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regular-article-logo Tuesday, 30 April 2024

Shantiniketan plaque row: Tagore Trust at police door against Visva-Bharati VC

The land where VC Chakrabarty has installed the plaque belongs to the Santiniketan Trust and not Visva-Bharati, said Anil Konar, honorary secretary of Santiniketan Trust

Snehamoy Chakraborty Calcutta Published 05.11.23, 06:07 AM
The plaque in front of the Upasana Griha in Santiniketan.

The plaque in front of the Upasana Griha in Santiniketan. Amarnath Dutta

Authorities of the Santiniketan Trust, founded by Rabindranath Tagore's father Maharshi Debendranath Tagore, lodged a complaint with Santiniketan police on Saturday accusing Visva-Bharati vice-chancellor Bidyut Chakrabarty of installing a plaque on its land without prior permission.

The Trust said the plaque, installed in front of Upasana Griha (prayer hall), has sparked a row and become a threat to the peace and tranquillity of the area.

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The plaque was recently put up to commemorate Unesco's heritage tag site for Santiniketan. However, as it has the names of Prime Minister and Visva-Bharati Chancellor Narendra Modi and vice-chancellor Chakrabarty inscribed on it, but not of Rabindranath Tagore, the founder of Santiniketan and Visva-Bharati, the omission triggered outrage.

"The land where VC Chakrabarty has installed the plaque belongs to the Santiniketan Trust and not Visva-Bharati. Following the controversy over the plaques we have made multiple requests to remove the plaque, but the VC has been indifferent," said Anil Konar, honorary secretary of Santiniketan Trust.

"Left with no other option, we lodged a complaint with the police as we apprehend breach of peace in the area over the controversial plaque. We want action against him (Chakrabarty)," Konar said.

Santiniketan Trust, set up by Maharshi Debendranath in 1888, owns 15.3 acres. The plaque in front of Upasana Griha falls on Trust land.

The omission of Tagore's name on the plaques — there are at least two — caused the BJP, the Congress and Trinamul to seek their replacement with ones with Tagore's name.

Chief minister Mamata Banerjee instructed Trinamul to demonstrate near the campus till the plaques were replaced. The protest is on for nine days now.

Visva-Bharati earlier claimed the plaques were temporary.

Visva-Bharati acting public relations officer Mahua Banerjee did not comment when asked about the Trust's move.

A police officer in Santiniketan said they would look into the complaint.

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