New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said he was delighted at Santiniketan being inscribed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, adding that it was a “proud moment for all Indians”. Taking to X (formerly Twitter), PM Modi wrote, “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.”
Meanwhile, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, too, expressed delight at Santiniketan being inscribed in the list of UNESCO’s World Heritage sites. Taking to her official handle on X, CM Banerjee wrote that she was “glad and proud” that the abode of “Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore” had finally been accorded the status of a world heritage site.
“Glad and proud that our Santiniketan, the town of Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore, is now finally included in UNESCO's World Heritage List. Biswa Bangla's pride, Santiniketan was nurtured by the poet and has been supported by people of Bengal over the generations,” CM Mamata Banerjee posted.
She added that the Trinamool Congress (TMC) government in the state had contributed significantly to adding to the “infrastructure” at Santiniketan in the last 12 years in power.
“We from the Government of West Bengal have significantly added to its infrastructure in last 12 years and the world now recognizes the glory of the heritage place. Kudos to all who love Bengal, Tagore, and his messages of fraternity. Jai Bangla, Pranam to Gurudev,” CM Banerjee added in her post.
Meanwhile, a post on the TMC’s official X handle read, “Proud moment for Bengal! Santiniketan, the cherished home of Kobiguru Rabindranath Tagore, has earned its place in @UNESCO’s World Heritage List. It proudly stands as a testament to the profound cultural and intellectual contributions of the Nobel Laureate. Let us continue to cherish and protect this treasure for generations to come.”
Also reacting to the UNESCO heritage tag on Tagore’s abode, Union Minister Meenakashi Lekhi credited it to the “vision and dynamic leadership” of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Taking to X, the BJP leader posted, “A birthday gift from the Prime Minister to Bharat! Delighted to share that Santiniketan has been successfully inscribed as Bharat’s 41st World Heritage property on the UNESCO’s World Heritage list. My congratulations to all and especially to my brothers & sisters from West Bengal. This successful nomination is dedicated to the vision and dynamic leadership of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi ji, also the Chancellor of Visvabharati, whose keen interest in India’s heritage and its global acknowledgment and appreciation that guides us for inscribing India’s tangible heritage on the World Heritage List.”
Also reacting to the development, the BJP’s West Bengal chief Sukanta Majumdar posted, “This is a proud moment for every Indian as Santiniketan; the name that resonates with knowledge and enlightenment, paves its way on to the UNESCO World Heritage List.”
A cultural and educational hub in the heart of rural Bengal, Santiniketan is now in league with other historical and architectural landmarks in India to have been accorded the UNESCO heritage status.