Santiniketan and Sriniketan: Rabindranath Tagore’s Visionary Models of Sustainability and Environmental Ethics

Rabindranath Tagore's vision for sustainability and environmental ethics at Santiniketan and Sriniketan predates modern formalization, demonstrating a profound ecological foresight. His approach integrated ecocentric education, community-building, and conservation practices, challenging anthropocentrism by valuing the non-human world equally. Through seasonal festivals like Barshamangal and ecocentric rituals such as Halakarshan, Tagore fostered deep environmental consciousness. Architectural design in Santiniketan, exemplified by buildings like Shyamoli and Taladhwaj, prioritized harmony with nature using indigenous materials, avoiding high-rise structures. His philosophy extended to art, where painters derived pigments locally, and theater, where natural dyes aligned with seasonal aesthetics. This model offers a timeless framework for sustainable development rooted in ethical respect for nature.

Dr. Madhurima Neogi. (2020). SANTINIKETAN AND SRINIKETAN: RABINDRANATH TAGORE’S VISIONARY MODELS OF SUSTAINABILITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL ETHICS. Sustainability: The Multidisciplinary Approach. https://doi.org/10.25215/1105570045.09