Kolkata, 2 April (H.S.) – Visva-Bharati University is set to sign a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Chinese authorities for the exchange of education and culture. The announcement was made during a two-day international seminar organized at Lipika Auditorium to commemorate the centenary of Rabindranath Tagore’s visit to China.

The inaugural session on Tuesday was attended by Visva-Bharati Vice-Chancellor Prabir Kumar Ghosh, Chinese Consul General in Kolkata, Skube, Principal of Bhasha Bhavan Mrinal Kanti Mandal, and Chinese language expert Professor Manoranjan Mohanty.

Representatives from Yunnan University, Peking University, and Qingkangshan University in China, along with scholars from Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi University, Hyderabad University, and Visva-Bharati participated in the event. Students and faculty members from various departments of Visva-Bharati were also present.

Following his Nobel Prize win in 1913, Rabindranath Tagore traveled to nearly 30 countries, including China in 1924. His journey played a crucial role in strengthening cultural ties between India and China. In 1937, Tagore and Tan Yun-Shan established the Cheena Bhavan at Santiniketan, which has since been a key center for Chinese language and cultural studies.

The event also highlighted that 2025 will mark 75 years of India-China diplomatic relations, further emphasizing the importance of educational and cultural collaborations.

Vice-Chancellor Prabir Kumar Ghosh on Wednesday stated, “Tagore’s visit to China deepened the relations between the two nations, fostering greater exchange in education and culture. This international seminar is an important step in that direction.”

Chinese Consul General Skube remarked, “Cultural exchange between India and China is a long-standing tradition. Visva-Bharati’s Cheena Bhavan plays a significant role in fostering mutual learning. Santiniketan is a place that blends art and culture beautifully. My visit here feels like a pilgrimage.”

Professor Abhijit Banerjee, Head of the Cheena Bhavan department at Visva-Bharati, noted, “We have organized multiple events and exhibitions to mark the centenary of Tagore’s visit to China. This seminar serves as the concluding event. In 2025, we will celebrate 75 years of India-China diplomatic relations. Before the pandemic, Visva-Bharati signed three MoUs with China covering education, cultural exchange, book exchanges, and joint discussions. The university is now preparing for a new MoU to continue these collaborations.”

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh