Kolkata, Almost a year after Santiniketan received the UNESCO World Heritage tag, Visva Bharati University has announced plans for a 15-day awareness campaign during which participants will immerse themselves in the ideals and visions of Rabindranath Tagore and his father Debendranath Tagore, as they explore the region's rich heritage.
The campaign, named 'World Heritage Volunteers' (WHV), is scheduled to begin from August 1 on the university campus and is open to participants from across the country and abroad, as well as students and staff of Visva Bharati , a university official said Thursday.
Activities during the campaign will include introductions to Tagore's philosophy, an orientation on the mission of Santiniketan and Visva Bharati, discussions on rural reconstruction and development, strategies for conserving historical structures and manuscripts, and practical documentation efforts.
Participants will engage in dialogues on the challenges facing Santiniketan as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, interact with local communities and stakeholders and visit important local sites such as the 'Ashram' within the Visva Bharati complex as well as nearby sites such as Sonajhuri and Sriniketan. town, where they will interact with artisans, Baúl singers and other folk artists.
Visva Bharati WHV project coordinator Professor Anil Kumar said around 50 volunteers are expected to attend the camp. This initiative follows UNESCO's recognition of Santiniketan as a World Heritage Site on September 17, 2023.
Kumar emphasized that the campaign aligns with UNESCO's goal of engaging heritage volunteers in advocating for the preservation and respect of the region's historical significance. Various participation fees will be accepted depending on the volunteer's respective country - India, SAARC-ASEAN member or other nations and the home university (Visva Bharati), officials said.
Established in 1862 by Maharshi Debendranath Tagore as a meditation ashram in Bhubandanga, Santiniketan was later transformed by Rabindranath Tagore in 1901 into an open-air educational institution, which over time evolved into Visva Bharati.
The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is actively involved in the restoration of numerous heritage structures in Santiniketan, including those within Visva Bharati.
The campaign, named 'World Heritage Volunteers' (WHV), is scheduled to begin from August 1 on the university campus and is open to participants from across the country and abroad, as well as students and staff of Visva Bharati , a university official said Thursday.
Activities during the campaign will include introductions to Tagore's philosophy, an orientation on the mission of Santiniketan and Visva Bharati, discussions on rural reconstruction and development, strategies for conserving historical structures and manuscripts, and practical documentation efforts.
Participants will engage in dialogues on the challenges facing Santiniketan as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, interact with local communities and stakeholders and visit important local sites such as the 'Ashram' within the Visva Bharati complex as well as nearby sites such as Sonajhuri and Sriniketan. town, where they will interact with artisans, Baúl singers and other folk artists.
Visva Bharati WHV project coordinator Professor Anil Kumar said around 50 volunteers are expected to attend the camp. This initiative follows UNESCO's recognition of Santiniketan as a World Heritage Site on September 17, 2023.
Kumar emphasized that the campaign aligns with UNESCO's goal of engaging heritage volunteers in advocating for the preservation and respect of the region's historical significance. Various participation fees will be accepted depending on the volunteer's respective country - India, SAARC-ASEAN member or other nations and the home university (Visva Bharati), officials said.
Established in 1862 by Maharshi Debendranath Tagore as a meditation ashram in Bhubandanga, Santiniketan was later transformed by Rabindranath Tagore in 1901 into an open-air educational institution, which over time evolved into Visva Bharati.
The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is actively involved in the restoration of numerous heritage structures in Santiniketan, including those within Visva Bharati.
