Visva Bharati University - [VBU]

About College

Visva-Bharati University is a Central Govt. funded autonomous university located in Santiniketan, West Bengal. The first thoughts for establishing the Visva Bharati University came in the later part of the 19th century. Sri Debendranath Tagore, father of Rabindranath Tagore made a modest meditation center built in the premises of Santiniketan. It was this endeavor that paved way for the establishment of the unorthodox university.

• The foundation for the university was laid in the year 1863, and in 1888, Sri Debendranath Tagore offered the buildings and the land for establishing the Brahmavidyalaya.
• Fulfilling his father’s dreams, Rabindranath established the Brahmacharyasrama on 22nd December, 1901 with a mere five students. However, the VBU was formally founded in the year 1921 by Rabindranath Tagore.
• It was given the status of a central university and also a national importance status by the 1951 Act of Parliament
• The university has under its administration, 12 institutes, 5 schools, 15 different centers and great many departments
• The infrastructure provided to the students is of the highest class having fully furnished hostels, computer centers and libraries etc.
• Various programs at UG, PG and other levels encompassing all the relevant fields of both modern eras as also traditional teachings are offered in the university
• The university is situated in the extremely serene and picturesque place of Shantiniketan in West Bengal providing an ideal atmosphere for the students to pursue studies
• It is spread over an area of seven acres of land and has the unique feature of conducting classes out in the open in harmony with nature.
• As Central University, it has everything that justifies its status and reputation including the glorious departments having highly qualified and esteemed faculties.

Other Courses:

• The Department of Art, in Kala Bhavana, is one of the best of the university. Eminent painters such as Nandalal Bose and Jamini Roy have been professors at the institute.
• The Department of Music has produced various exponents in Rabindra Sangeet and other forms of songs. Shantideb Ghosh, an eminent Rabindra Sangeet vocalist was associated with the department.
• Diploma in Japanese, Marathi, Hindi, Chinese, Russian, Tamil etc
• Certificate Course in Sanskrit, Pali, French, Modern Arabic, Tibetan and more
• PG Diploma in Mass Communication and Journalism and so on

Extracurricular Activities: With a view to make the student superior in all areas of life, the university encourages them to take part in various non-academic activities also. The NCC Unit of the university has involved the students in a number of co-curricular activities like:

• Para-sailing
• Excursion to Army Contingent
• Social services through cycle expedition
• Various camps
• Ceremonial parades
• Participation in Republic Day Parade
• Trekking and many more

Facilities: The facilities that are made available in the university campus establish the reputation of the university more firmly providing the students and other members with top class services.

Hostel facility: Excellent accommodation facilities could be availed by the students in the campus allowing them to have a nice and comfortable stay.

• Overall there 44 hostels in the university being allotted to both girls and boys separately belonging to different sections
• A total of around 1100 boys and about 1170 girls are residing in the hostels
• The school section has 3 hostels for girls and boys each having the capacity to accommodate 120 boys and 150 girl students
• The students of the higher university institutes are also allotted great many hostels and can capacitate 960 girls and 918 boys and the research scholars too are allotted hostel rooms
• Facilities of kitchen and canteen are there for the hostellers as well with a total of 15 kitchens in both Santiniketan and Sriniketan
• One kitchen in general for girls and five canteens are also there for the students to avail benefits from.

Library: The VBU library is the ultimate pride of the university providing unparalleled services to the students, the faculty and other staffs. Several sectional libraries are also present.

• 3, 76, 531 volumes of books are there in the collection of the Central Library
• An approximate 4000 users come to the library every day
• About 300 books are transacted daily
• Mention worthy collection of books include Prabodhchandra Bagchi, Humayun Kabir and Pramatha Choudhuri and many such
• The Rabindra Bhavana library has more than 40, 000 books on the writings of the great poet Rabindranath

There are various other libraries in the different departments which are:

• The Rabindra Bhavana Library
• Hindi Bhavana Library
• Cheena Bhavana Library
• Kala Bhavana Library
• Siksha-Bhavana Library
• Sangit Bhavana Library and a few more

Some other facilities

• Earn while you Learn system
• Study Tours
• Disability Support
• Cafeteria
• Guest House
• Museum
• Sports
• Transportation facilities
• Internet and computer facilities and so many more

Festivals: Being a traditionally established university through the endeavors of the great representative of India’s rich cultural heritage, the university retains its traditional by enjoying various festivals.

• Magh Mela – held in February mostly
• Ananda Bazar
• Poush Mela – held in the last week of December
• Rathindra Mela
• Nandan Mela

Scholarships: VBU offers scholarships to the students studying in this university on the basis of merit for under graduate and PG students.

• University Merit Scholarship
• Fellowships awarded