The Visva-Bharati Act, 1951 was enacted by the Indian Parliament to declare Visva-Bharati, founded by Rabindranath Tagore in Santiniketan, West Bengal, as an institution of national importance. The Act transformed Visva-Bharati from a registered society (established in 1922 under the Societies Registration Act, 1860) into a unitary, teaching, and residential university. The legislation came into force on 14th May 1951, formalizing Visva-Bharati’s status as a central university under the Government of India.
Rabindranath Tagore envisioned Visva-Bharati as a global center for cultural synthesis, fostering East-West dialogue, interdisciplinary learning, and rural reconstruction. The Act institutionalized these ideals, ensuring that the university would continue Tagore’s legacy of harmonizing Indian traditions with global perspectives.
The 1984 amendment expanded Visva-Bharati’s territorial jurisdiction to 3,000 hectares and reinforced its unitary residential character.
The 2005 amendment mandated parliamentary oversight for Statutes/Ordinances.
Today, Visva-Bharati remains a UNESCO World Heritage Site (Santiniketan, 2023) and a premier institution for arts, culture, and rural studies.
The Visva-Bharati Act, 1951, embodies Tagore’s vision of education as a bridge between civilizations. By blending Indian traditions with global academia, the Act ensures the university’s role as a beacon of cultural harmony and intellectual freedom. Its governance model balances autonomy with accountability, making it a unique institution in India’s educational landscape.