santiniketan-s-asrama-area-to-reopen-for-public-access

The Asrama area of Santiniketan, a UNESCO World Heritage site, will soon be reopened to the general public in a controlled manner, a Visva-Bharati official stated on Saturday.

 

The reopening will take place following the finalisation of a structured plan detailing the days, numbers, and manner of access, as per the directive of the newly appointed Vice-Chancellor’s office.

 

"The (Asrama) area will be made accessible to the general public in the near future, though in a strictly controlled manner," the Visva-Bharati official said in a press statement.

 

Restrictions in place since 2020

 

Access to the Asrama area had been suspended on March 13, 2020, in light of the Covid-19 pandemic.

 

However, despite demands from various quarters, it had not been reopened until now.

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The official emphasised that Santiniketan’s heritage status necessitates stringent conservation measures while acknowledging public interest in visiting and engaging with the historic site.

 

"While the strict procedures of conservation of heritage are required to be adhered to, the Visva-Bharati authority is also cognisant of the need of the people of this country and the world to be able to visit and take part in the living heritage that is Santiniketan," the official stated.

 

He further noted that the university is currently formulating procedures to strike a balance between heritage preservation and public access.

 

The decision to reopen the Asrama area comes shortly after Probir Kumar Ghosh assumed charge as the Vice-Chancellor of Visva-Bharati earlier this week.

The statement indicated that Ghosh is prioritising the process to ensure public access is restored at the earliest.

 

It was also clarified that only one section of the heritage area remains closed to the public, while the Uttarayan complex, which houses Rabindra Bhavana, the residences of Rabindranath Tagore, and a wide array of art, architecture, and sculpture, remains open to visitors on all days except Wednesdays and Thursdays.

 

Additionally, Visva-Bharati selectively grants access to educational and research institutions to the Asrama area, the statement added.