Santidev Ghose (1910-1999), doyen  of Rabindrasangeet and Dance, was a towering figure in the cultural life of West Bengal, and also a teacher, scholar and writer.

Born at Chandpur (presently in Bangladesh), Santidev came to Santiniketan with his parents when he was only a baby of six months. He attended school at Santiniketan and showed a preference for the performing arts at an early age. Gurudev Tagore who was in favour of giving due importance to the Arts in school curriculum took this promising young pupil under his wings. Santidev travelled with Rabindranath to different parts of India and Sri Lanka as part of his performing troupe.

Santidev Ghose joined  the Sangeet Bhavana  at the Visva-Bharati as a teacher in 1930. He served twice as Principal of the institution. Before Tagore's death in 1941 he entrusted Santidev with the task of propagating his music in its pure form. Throughout his career Santidev held this as a sacred trust. As a part of this assignment he wrote many books in Bengali on Rabindrasangeet and Dance, and related subjects, several of them are widely used as text books. Among his important titles are: 'Rabindra Sangeet', 'Java o Balir Nritya Geet' (Music and Dance in Java and Bali) and 'Rabindranather Pumanga Sikshadarshey Sangeet o Nritya' (Music and Dance in Rabindranath's ideal of a well-rounded education).

Santidev Ghose received many award s and honours in his lifetime. Foremost among them were the Padma Bhushan (1988), a special Russian Medal (1961), Fellowship of the Sangeet Natak Akademi (1976), Desikottama (D.Litt. Honoris Cause) (1988) and Rabindra Tattvacharya from Tagore Research Institute, Kolkata.

More than  any  other  accomplishment, Santidev Ghose brought Rabindrasangeet and Dance closer to the people without any loss of its purity. At the same time, he helped bring about a resurgence in the folk arts of Bengal, a resurgence of and Fakir songs, of Chhau dance and the Alkap theatre. He also promoted a fusion of the folk and urban streams to some extent.

The Department  of Posts  is happy  to issue  a commemorative postage stamp in honour of Santidev Ghose.

Source : Information Folder issued by Indian Posts & Telegraph Department, Government of India