History of Santiniketan In English

Shantiniketan

• Shantiniketan is a neighborhood of Bolpur city in Bolpur subdivision of Birbhum district in West Bengal, India, about 152 km north of Kolkata.
• It was founded by Maharishi Debendranath Tagore, and later expanded by his son, Rabindranath Tagore, whose vision is now to become a university town with the construction of Visva-Bharati.

History

• In 1863, Debendranath Tagore took 20 acres (81,000 m) of land on permanent lease, along with two Chhatim (Alstonia schisum) trees, on an annual payment of Rs.
• He built a guest house there and named it Shantiniketan (abode of peace). Gradually, the entire area came to be known as Shantiniketan.
• Rabindranath Tagore first visited Shantiniketan on January 27, 1878, when he was 17 years old.
• In 1888, Debendranath dedicated the entire property for the establishment of a Brahmo Vidyalaya through a trust deed. In 1901, Rabindranath started a Brahmacharya Ashram and from 1925 it came to be known as Patha Bhavan.
• In 1913, Rabindranath Tagore won the Nobel Prize in Literature. This was a new feather in the cap of the Tagore family, which had long been a pioneering family contributing to the enrichment of life and society in Bengal in many fields of activity.
• Jorasanko Thakur Bari, one of the Tagore family residences in Kolkata, was filled with literature, music, painting and theatre. Established in 1921 by Rabindranath Tagore, Visva Bharati was declared a Central University and Institution of National Importance in 1951.

Tagore family at Santiniketan

• Shantiniketan was established and developed by members of the Tagore family. It was founded by Debendranath Tagore. Rabindranath Tagore wrote many of his literary classics at Shantiniketan.
• His son, Ratindranath Tagore was one of the first five students of the Brahmacharya Ashram at Santiniketan. After his father’s death in 1941, Rathindranath took over all the responsibilities at Santiniketan.
• Dwijendranath Tagore, the eldest brother of Rabindranath, spent the last twenty years of his life in Santiniketan. He lived in Dwijaviram in the ashram premises.
• Satyendranath Tagore’s daughter Indira Devi Choudhurani started living at Shantiniketan in 1941 and took charge of the Sangeet Bhawan. She was the acting Vice-Chancellor for a short period.
• Satyendranath’s great-grandson Supriyo Tagore was a student of Patha Bhavan and Visva Bharati University before going abroad to complete his education.
• He retired as the longest serving Principal of Pathabhavan. He now runs Sisu Tirtha, an organization for orphans mainly from economically disadvantaged tribals near Santiniketan.
• His son, Sudripta, who has wide experience in the field of education, is also engaged in setting up a school at Rooppur near Santiniketan, embodying Rabindranath’s ideas.

Festivals at Shantiniketan

• Seasonal change brings its own colors and beauty with various festivals in Shantiniketan. The emphasis in organizing these festivals is on traditional Indian forms and customs.
• Anand Bazar is a fair for handicrafts by students organized on Mahalaya Day. Students celebrate Sharad Utsav before leaving for Puja holidays.
• The Nandan Mela marks the birth anniversary of Nandlal Bose (on 1-2 December) and is a special attraction for art lovers.
• Tree plantation and Halkarshan emphasize the closeness of man to nature and are held on 22-23 Shravan (August).
• Maghotsav, celebrating the establishment of the Brahmo Samaj, is held on 11 Magha (towards the end of January).
• Various anniversary and cultural programs are organized throughout the year. 25 Baisakh (May 7–8) is Rabindranath Tagore’s birthday but his birth anniversary coincides with and follows the Bengali New Year (after mid-April).

Education

• Shantiniketan is a university town with various educational facilities. There are lesson buildings and education sessions at the school level.
• In addition to a range of courses in the humanities, sciences and education, Visva-Bharati offers a range of music, dance and art courses and emphasizes language courses.
• The university offers specialized 4-year courses in Persian, Tibetan, Chinese and Japanese.
• There are certificate courses in leather craft, book binding and hand-made packaging, batik work and hand-made paper making.

Culture

• The city is known for its literary and artistic heritage, with notable figures being Rabindranath Tagore and Nandalal Bose. Apart from this, Visva Bharati also serves as the cultural center of Santiniketan.

Poush Mela

• In Birbhum district, fairs are spread across the district and are considered as an extension of the concept of bazaars, not only a place of trade and business but also a meeting place of people and a sphere of cultural exchange.
• The biggest and most notable fair is the Pausha Mela which is held at Shantiniketan for three days from 7th Pausha.
• Debendranath Tagore along with twenty followers accepted Brahmo Panth from Ram Chandra Vidyabagish on 21st December 1843. This was the basis for the Pausha Utsav (Festival of Pausha) at Shantiniketan.