Shantiniketan included in UNESCO World Heritage List: Rabindranath Tagore's father founded it

Shantiniketan, located in the Birbhum district of West Bengal, has been included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. This decision was taken in the World Heritage Committee meeting held in Saudi Arabia on Sunday.

Shantiniketan was started as an ashram in 1863 by Rabindranath Tagore's father Debendranath Tagore. In 1901, Rabindranath Tagore converted it into a residential school and art center based on the Gurukul system of ancient India.

Tagore founded Visva Bharati here in 1921, which was declared a Central University and an Institution of National Importance in 1951. Rabindranath Tagore spent a long time of his life here.

Prime Minister Modi and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar have expressed happiness over Shantiniketan being included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

PM Modi said- I am happy that Shantiniketan, a symbol of India's rich cultural heritage, has been included in the World Heritage List. This is a proud moment for all Indians. At the same time, S Jaishankar said that this is a true tribute to the country's first Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore.

After this announcement, celebrations are being held at Visva-Bharati University. The university buildings and campus were decorated with colorful lights. Faculty, staff, and students wore traditional clothes and danced to Rabindra Sangeet.

Mamta Banerjee said that it is a matter of happiness and honor for us to include Shantiniketan in the heritage list. In the last 12 years, our government has increased the infrastructure of Shantiniketan.

Archaeological Survey of India said that Shantiniketan is the 41st heritage of India to be included in the World Heritage List. There was a demand to include it in the heritage list for a long time.

Earlier, many heritage sites including Agra Fort, Ajanta Caves, Taj Mahal, Konark Sun Temple, Kaziranga National Park, Fatehpur Sikri, Sanchi, and Jantar Mantar of Jaipur have been included in this list.

A total of 1172 properties of the world are included in the World Heritage List. Cultural and natural heritages are included in it.