Places to visit in Santiniketan

The serenity, calmness and verdure of the place attracted us. We enjoyed every moment in Santiniketan and planned to visit it again. I will surely take Mehr to this appealing place when she grows up.

We took a tour of all the important places as Jeets cousin Chumki acted as our tour guide. She explained to us the importance of each place.

CHATIMTALA : The heart of the ashram at Santiniketan is Chatimtala. It is located on the way to Uttarayana Complex. In 1862, when Gurudev’s father Maharsi Debendranath, rested under the shade of these Chatim trees, he felt a great sense of tranquility. It was then he thought of founding an ashram here and call it Santiniketan and preserving the Chatim tree.


The tree was surrounded by a belt of Sal, Tal and Mahua trees. A specially constructed dais was built around its trunk. On the dais itself a marble plaque was inserted wherein it was engraved “He is my life’s ease, mind’s joy and soul’s peace”. This was Maharsi’s self-realisation.

UTTARAYANA: This area lies on the North of the Ashram. There are 5 important houses where Gurudev stayed at some point of time in his life.
 

Konarak: This building is located in the northwestern corner of Uttarayan. The rooms of this house is not of same level. There are rooms whose floors are higher than those adjacent to them. In this house rehearsals of plays were held.After Gurudev's death, his daughter-in-law lived here for long time.

Udayana : Here in the presence of the poet, the rehersals of his creations, his plays, dance drama were held. Literary sessions,meetings and conventions were regularly held here.The walls were covered with cool enviroment friendly matting made out of cane. It was on the veranda of this house,the last birthday of Gurudev was celebrated. Incidentally, it was from this house, he set out for his treatment in Calcutta on 25July,1941 and never returned. The Rabindra-Museum was first housed in this building. So this house is a house of memories.

Shyamali : Gurudev entered this mud hut, lying at the eastern side of Konark in the month of May 1935 on the occasion of his birthday. This house was used as lodging dignitaries such as Gandhiji, Lal Bahadur Shastri, Acharya Vinoba Bhave and Mother Teresa in various periods of time.

Punascha : The poet had in him a restlessness, he could not live in a particular house for a prolonged period of time. His poetic mind perhaps grew weary when surrounded by an environment which naturally grew familiar with time. The roof of this building is of concrete, but the walls are built of mud.It was constructed in accordance with the wishes of the poet.While staying in this house, the poet drew many paintings.

Udichi : The two storeyed house situated at the south east corner of Punascha is Udichi. When the poet was bored living in Punascha, Udichi was built.This house was inaugurated in 1938, on poet’s birthday. At first the ground floor was bare four pillars which held up a room and a verandah with a flight of stairs. Later the poet wished to have rooms on the ground floor and so walls were erected to join the pillars. This house has another name Chameli.

The rose garden created by Gurudev is besides Udichi. I was pleased to see that even today it is well maintained.

Chitra-Bhanu Guha Ghar : is next to the garden lying at the southern part of Uttarayan. Pampa lake is beside this house. The first floor of the house is called Chitra-Bhanu and the ground floor is called Guha Ghar(Cave House).

Chitra-Bhanu was the studio of Pratima Devi, the daughter-in-law of the poet. Guha Ghar was the workshop of Gurudev. The outer face of the Guha Ghar is just like a cave and the interior is just like a cabin of a ship. The interior decoration and even the furniture was designed by Gurudev.

BICHITRA (Rabindra-Bhavana):On the left-hand side of the road leading to Uttarayan, there is a two storeyed house named Bichitra. This house has Rabindra Museum “Rabindra-Bhavana”. Though constructed in 1961, the idea of construction was actually sown in 1942 by Gurudev.At that time, apportion of Udayana was used as the archives of Rabindra Bhavana. When Bichitra was completed, it was shifted. This building consist of a museum, library,Rabindra Documentation Centre, study centre,Multimedia centre, audio-visual department, preservation department and office.

In Rabindra Museum, there are the original manuscripts, letters, documents, medals, plaques, certificates of honour, paintings by and on Gurudev, things which he used daily, photographs of his family and other leading figures both national and international. In the library at Rabindra-Bhavana, there are books used by the poet, books written by him and on him. Besides, it houses contemporary letters, clippings from newspapers and translations of Gurudev’s works in various languages. In Audio-Visual Department, there are Rabindra Sangeet (songs composed and sung by the poet)and other artistes, stored in cassettes and discs. And not the least, there is a complete documentary film on him as well as films made on his stories and novels.

The museum and Uttarayana is open to tourist. The visiting hours are as follows…..
Thursday to Monday : 10.30am-1pm 2pm-4.30pm
Tuesday : 10.30am- 1pm
Wednesday is the prayer day and the Uttarayana complex is closed on this day.

 Santiniketan House: In 1863, this two storied house was constructed on the right side of Chatimtala which is the oldest of all houses in Santiniketan. In front of this house, a Sculpture by Ramkinkar Baiz known as 'Anirban Sikha' is situated.

Glass House: The Glass House (Upasana Griha) is situated in front of Santiniketan House.

Aamra Kunja: Between Glass House & Salbithi, classes are held under lush green garden full of Mango trees. Annual convocation is also held here.
Deholi: A two storied house in east of Natun Bari (New House) where "Mrinalini Ananda Pathsala" (school) is operating now. Rabindranath stayed here with family in first floor from 1905 to 1918.

Natun Bari (New House): At the east end of Salbithi, a straw roofed house was established in 1902 where at present Alapini Mahila Samity (Ladies Society) is functioning. This house was constructed as dwelling house for Rabindranath but due to sudden death of Mrinalini Devi, wife of Rabindranath, the poet didn't shift there to live.

Salbithi: A red morum road up to Chaiti passing through Deholi & Madhabibithan Arch (Toran) is known as Salbithi, named by Rabindranath.

Singha Sadan: At the north of Gour Prangan, in this house on the roof, at one end Bell (Ghanta) room & other end Clock room are situated. Oxford University conferred D-Lit title to Tagore here.

Patha Bhavan: In front of Singha Sadan & north of Gour Prangan, Patha Bhavan is situated. Rabindranath named this house as 'Balvi Kuthir'. Later it was renamed as Patha Bhavan.

Ghanta Tala: In the middle of Salbithi & at the south of Madhabi Toron under a banyan tree in Gour Prangan, Ghantatala is situated. It is developed as per design of Sachistupa.
 
Hindi Bhavan: In 1938, Hindi Bhavan was started functioning. Degree and Post-graduate studies in Hindi literature are conducted here. A well-equipped Hindi literature library is also housed here.

                                   China Bhavan: At the west of Hindi Bhavan,

a double storied house where Research and higher studies in Chinese Language is conducted.

Mukut Ghar: In front of China Bhavan a thatched roofed tiny house is known as Mukut Ghar. The name was given as the drama Mukut written by Rabindranath was first staged here.

Santoshalaya: At the north of Mukut Ghar, a tile shaded house is known as Santoshalaya, where at present, a Child Students' (Girls) hostel of Patha Bhavan is situated.

Benikunja: At the north of Dinantika, a thatched house is situated where Rathindranath lived some days after his marriage & now it is office of Alumni Association of Viswa Varathi.

Dinantika: By the side of Benikunja, an octagonal small two storied house is situated where Dinendra Smiriti Tea-Party was organized in the evening, where the then teachers were taken part.

Chaiti: Chaiti was built as per Buddhist culture with the mixture of Clay & Tar and designed by Surendra nath Kar & Nandalal Basu. New handicrafts made by students are displayed here.

Kala Bhavan: In Kalabhavan complex, many buildings are situated where wall paintings, sculptures, frescoes & murals of renowned artists like Ramkinkar Baiz, Nandalal Basu, Binod Behari Mukherjee, Somnath Hore are displayed.

Black House (Kalo Bari): In between Sangeet Bhavan & Kala Bhavan, Black House (Kalo Bari) is situated where students of Kala Bhavan were residing.  This Bhavan is built in 1934 as per wish of Tagore & planning of Nandalal Basu, Surendranath Kar and Ramkinkar Baiz.

 Sangeet Bhavan: Sangeet Bhavan is situated at the west of Black House (Kalo Bari) where primarily music classes are held for B.Muse & M.Muse courses.

Nippon Bhavan: This house is utilized to teach Japanese language & literature.

Khoai: Situated along the canal after Shyambati, which is a valley of un-even red soil and beautiful trees (Sonajhuri). Bondangar Haat, a fair is organized in Saturdays between 3 pm to dusk on a piece of land at Sonajhuri. Local  artisans sell their products, sitting under trees with products ranging from handmade clothes to paintings, green vegetables to wooden ornaments. The tranquil ambience is enhanced by the baul song only.

Kalor dokan: It was a cold winter morning in 1892 and Tagore and his colleagues had just finished morning prayers at the kanch ghar. As they emerged, Tagore asked his old help Kalo to see if he could arrange for some tea. Kalo swung into action, begged and borrowed utensils and ingredients and gave his master the morning cuppa. And thus was born Kalor dokan as the story goes.

Sriniketan: Rabindranath started a rural reconstruction center at Sriniketan in 1922 at 3 km from Shantiniketan. Later Siksha Satra, Silpa Sadana, Palli Siksha Bhavana, Santosh

 pathshala etc came up here. There is a centre for traditional handicrafts like Kantha embroidery, Dokra artifacts. The Batik print clothes, bags are popular buys from this place.

Kankalitala: (Preferably by Auto) One of the sacred Satipithas. There is a temple. It is one of the fifty two pithas where a part of the dismembered body of Sati fell. In this case the waist (Kankal)

Deer Park: Spotted deer, jackals, and a variety of water birds are found here. Located within the Ballavpur forest range, beside the canal. The lake inside also has many freshwater turtles seen tanning themselves on the banks. A watch tower, to view the feathered guests without disturbing them and seats in the deepest recesses of the forest allow the explorers on the trail of the not-so-elusive deer to take it easy.

Amar Kutir: is a cooperative produces/ sells leather goods, Kantha stitched saris, bamboo crafts & batik at reasonable price. it was formerly an ashram for political prisoners.

Itonda: Driving 19 km down a road through hard red laterite and farmland to Itonda could be quite exciting. The terracotta temples are truly magnificent after the dusty drive past Panchshwa village.

Chumki even showed us Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen's house......In the picture with Chumki, in front of Amartya Sen's house.

Abode of Peace...Santiniketan

I have visited Calcutta innumerable times before marriage but could never plan a visit to Santiniketan. So after marriage during one of our visit to Calcutta, when my husband suggested of going to Santiniketan, I at once agreed as I always wanted to visit this place. My husband’s cousin Chumki was studying then in Santiniketan. He wanted to meet her and introduce me to her as she could not attend our marriage.

Santiniketan is a small town near Bolpur in the Birbhum district of West Bengal, India, and 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.

To reach Santiniketan, we took the Shantiniketan Express at 10.10am from Howrah station,Calcutta to Bolpur. From Bolpur we took a rickshaw. It will hardly take you 15-20mins depending on the traffic. The train journey takes nearly 2hrs 15mins. Santiniketan is a tourist attraction also because Rabindranath lived here and penned many of his literary classics (namely Tagore songs, poems, novels etc.) and his home is a place of historical importance. It was earlier called Bhubandanga (named after Bhuban Dakat, a local dacoit), and was owned by the Tagore family. In 1862, Maharshi Devendranath Tagore, while on a boat journey to Raipur, came across a landscape with red soil and meadows of lush green paddy fields. Rows of chhatim trees and date palms charmed him. He stopped to look, decided to plant more saplings and built a small house. He called his home Santiniketan (abode of peace). Santiniketan became a spiritual centre where people from all religions were invited to join for meditation and prayers. He founded an 'Ashram' here in 1863 and became the initiator of the Brahmo Samaj.

Later on December 22nd 1901, Devendranath's son, Rabindranath Tagore started a school at Santiniketan named Brahmachary Asrama modelled on the lines of the ancient gurukul system. After he received the Nobel Prize which enhanced not only the pride of India but also the Prestige of Santiniketan the school was expanded into a university. It was renamed Visva Bharati, it's symbolic meaning being defined by Tagore as "where the world makes a home in a nest". A residential university with an international student body, hostels, and extensive grounds, it includes colleges for fine arts and crafts, Sino-Indian studies, music and dance, research in Asian languages, teacher training, technology, and postgraduate studies and research. Rabindra-Sadana is the university's museum and academy for the study of Tagore. The town also contains Udayana, Tagore's residence. Another Nobel laureate, Amartya Sen, studied at Shantiniketan, as did Satyajit Ray and Indira Gandhi.

At nearby Sriniketan is an institution founded in 1922 by Tagore and an associate that is concerned with rural reconstruction, health, social welfare, and the revival of ancient arts and handicrafts. Many outstanding Indian painters have studied there.

The primary aim of Tagore was to establish an ideal institution , an academy of excellence, unique in its form and functionality. He wanted the pupils to learn to live their lives ascetically and become educated in the same way. So he desired for the overall development of the students amidst close contact with nature. Here he wanted to evolve a beautiful and friendly relationship between the students and their teachers. Classes were to be held in open air under the shades of the trees. His objective was an all-round upliftement of the personality of the students.

The students used to wake up at dawn,sweep their rooms, arrange their beds and then go out for physical exercise. On return they used to have their bath and then congregate for prayer. The classes are used to start after prayers. English, Bengali, Mathematics, Sanskrit, History, Geography and Science were the subjects taught in the classes. Simultaneously extra-curricular activities such as singing, drawing, carpentry, weaving, bookbinding and other vocational crafts were parts of the daily schedules. To enable students to inculcate a taste for literature, weekly literary meetings were arranged. In these meetings, the students were called upon to read out their own writings. Playing games was a compulsory activity , so too was nature study.Then there were such community oriented activities as repair of roads, gardening and helping the poor. This way through which Tagore sought to build up the spirit of co-operation and ambience of camaradice among his students without neglecting their formal education anyway.

At Tagore's behest, the annual Paus utsav became an important cultural event where students and teachers of his school took an active part. Paus Mela, therefore, becomes a meeting ground for urban people and rural folk. Rural artisans bring their wares like batik printed materials, the most famous Santiniketan Leather bags, earthen wares, paintings, etc, to the fair while urban relatives set up stalls so that rural people could buy the new industrially produced goods that was revolutionizing life in the cities. While it has not discarded its traditional value systems the educational system founded by Tagore thus proves to have also kept pace and evolved with changing times.

I purchased few purse's for gifts and myself and a terricota "hanging bell". The purse and the bell is so dear to me that when I shifted to Kuwait, I brought it with me.

Festivals Celebrated in Shantiniketan :

February celebrates Maghotsava, which marks the anniversary of the Brahmo Samaj and the Founding of Shriniketan.
March witnesses the celebration of Vasanta Utsava, which coincides with Holi.
Varsha Mangagal is celebrated in July-August. Cultural shows are held and a tree planting ceremony is preceded by Halokarshan (ploughing).
An autumnal festival - Sharadotsava - of song and dance before the University closes for the Puja holidays is celebrated in October-November.
The Calendar year comes to a close in December with the celebration of Paush Utsava. A colourful fair marks the foundation day. Tribal dances and songs are a part of the fair. Tribal crafts in silver and Dhokra metalware are popular with visitors.

Connections to Santiniketan:

From Calcutta Shantiniketan is 136 kms:

By Rail: By train from Howrah to Bolpur. Shantiniketan is 2 kms from Bolpur by cycle rickshaw.

By Road: By road it is 211 km from Calcutta. Direct bus service.

For more information on Santiniketan, can check

 http://www.wb.nic.in/westbg/shanti.html

For train information to Santiniketan, can check
http://indiarailinfo.com/train/1512/1/1008
http://indiarailinfo.com/train/1513/1008/1

Rabindranath Tagore.....An Introduction

The main reason of writting this post is that in my next post I will write about my visit to Sriniketan and Visva Bharati University and the founder of all these institutions was Rabindranath Tagore. Every Indian knows about him, but this post is mainly for my non-Indian readers and friends so that they know about this great personality.

Popularly known as "Gurudev" , he was a Poet, Philosopher, Musician, Writer, Educator and Nobel Laureate.

Rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941) was the youngest son of Debendranath Tagore, a leader of the Brahmo Samaj, which was a new religious sect in nineteenth-century Bengal and which attempted a revival of the ultimate monistic basis of Hinduism as laid down in the Upanishads. He was educated at home; and although at seventeen he was sent to England for formal schooling, he did not finish his studies there. In his mature years, in addition to his many-sided literary activities, he managed the family estates, a project which brought him into close touch with common humanity and increased his interest in social reforms. He also started an experimental school at Shantiniketan where he tried his Upanishadic ideals of education. From time to time he participated in the Indian nationalist movement, though in his own non-sentimental and visionary way; and Gandhi, the political father of modern India, was his devoted friend. Tagore was knighted by the ruling British Government in 1915, but within a few years he resigned the honour as a protest against British policies in India.

Tagore had early success as a writer in his native Bengal. With his translations of some of his poems he became rapidly known in the West. In fact his fame attained a luminous height, taking him across continents on lecture tours and tours of friendship. For the world he became the voice of India's spiritual heritage; and for India, especially for Bengal, he became a great living institution.

Although Tagore wrote successfully in all literary genres, he was first of all a poet. Among his fifty and odd volumes of poetry are Manasi (1890) [The Ideal One], Sonar Tari (1894) [The Golden Boat], Gitanjali (1910) [Song Offerings], Gitimalya (1914) [Wreath of Songs], and Balaka (1916) [The Flight of Cranes]. The English renderings of his poetry, which include The Gardener (1913), Fruit-Gathering (1916), and The Fugitive (1921), do not generally correspond to particular volumes in the original Bengali; and in spite of its title, Gitanjali: Song Offerings (1912), the most acclaimed of them, contains poems from other works besides its namesake. Tagore's major plays are Raja (1910) [The King of the Dark Chamber], Dakghar (1912) [The Post Office], Achalayatan (1912) [The Immovable], Muktadhara (1922) [The Waterfall], and Raktakaravi (1926) [Red Oleanders]. He is the author of several volumes of short stories and a number of novels, among them Gora (1910), Ghare-Baire (1916) [The Home and the World], and Yogayog (1929) [Crosscurrents]. Besides these, he wrote musical dramas, dance dramas, essays of all types, travel diaries, and two autobiographies, one in his middle years and the other shortly before his death in 1941. Tagore also left numerous drawings and paintings, and songs for which he wrote the music himself.