September 2025 – What Happened – শান্তিনিকেতন সংবাদ
September marked a period of both academic commencement and spiritual inauguration in the twin towns.
| Key Events in September 2025 | Santiniketan / Bolpur | Details |
| Major Inauguration | Bolpur | The inauguration of the Swami Gahanananda Memorial Guest House and the Sarada Niketan (Second Campus) at Ramakrishna Math, Bolpur, by Srimat Swami Vimalatmananda ji Maharaj. |
| Youth & Academic Activity | Santiniketan/Bolpur | A 3-day Rangers Camp was held for Modern High School for Girls, featuring trekking, group discussions on women empowerment, and various engaging activities. |
| Cultural Observance | Santiniketan/Bolpur | The Sewa Parv 2025 celebration, under the theme “Viksit Bharat Ke Rang, Kala Ke Sang,” was underway, including painting workshops and cultural activities, leading up to Gandhi Jayanti. |
| Academic Updates | Visva-Bharati | The final phase of Postgraduate Admissions concluded, with subsequent merit lists published in early October for remaining seats. |
| Conference | Visva-Bharati | The Second AAAS National Conference was successfully conducted at the Department of Plant Pathology. |
October 2025 – Current Month Focus
October was dominated by the vibrant festivities of Durga Puja and significant announcements regarding tourism and academic resumption.
Durga Puja & Festive Cheer
- Sharadotsav: The main highlight was the grand celebration of Durga Puja (September 26 to October 4), bringing a festive spirit across both Santiniketan and Bolpur. Traditional village-style pujas, artistic pandals, evening aartis, and immersion ceremonies took place, marking the primary focus of the community for the first week of the month.
- Tagore International Film Festival: Immediately following the Puja break, the Tagore International Film Festival was held, showcasing short films, narrative features, and documentaries, drawing cinema enthusiasts.
Visva-Bharati University News
- Campus Reopening for Tourists: A major development was the highly anticipated news of the Visva-Bharati UNESCO heritage campus reopening for tourists in early October, after being closed for an extended period. This development is expected to significantly boost local tourism.
- Academic Resumption: Normal academic activities at both Visva-Bharati and Biswa Bangla Biswabidyalay resumed by October 7, following the extended Puja vacation.
- Administrative & Research: The university saw the commencement of various Ph.D. Viva-voce Examinations and pre-Ph.D. seminars across departments, including Rabindra Sangit, Statistics, and Plant Pathology, indicating a return to full academic momentum.
- Planning & Preparation: Initial planning for two major upcoming events—the annual art fair Nandan Mela (December 1-2) and the massive cultural fair Poush Mela (December 23-25)—began, laying the groundwork for the winter cultural calendar.
Bolpur & Community News
- Weather and Tourism: The month marked the beginning of the ideal tourist season, with pleasant post-monsoon weather attracting visitors keen to explore the unique cultural blend of Santiniketan and the commercial vitality of Bolpur.
- Community Activities: The regular weekly Upasana at the Brahma Mandir recommenced from October 29.
November 2025 – What to Expect
November promises a focus on academia, research, and important community engagement.
| Event / Activity | Date(s) | Institution / Location | Focus |
| First Industry Academia Meet: “Confluence 2025” | November 6-7, 2025 | Visva-Bharati University | A major event aimed at fostering collaboration between the academic world and industry, with participation from all Principal Investigators of externally funded projects. |
| National Workshop | November 11-24, 2025 | A.K.Dasgupta Centre, Visva-Bharati | Two-Week 39th National Workshop on “The relevance and application of Indian Knowledge System in Research and Development.” |
| Ph.D. Viva-voce | Early November (e.g., Nov 3) | Dept. of Geography, Visva-Bharati | Continued academic examinations, signaling research milestones for students. |
| Recruitment Drives | Throughout November | Birbhum District Administration | Important recruitment notices and examination schedules for posts like Project Director and Community Auditors for Birbhum District. |
| Games & Sports | Throughout November | Visva-Bharati (PSNS) | Student enrolment for Games and Sports will continue, culminating with a deadline of November 17 for information submission. |
Here are detailed insights into the upcoming 1st Industry Academia Meet at Visva-Bharati, “Confluence 2025,” in November.
🗓️ Spotlight: Confluence 2025
The 1st Industry Academia Meet, titled “Confluence 2025,” is a landmark initiative by Visva-Bharati University’s Industry Relation Cell, aiming to bridge the gap between the institution’s rich academic and research environment and the demands of modern industry.
| Event Detail | Information |
| Name | 1st Industry Academia Meet: “Confluence 2025” |
| Dates | November 6th and 7th, 2025 (Two Days) |
| Venue | Lipika Auditorium, Visva-Bharati (Likely) |
| Core Aim | To provide a collaborative platform where academia and industry seamlessly converge to foster learning, adaptability, and growth. The initiative specifically aims to create “Industry Ready Students.” |
| Participation | Mandatory for all Principal Investigators (PIs) of Externally Funded Projects (advised by the Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor). It will also host heads of various multinational/national level companies and organizations. |
Thematic Focus Areas
The meet is structured around five dedicated sub-committees, ensuring a comprehensive engagement across Visva-Bharati’s diverse academic and cultural spectrum:
- Community Services, Incubation, Startup, Business, and Commercialization: Focusing on turning research and rural reconstruction ideas into viable enterprises, drawing from the spirit of Sriniketan.
- Placements, Skill Development, Internship, and Students Exchange: The critical link for students and scholars to meet potential employers, receive career guidance, and find opportunities for practical experience.
- CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility), Sports & Basic Amenities, Stakeholders Welfare: Engaging industry partners on social responsibility initiatives that benefit the campus and the wider Santiniketan/Bolpur community.
- Science, Technology, and Research Collaboration: Aimed at fostering partnerships in frontier areas of basic sciences and agriculture for mutual growth and advanced research projects.
- Heritage, Visual & Performing Arts: A unique theme, leveraging Santiniketan’s UNESCO World Heritage status to explore collaborations in cultural preservation, art promotion, and the performing arts through institutions like Kala Bhavana and Sangit Bhavana.
Significance for Santiniketan
This event marks a formal commitment by Visva-Bharati to integrate its educational philosophy with practical, industry-relevant outcomes, aligning the institution’s long-standing vision with the principles of the New Education Policy-2020. The meet will not only benefit the PIs and researchers but also position the university as a key center for innovation and skill development in the region, drawing significant professional traffic to Santiniketan and Bolpur.