New Delhi, has been scheduled to be screened May17, the opening day, as part of producer Alder and Associates Entertainment’s line-up at the festival. The film, titled Streer Potro (The Wife’s Letter), is loosely themed on Tagore’s famous short story of the same name. It was shot in about 12 days and at a budget of Rs 10 lakh. As per the report published in Hindustan Times, “The text of Streer Potro has been loosely used as the plot but the form of surrealism dominates the work. Protagonist is named X and he is trying to relate himself to a particular constant, which he is failing to find,” Chaudhuri said. According to him, the story in the film revolves around the central idea that ‘mathematics is never sufficient to prove the validity of verbal language and emotions’. The director describes the film as ‘Harsh, dark, sarcastic, sensuous and painful’. “To put it simple, emotions are better deciphered when not calculated. Manipulations cannot compensate for emotions,” he said. Originally from Kolkata, this director shifted to ew Delhi for a corporate job which he quit for his love for films. Premiered at Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute in October last year, the film was also screened at Hamilton Film Festival in Canada in November and the European Film Market during Berlinale in February this year. “The film actually tries to find a way of balancing between life’s complexities and its basic simplicity. Here, Dali’s surrealism represents the complexities through which I have tried to reach the life’s simplicities that Tagore unearthed and hailed,” informed Chaudhari who is a film graduate.  

15 May 2017
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Remembering women from Tagore’s family 

As the country observes the 156th birth anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore, Kolkata celebrates it in a unique way.  On Rabindranath Tagore's 156th birth anniversary, Visva-Bharati has decided to pay tribute to some of the most talented women of the Tagore household,. These women are the pioneers of societal change in 19th century Bengal. A museum ‘Thakurbarir Kalyani’ has come up inside Rabindra Bhavan in Visva-Bharati to celebrate at least 25 of these women whose achievements were not well documented all this while.  Tagore helped all these women by being a catalyst to help them achieve their greatness. Starting with Tagore's mother Sarada Devi, the museum takes visitors through the lives of his sisters, sisters-in-law, daughters and nieces who thought ahead of their times. Being country’s first fashion designer, Tagore’s sister-in-law Gyanadanandini Devi was a believer of free environment and thoughts in the society. She designed modern way of wearing saree accompanied with jackets.  Together with Tagore, she started 'Balak' magazine, converted two popular fairy tales into plays and regularly wrote essays for 'Bharati' magazine. Two of Tagore's elder sisters, Soudamini Devi and Swarnakumari Devi were at that time considered to be equally good writers. While the former translated Hafez, wrote a treatise on father Debendranath and penned songs, with Tagore dedicating his 'Bouthakur-anir Haat' to her, the latter was the first novelist of the Tagore household. Among the others who have been included in the exhibition are Tagore's sisters-in-law Kadambari Devi and Prafullamoyee Devi, his wife Mrinalini, daughter-in-law Pratima Devi, nieces Indira Devi Chowdhurani and Sarala Devi and sister Barna Kumari Devi. According to a report published in The Times of India, Visva-Bharati VC Swapan Kumar Dutta said, “As we delved deep into the lives of these brilliant women, we were amazed at their depth and their contribution to modern Bengal. Very little had been known about them so far and this is our tribute to Tagore this year. However, this is just the beginning and we will keep adding to the collection.”    

9 May 2017
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