UNESCO plaques without Tagore triggers controversy at Visva Bharati University
The Hindu
Controversy erupts over plaques at Visva Bharati Univ. not mentioning Tagore; Trinamool & BJP leaders criticize; Calcutta HC calls for V-C's removal; legal tussle with Nobel laureate Amartya Sen over land.
A fresh controversy has erupted over putting up certain plaques at Visva Bharati University to mark the UNESCO’s heritage status to the Central university. The plaque, which has come up at several places in the University, has the name of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Vice-Chancellor Bidyut Chakrabarty, but does not have any mention of Rabindranath Tagore, who founded Visva Bharati university.
The development has triggered criticism not only from a section of faculty members but also from leaders of the Trinamool Congress leadership. The plaques on white marble which says UNESCO Inscribed “World Heritage Site” and has the name of Mr. Modi as ‘Acharya ( Chancellor)’ and Mr. Chakrabarty as ‘Upacharya (Vice-Chancellor)’.
“UNESCO specifically said they are honouring Rabindranath Tagore and his unique legacy by declaring Santiniketan as a World Heritage Site. A megalomaniac V-C and his boss seem to think UNESCO is honouring them!!,” Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha member Jawhar Sircar said.
According to the Visva Bharati spokesperson, three such plaques have been installed in the University premises. On September 17, Santiniketan, a town set up by Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore was inscribed in UNESCO World Heritage Site.
UNESCO also credits “renowned poet and philosopher Rabindranath Tagore” for establishment of Santiniketan which is distinct from the “prevailing British colonial architectural orientations of the early 20th century and of European modernism”, and represents approaches toward a pan-Asian modernity.
West Bengal BJP spokesperson Samik Bhattacharya said that the relation between Tagore and Visva Bharati need not be announced and some people are raising irrelevant questions.
“We are judges and therefore, cannot act like Mughals of a bygone era ... the writ courts in the guise of doing justice cannot transcend the barriers of law,” the High Court of Karnataka observed while setting aside an order of a single judge, who in 2016 had extended the lease of a public premises allotted to a physically challenged person to 20 years contrary to 12-year period stipulated in the law.
The High Court of Karnataka on Monday declined to interfere, at present, in the investigation against a Bharatiya Janata Party worker, who is among the accused persons facing charges of circulating obscene clips, related to “morphed” images and videos clips related to Prajwal Revanna, former Hassan MP, in public domain through pen drives and other modes.
The 16th edition of Bhoomi Habba was held on June 8, at the Visthar campus. The festival drew a vibrant crowd who came together to celebrate eco-consciousness through a variety of engaging activities, creative workshops, panel discussions, interactive exhibits and performances, all centered around this year’s theme: “Save Water, Save Lives.”