‘What an experience’: Howrah station to Shantiniketan — Chinese Ambassador to India takes his first train journey in country

On Monday, Xu Feihong, the Chinese Ambassador to India, experienced his inaugural train ride in the country, journeying from Howrah station to Shantiniketan. He is set to visit Visva-Bharati University in Shantiniketan, Bolpur, located in the Birbhum district for two days.

“Embarked on my first train journey in India from the iconic Howrah station, the vibrant heart of Kolkata : On route to the serene abode of Rabindranath Tagore – Shantiniketan. Experiencing Bengal’s timeless rhythm and beauty firsthand. What an experience,” shared Xu Feihong on X on Monday.

Sources indicate that the Chinese Ambassador took the Shantiniketan Express from Howrah at approximately 10 am and arrived in Shantiniketan by around 1 pm. He rode in the seating car of the train. The ambassador headed a group of nine individuals, which included Chinese Consul General in Kolkata Xu Wei. Visva-Bharati, situated in Shantiniketan, is a national university established by Rabindranath Tagore in 1921. It operated as a college until independence.

As per sources from Visva-Bharati University, the Ambassador and the delegation will spend the night in Shantiniketan and participate in a meeting with Vice Chancellor Probir Kumar Ghosh.

Rabindra-Bhavana, referred to as the Uttarayan complex, comprises museums and five homes where Rabindranath Tagore and his relatives resided. The complex contains a significant collection of Tagore’s manuscripts, artworks, letters, and drawings, as well as thousands of photographs of him. Visva-Bharati’s Cheena-Bhavana (Department of Chinese Language and Culture), India’s oldest Chinese studies department, was founded by Tagore and Professor Tan Yun-Shan on April 14, 1937. VB engages in cultural and student exchange initiatives with different Chinese universities.

In April this year, a group of Chinese scholars and specialists visited Visva-Bharati University to participate in an international seminar on Rabindranath Tagore, celebrating the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between India and China.