Santiniketan and Phoenix Schools

Santiniketan emerged as a pivotal hub of educational innovation and cross-cultural exchange, blending the visionary pedagogies of Rabindranath Tagore with the transformative ideals of Mahatma Gandhi. The study reveals how two former missionaries, A. C. Andrews and William Pearson, became integral to Santiniketan's growth, fostering deep connections with Tagore and his brother Dwijendranath. Notably, in 1914, Gandhi’s students from the Phoenix School in South Africa were welcomed into Santiniketan, symbolizing a fusion of educational philosophies rooted in 'largeness and freedom.' This historical account underscores Santiniketan's role as an experimental space for progressive education, merging Eastern and Western influences to redefine learning paradigms.

Gupta, U. D. (Ed.). (2018). Santiniketan and Phoenix Schools. Friendships of ‘Largeness and Freedom’, 69–99. https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780199481217.003.0003