Visva-Bharati University

Syllabus: Modern History (UPSC Prelims)
Source: The Hindu

Context:

Visva-Bharati University, founded by Rabindranath Tagore, is facing a severe institutional and identity crisis. Implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 has led to reduced funding, faculty protests, and allegations of administrative centralisation — challenging Tagore’s original vision of free and creative learning.

About Visva-Bharati University:

Overview:
Visva-Bharati is a Central University of national importance that embodies a fusion of Indian cultural values and global learning. It stands as a symbol of Tagore’s philosophy of holistic education, integrating the arts, sciences, and humanities.

Establishment:

• Founded by Rabindranath Tagore in 1921.
• Originated from Shantiniketan (1901), an experimental school emphasizing simplicity, self-learning, and education in nature.
• Became a Central University in 1951 through an Act of Parliament.

Location:
Situated at Santiniketan, Birbhum district, West Bengal.

Historical Significance:
Visva-Bharati was conceived as a “world university” — Visva (world) and Bharati (India) — promoting universalism, cultural dialogue, and intellectual freedom. It became a hub for art, literature, music, and rural reconstruction, attracting scholars worldwide.

Key Features:

• Promotes interdisciplinary learning rooted in Indian tradition and open global thought.
• Houses renowned institutes like Kala Bhavana (Fine Arts), Siksha Bhavana (Humanities), and Sriniketan (Rural Development).
• Upholds Tagore’s ideals of freedom, creativity, and harmony with nature, opposing rote-based education.

Current Relevance:
Recent administrative changes and funding constraints have raised concerns about the erosion of its autonomous and inclusive character, sparking nationwide debate over the future of Tagore’s educational legacy.