Shantiniketan, which later became the site of Visva Bharati University, was developed as an educational and cultural centre by which of the following personalities?

Introduction / Context:
Shantiniketan is a famous educational and cultural centre in West Bengal that is closely associated with the life and work of a major Indian poet, philosopher and Nobel laureate. Over time it grew into Visva Bharati University, an institution known for its unique approach to learning and the arts. Many examinations ask who was responsible for developing Shantiniketan into this iconic place, so learners must connect the location with the correct personality.

Given Data / Assumptions:
- The question is about Shantiniketan as an educational and cultural centre. - Options include Guru Ramdas, Maharaja Pratap Singh, Rabindra Nath Tagore and the British Government. - The answer should identify the key figure who established and nurtured the institution there. - Shantiniketan is strongly linked with a famous Bengali poet and thinker.

Concept / Approach:
Shantiniketan was originally acquired and named by Debendranath Tagore, but it was his son Rabindranath Tagore who developed it into an open air school and later into Visva Bharati University. Rabindranath Tagore educational philosophy and experiments in Shantiniketan turned it into a model institution that blended tradition and modernity. Exam questions that ask who built Shantiniketan as an educational centre generally expect the name Rabindra Nath Tagore. Therefore, the approach is to connect the location with his pioneering educational work.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that Rabindranath Tagore, a Nobel laureate in literature, founded an experimental school in Shantiniketan. Step 2: Understand that this school later evolved into Visva Bharati University, reflecting Tagore ideas on internationalism and holistic education. Step 3: Recognise that Guru Ramdas and Maharaja Pratap Singh are associated with other historical contexts and regions, not with Shantiniketan. Step 4: Consider that the British Government did not build Shantiniketan as a cultural and educational project in the way described in the question. Step 5: Conclude that Rabindra Nath Tagore is the correct answer for the person who developed Shantiniketan into the renowned centre it is known as today.

Verification / Alternative check:
Biographical accounts of Rabindranath Tagore emphasise his work in Shantiniketan, where he set up a school that emphasised learning in natural surroundings and artistic expression. Visva Bharati University official history also credits Tagore as the founder and guiding force behind the institution. None of the other mentioned figures have a comparable documented role in building Shantiniketan. These sources consistently reinforce that Rabindra Nath Tagore is the name associated with the creation of Shantiniketan as an educational and cultural hub.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Guru Ramdas: Guru Ramdas is a historical figure related to Sikh history and has no link with the establishment of Shantiniketan in Bengal, so this option is incorrect.
Maharaja Pratap Singh: This ruler is associated with other regions and historical events, not with the foundation of Shantiniketan as an educational centre, which makes this choice wrong.
British Govt: Although the British Government established various schools and colleges in India, Shantiniketan and Visva Bharati emerged from Tagore personal initiative and vision, not from a British government project, so this option is not correct.

Common Pitfalls:
Some learners may be vaguely aware that Shantiniketan is historically important but fail to recall exactly which Tagore family member is most closely associated with it. Others may overgeneralise and assume any colonial era institution was set up by the British Government. To avoid such mistakes, it is important to remember that Rabindranath Tagore founded the ashram school and later Visva Bharati at Shantiniketan, reflecting his own educational philosophy. This direct link between Tagore and Shantiniketan is a standard fact in Indian cultural and educational history questions.

Final Answer:
Shantiniketan was developed as an educational and cultural centre by Rabindra Nath Tagore.