‘New Plaque Under ASI Norms’ In the Making: Visva-Bharati VC Tells Bengal CM

In his letter to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Visva-Bharati VC Bidyut Chakraborthy said that the new plaque with UNESCO inscription, and following ASI guidelines is in the making.

The Visva-Bharati Vice-Chancellor said on Sunday, that the work to prepare" a plaque retaining UNESCO's declaration of Santiniketan as a world heritage site and in adherence to Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) guidelines, is underway. The statement from the V-C comes amidst the ongoing row over installation of plaques in the Visva-Bharati University campus to mark the UNESCO World Heritage Site status to the historic educational institution. 

The statement also comes as a response following West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s urge to the centre to remove the plaques on ‘UNESCO World Heritage Site’ status to Santiniketan, considering the fact that the plaques have no mention of Gurubed Rabindranath Tagore, who established the university. 

In his letter to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, the Visva-Bharati VC asked the CM to refrain from framing opinions based on information conveyed to her through different sources. "I wonder whether you are perturbed that in the plaque, Rabindranath does not figure…I just would like to draw your attention to our difficulties," Bidyut Chakrabarty was quoted as saying by news agency PTI, in his letter.

Urging Banerjee to "please apply your mind," the Vice Chancellor further said that the plaque has to be installed with UNESCO inscription, according to guidelines from the ASI (Archaeological Survey of India), which is being done. It is the ASI that looks after the resurrection, restoration, and preserving the cultural heritage of Santiniketan. 

Earlier on October 27, West Bengal CM and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee attacked the varsity administration for not including Rabindranath’s name on the plaques. She also warned of demonstrations in Santiniketan, if the plaques were not removed by Friday morning. Following the non-removal of plaques, TMC launched a demonstration outside Visva-Bharati on OCtober 27, which was carried till Sunday, 29, 2023. TMC MLA and minister Chandranath Sinha, Nalhati MLA Rajendra Prasad Singh and other leaders were present at the demonstration for the past three days. 

(With inputs from PTI)

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