A poem in a medium not of words: Music, dance and arts education in Rabindranath Tagore’s Santiniketan

Rabindranath Tagore's arts education philosophy at Santiniketan, rooted in Romantic and Upanishadic principles, challenges utilitarian approaches by emphasizing the concept of 'surplus'—a non-utilitarian value. The study reveals that his vision, centered on music, dance, and arts, remains more aligned with progressive education ideals than contemporary high modernism. While Santiniketan's current arts departments have diverged from Tagore's original ideals, his aesthetic and educational philosophy continues to offer relevant insights for liberal arts education. This analysis traces the evolution of these departments while highlighting Tagore's enduring influence on education.

Pritchard, M. (2013). A poem in a medium not of words: Music, dance and arts education in Rabindranath Tagore’s Santiniketan. Arts and Humanities in Higher Education, 13(1-2), 101–114. https://doi.org/10.1177/1474022213491344