The small town near Bolpur in Birbhum district of Westbengal, India Santiniketan was owned by Maharshi Devendranath Tagore, father of Rabindranath Tagore , while he was on boat journey to Raipur. The red soil and meadows charmed him and he decided to build a house there. He named his home Santiniketan, meaning abode of peace. Initially Maharshi Devendranath Tagore founded an ‘Ashram’ here in 1863 which initiated ‘Brahmo Samaj.’ The second youngest son of Debendranath Tagore first stepped Santiniketon with his father when he was just four years old. When he was a child his life was subjected to lifeless, colourless, education factory where he felt suffocated within the white walls of his class room. He thought that God has given gift of taking delight in the world, but such delightful activity is fettered and imprisoned, muted by a force called discipline which kills the sensitiveness of the child mind which always seeks knowledge from mother nature. After few years when he visited Santiniketan again he found the town which is 160 km away from Kolkata much more interesting. After he returned to Kolkata the wonderful picture of the town remained in his mind. In that little age he thought of a new way of imparting the education. He said later
“Because I underwent this process when I was young, and remember the torture of it, I tried to establish a school where boys might be free in spite of the school. Knowing something of the natural school which Nature supplies to all her creatures, I established my institution in a beautiful spot, far away from town, where the children had the greatest freedom possible ”
When he was 40in 1901, he permanently with his wife Mrinalini devi and started a school at Shantiniketan named Bramhachari Ashram that was m
Rabindranath Tagore was lover of life. He for himself and his family built different house within the campus of Viswa Bharati. ‘Udayan’ was the name of the house where there is many memories of him and his family. Many renowned people spent time with him in this house. His last birthday in 1941 was celebrated in the veranda of this house. ‘Konark’ was the house where he first stayed after he came with his wife. His daughter in law, Pratima Devi stayed in this house for many days. Also C.F Andrwes stayed in this house. In ‘Shamali’ he stayed there for a year. Even after the death of Rabindranath, Gan
Now Santiniketan is a tourist spot. Rabindranath Tagore often called as Gurudev by his lovers. They visit his abode in order to know him more. Santiniketon is the place where they find peace. The famous festival there is ‘Poush Mela’ which is characterized by the live performances of Bengali folk music, especially the ‘baul’ music. It includes folk songs, dances and tribal sports. This fair offers a perfect insight of true heritage of the state. The students of Santiniketan present their magnificent performance and make this festival more enjoyable and glamorous. Each day of this festival is filled with different activities. The last day of this fair is devoted to those who are related to Santiniketan. The Khowai mela every Saturday is a wonderful fair.
He is still believed to be alive through his songs poems dramas and work. Santiniketan is the place where one will definitely find peace and a life with nature.