PM Modi likely to address VBU convocation in February
The Statesman | 25 January 2026
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to attend the annual convocation of Visva-Bharati University (VBU) in Santiniketan during the last week of February.
Although the dates have not yet been finalised, VBU Vice-Chancellor Dr Probir Kumar Ghosh personally visited the Prime Minister’s Office in New Delhi and handed over the draft programme.
As Chancellor of VBU, Prime Minister Modi, along with Governor CV Ananda Bose, who serves as Rector of the central university, has been invited to the ceremony.
The Prime Minister last visited VBU on 25 May, 2018, accompanied by Bangladesh former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, then West Bengal Governor Keshri Nath Tripathi and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. On that occasion, Prime Minister Modi and Prime Minister Hasina jointly inaugurated Bangladesh Bhavan in Santiniketan, established and funded by the Bangladesh government.
The convocation could not be held in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. In 2021, Prime Minister Modi participated virtually from New Delhi. President Droupadi Murmu attended the convocation in March 2023. For the past two years, however, the ceremony has not taken place.
Sources said VBU is preparing for the high-profile event, with cleaning and arrangements already underway. This will mark Prime Minister Modi’s first visit to Santiniketan since it was awarded the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage tag.
Atig Ghosh, Public Relations Officer of VBU, confirmed that the draft programme has been shared with both the Prime Minister’s and the President’s offices. The university awaits their approval, after which preparations will begin in full swing.