Context: India's Santiniketan has been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, the world body announced . 

• The decision to include Santiniketan in the list was taken in the 45th World Heritage Committee Meeting held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

• The cultural site is located in West Bengal's Birbhum district and India had been striving for long to get Santiniketan the UNESCO tag.

• "This is India’s 41st World Heritage site and India stands 6th on the World Heritage List. 

About Santiniketan

• Santiniketan is a renowned cultural and heritage place located in Birbhum District, West Bengal, India. It holds historical significance and is known for its association with Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore. Here are key points about Santiniketan:

• It was the home of Rabindranath Tagore, where he lived and composed many of his literary works, including songs, poems, and novels.

• The Santiniketan campus is adorned with splendid sculptures, frescoes, murals, and paintings created by renowned artists such as Rabindranath Tagore, Nandalal Bose, Ramkinkar, Binodbehari Mukhopadhyay, and others.

• The region of Birbhum District, where Santiniketan is located, is also famous for its fairs and festivals. Some notable ones are Poush Mela (December), Joydev Mela (January), Basanta Utsav (Holi) in March, and the famous mystic Baul Singers.

• Special cultural events are held during Bengali New Year and Rabindra Janmotsav (birth anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore) in the Bengali month of Boisakh with great enthusiasm.

• Santiniketan celebrates unique festivals like Briksharopan (festival of Planting Saplings) and Halakarshan (festival of Plowing the Fields) on the 22nd and 23rd days of Sravana (August), respectively.

• Varshamangal, the festival of rains, is celebrated during August/September.

• Poush Mela is an annual fair and festival held in Santiniketan, starting on the 7th day of the month of Poush. The fair officially lasts for three days, but vendors may stay until the end of the month. It is known for live performances of Bengali folk music, particularly by bauls (traditional wandering minstrels), and also features tribal dances like Santali.

Recommendation by ICOMOS

• The recommendation for Santiniketan’s inclusion was made by the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), which is the advisory body to the UNESCO World Heritage Centre.

• ICOMOS is a France-based international cultural body dedicated to the conservation and enhancement of global architectural and landscape heritage.

West Bengal’s Representation in World Heritage List

• Santiniketan would be the second cultural symbol from West Bengal to be included in the UNESCO list.

• In 2021, UNESCO included ‘Durga Puja in Kolkata’ in its list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

UNESCO World Heritage Sites

• UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Landmarks or areas selected by UNESCO for their cultural, historical, scientific, or other significant value, legally protected by international treaties.

• Importance: World Heritage Sites represent collective and preservative interests of humanity, signifying remarkable accomplishments and intellectual history.

• Selection Criteria: Sites must be already-classified landmarks, unique and significant culturally or physically, such as ancient ruins, historical structures, cities, monuments, etc.

• Conservation: World Heritage Sites require practical conservation to protect them from risks like trespassing, uncontrolled access, or administrative negligence.

• World Heritage Committee: Selects and monitors World Heritage Sites, manages the World Heritage Fund, and provides financial assistance. Composed of 21 states parties elected for a four-year term.

• Membership: India is not a member of the World Heritage Committee.

• Note: “States parties” refer to the countries that have ratified the World Heritage Convention and participate in the decision-making process.