Santiniketan
727708
225817057
2008-07-15T15:22:51Z
GDibyendu
6544612
fixed coordinate (41/60=.68) (earlier one was showing outside Birbhum district) + geography with ref
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{{Infobox Indian Jurisdiction |
native_name = Santiniketan |
type = city |
latd = 23.68 | longd = 87.68|
locator_position = left |
state_name = West Bengal |
district = [[Birbhum District|Birbhum]] |
leader_title = |
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altitude = 58|
population_as_of = |
population_total = |
population_density = |
area_magnitude= sq. km |
area_total = |
area_telephone = |
postal_code = |
vehicle_code_range = |
sex_ratio = |
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}}
'''Santiniketan''' ([[Bengali language|Bangla]]: শান্তিনিকেতন ''Shantiniketôn'') is a small town near [[Bolpur]] in the [[Birbhum]] district of [[West Bengal]], [[India]], approximately 180 kilometres north of [[Kolkata]] (formerly Calcutta). It was made famous by Nobel Laureate [[Rabindranath Tagore]], whose vision became what is now a university town ([[Visva-Bharati University]]) that attracts thousands of visitors each year. Santiniketan is also a tourist attraction because Rabindranath wrote many of his literary classics here, and his house is a place of historical importance.
==History==
Santiniketan was previously called Bhubandanga (named after Bhuban Dakat, a local dacoit), and owned by the [[Tagore family]]. Rabindranath's father, Maharshi [[Debendranath Tagore]], found it very peaceful and renamed it Santiniketan, which means abode (''niketan'') of peace (''shanti''). It was here that Rabindranath Tagore started [[Patha Bhavana]], the school of his ideals, whose central premise was that learning in a natural environment would be more enjoyable and fruitful. After he received the [[Nobel Prize]](1913), the school was expanded into a university. Many world famous teachers have become associated with it. [[Indira Gandhi]], [[Satyajit Ray]], and [[Amartya Sen]] are among its more illustrious students,
Kala Bhavana, the art college of Santiniketan, is still considered one of the best art colleges in the world. Other institutions here include Vidya Bhavana; the Institute of Humanities, Shiksha Bhavana; the Institute of Science, Sangit Bhavana; Institute of Dance, Drama and Music, Vinaya Bhavana; Institute of Education, Rabindra Bhavana, Institute of Tagore Studies and Research, Palli-Samgathana Vibhaga; Institute of Rural Reconstruction, and Palli Shiksha Bhavana; Institute of Agricultural Sciences. There are also other centres, affiliated to major institutions such as Nippon Bhavana, the Indira Gandhi Centre for National Integration, Rural Extension Centre, Silpa Sadana; Centre for Rural Craft, Technology and Design, Palli-Charcha Kendra; Centre for Social Studies and Rural Development, Centre for Biotechnology, Centre for Mathematics Education, Centre for Environmental Studies, Computer Centre and Indira Gandhi Centre for National Integration. As well as Patha-Bhavana, there are two schools for kindergarten level education; Mrinalini Ananda Pathsala, Santosh Pathsala; a school for primary and secondary education known as Shiksha Satra, and a school of higher secondary education known as Uttar-Shiksha Sadana.
Santiniketan is also home to [[Amartya Sen]], the 1998 Nobel Prize winner in [[Economics]].
==Geography==
Santiniketan is located at {{coor d|23.68|N|87.68|E|}}<ref>[http://www.fallingrain.com/world/IN/28/Shanti_Niketan.html Falling Rain Genomics, Inc - Santiniketan]</ref>. It has an average elevation of 56 [[metre]]s (187 [[foot (unit of length)|feet]]).
== Major events ==
Numerous social and cultural events taking place through out the year, have become part and parcel of Santiniketan.These include - Basanta Utsav, Barsha Mangal, Sharodutsav, Nandan Mela, [[Poush Mela]], Magh Mela, Rabindra Jayanti to name a few.
Of these, the ''Poush Mela'' deserves special mention, this being a major tourist attraction.It is a 3-day fair (Bengali, ''mela'' means a fair ),starting on the seventh day of the Bengali month ''Poush''(usually, last week of December).It fetches not just tourists, but also artisans, folk singers, dancers, and the traditional [[Baul]] from the neighbourhood.
==Recent developments==
Santiniketan has changed considerably since the days of Tagore. Although [[Visva-Bharati University]] still plays an active role, Santiniketan has become a haven for India's [[nouveau riche]], and large houses have been built on what used to be barren, [[khoai]] (desert) and [[condominiums]] are becoming commonplace. But travel beyond the outskirts of the ever-expanding "small town" and one is soon back in village India.
The idyllic existence envisioned by Tagore in Santiniketan is rapidly disappearing, but it still maintains a "college town" feel, with many large shade-covered open spaces on campus where students can congregate. The student population remains international in origin, as does the faculty, and some of the best thinkers and intellectuals in India remember their college life in Santiniketan with fondness.
==References==
{{reflist}}
==See also==
* [[Visva-Bharati University]]
* [[Patha Bhavana]]
* [[Debendranath Tagore]]
* [[Rabindranath Tagore]]
* [[Poush Mela]]
* [[Santidev Ghosh]]
==External links==
{{sisterlinks|Shantiniketan}}
*[http://www.21stcenturyindianart.com/santiniketan Art and Santiniketan]
*[http://www.visva-bharati.ac.in/Index.htm Visva-Bharati University: Official website]
*[http://www.wb.nic.in/westbg/shanti.html West Bengal Government Official Santiniketan site]
*[http://www.santiniketan.com Official Santiniketan website]
*[http://www.santiniketan.com Shantiniketan]
*[http://album.doorersathi.com/thumbnails.php?album=23 Pictures of Shantiniketan]
* {{wikitravel}}
{{Birbhum District}}
[[Category:Buildings and structures in India]]
[[Category:Cities and towns in West Bengal]]
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