A plaque at Visva-Bharati University in Santiniketan has become the focal point of a political dispute, reaching even the corridors of Delhi. The battle involves Trinamool Congress (TMC) Rajya Sabha MP Jawhar Sircar, who has taken issue with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Chancellor of Visva-Bharati University, and its Vice-Chancellor Bidyut Chakraborty for allegedly taking undue credit for UNESCO's declaration of Santiniketan as a World Heritage site.
On September 17, UNESCO bestowed the title of World Heritage Site upon Santiniketan. Subsequently, a plaque was installed within the university premises, conspicuously omitting any mention of Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore, the founder of Visva-Bharati University. Instead, it featured the names of 'Acharya' (Chancellor) Narendra Modi and 'Upacharya' (Vice Chancellor) Bidyut Chakraborty. The white marble plaque bears the inscription 'UNESCO World Heritage Site,' with the mentioned names of the Chancellor and Vice-Chancellor.
TMC's Sircar expressed his displeasure on X (formerly Twitter), stating, "UNESCO specifically said they are honoring Rabindranath Tagore and his unique legacy by declaring Santiniketan as a World Heritage Site. A megalomaniac VC and his boss seem to think UNESCO is honoring them!!"
The criticism extended beyond TMC, with Congress leader Pawan Khera taking aim at PM Modi for his name being featured on the plaque. Khera suggested that the term "narcissism" should be replaced with "modicissism," and conveyed this opinion on X.
In response to these allegations from TMC and Congress, senior BJP leader Sishir Bajoria defended the actions. Speaking to India Today, he emphasized that PM Modi had celebrated the work of Rabindranath Tagore. Bajoria noted, "Shantiniketan, including Visva-Bharti University, was founded by the great son of Bengal Rabindranath Tagore, which was recently declared as a World Heritage site by UNESCO. The recognition of the great work of Kaviguru Tagore has been celebrated by the Honourable Prime Minister Modi ji...by putting up the plaque."
Members of the Tagore family also raised concerns about the absence of Rabindranath Tagore's name on the plaque. Supriyo Tagore, a family member of the Nobel laureate, suggested that if the name of the 'Upacharya' (Vice Chancellor) had to be featured, then due respect should have been paid to include an inscription for Rathindranath Tagore - Rabindranath Tagore's son, the first vice chancellor of the university, as well as Tagore's son.
Â
