Santiniketan in India`s West Bengal, where Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore built Visva-Bharati over a century ago, has been inscribed on UNESCO`s World Heritage List. The world body made the announcement in a post on `X` on Sunday.
"New inscription on the @UNESCO #WorldHeritage List: Santiniketan, #India. Congratulations!" it posted.
India has been striving for a long to get a UNESCO tag for this cultural site located in Bengal`s Birbhum district.
The decision to include Santiniketan in the list was taken during the 45th session of the World Heritage Committee currently underway in Saudi Arabia.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi called it a "proud moment for all Indians". "Delighted that Santiniketan, an embodiment of Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore`s vision and India`s rich cultural heritage, has been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. This is a proud moment for all Indians," he posted on X.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said she was glad and proud that Santiniketan has finally been included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Visva-Bharati, located in Santiniketan, is one of the most prestigious universities in India with degree courses in humanities, social science, science, fine arts, music, performing arts, education, agricultural science and rural reconstruction.
It was founded by Rabindranath Tagore and was declared a central university and an institution of national importance by an Act of Parliament in 1951.
Visva-Bharati is the sole central university of West Bengal and the prime minister is its chancellor.
