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Business Standard
29-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Business Standard
Tagore's handwritten letters fetch ₹5.9 crore at AstaGuru auction
A set of 35 handwritten letters by Rabindranath Tagore, along with 14 envelopes, was sold for ₹5.9 crore in AstaGuru's recent 'Collectors' Choice' auction, underscoring his undying allure. AstaGuru said the auction — held on June 26 and 27 — was especially significant as the lot was not a visual artwork but a manuscript-based archive, and yet achieved the second-highest price ever for a Rabindranath creation at auction. The letters were addressed to sociologist, musicologist and confidant Dhurjati Prasad Mukerji, and dated between 1927 and 1936. Twelve of these letters were written on various letterheads — from Visva-Bharati, his Uttarayan residence, Glen Eden in Darjeeling, and aboard his houseboat, Padma. 'This is not just a literary artefact; it's a self-portrait of the Nobel Laureate in his own words,' said Manoj Mansukhani, Chief Marketing Officer (CMO), AstaGuru. 'Their correspondence captures everything from philosophical musings and literary self-defence to aesthetic theory and emotional vulnerability.' According to Mansukhani, Tagore's letters are rare, though individual ones occasionally surface. 'But a set as extensive, intellectually rich, and emotionally candid as this, comprising 35 handwritten letters and 14 envelopes, is exceptionally uncommon,' he said. 'Also, most of Tagore's important correspondence is held in institutional archives. So offerings like this in the public domain are few and far between.' The letters were part of a private collection. The provenance has been carefully documented, and several of the letters have been published in major journals and books over the years, Mansukhani added. Apart from the trove of letters, The Heart — the only known sculpture by Rabindranath Tagore — also went under the virtual hammer at AstaGuru's 'Collectors' Choice' auction. Believed to be dedicated to Kadambari Devi, the wife of Rabindranath Tagore's brother Jyotirindranath Tagore, the quartzite piece was sold for around ₹1,04,52,210. It dates back to 1883 during a retreat in Karwar, Karnataka, when Tagore was 22. Tagore's letters and The Heart were among 77 lots offered at the auction. While the letters fetched the highest price, the second-highest was for a work by M F Husain from his Mother Teresa series, which sold for approximately ₹3,80,08,036.
Time of India
29-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Rabindranath Tagore's only known sculpture sells for Rs 1.04 crore in auction; set of 35 handwritten letters fetches Rs 5.9 crore; rare works shed light on poet's emotional world
Rabindranath Tagore's only known sculpture, 'The Heart,' believed to be dedicated to Kadambari Devi, fetched over ₹1 crore at a Kolkata auction. A set of 35 letters from Tagore to sociologist Dhurjati Prasad Mukerji sold for ₹5.9 crore. Created in 1883, 'The Heart' features a poignant Bengali inscription. KOLKATA: 'The Heart', the only known sculptural piece attributed to Rabindranath Tagore, was sold for Rs 1,04,52,210 at an auction in the city on Friday. Its estimated price was between Rs 55 lakh and Rs 70 lakh. According to auction house AstaGuru's 'Collectors' Choice', the sculpture is believed to have been dedicated to Kadambari Devi, wife of his brother Jyotirindranath. At the same auction, a set of 35 handwritten letters and 14 envelopes sent by Tagore to sociologist Dhurjati Prasad Mukerji between 1927 and 1936, fetched Rs 5.9 crore. The estimated bidding price of the set was between Rs 5 crore and Rs 7 crore. Tagore was only 22 when he sculpted 'The Heart' in 1883 during a contemplative retreat in the coastal town of Karwar in Karnataka in the company of his brother Satyendranath and sister-in-law Jnanadanandini Devi. On it, he engraved in Bengali — 'Having cut my heart of stone,I have engraved (the words) with my own hand. Will it ever be effaced by the flow of tears?' You Can Also Check: Kolkata AQI | Weather in Kolkata | Bank Holidays in Kolkata | Public Holidays in Kolkata In 1941, a photograph of the sculpture was published in 'The Calcutta Municipal Gazette'. The caption mentioned it as a 'piece of quartzite stone cut in the form of a heart by the poet's own hands and the verse composed and engraved by him... It was presented to his friend, the poet Akshoychandra'. Akshoychandra Chowdhury was a classmate of Jyotirindranath. 'This emotionally charged and deeply personal object not only expands the understanding of Tagore's artistic practice but also offers a rare glimpse into his inner world during a formative period. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trading CFD dengan Teknologi dan Kecepatan Lebih Baik IC Markets Mendaftar Undo Preserved in a russet pouch, this intimate object reveals a lesser-known dimension of the Nobel laureate's creative life: a brief foray into sculpture infused with emotional vulnerability. Seen by many as a gesture of unrequited love, the sculpture transforms inner grief into form—bearing the emotional weight of a young Tagore's private longing, etched forever in stone,' said Manoj Mansukhani, CMO, AstaGuru Auction House. Akshoychandra passed on the piece to his daughter, Umarani, who subsequently gave it to her daughter, Debjani. Painter Atul Bose was married to Debjani, and the piece was in their care until its re-emergence for public appreciation when it was exhibited in Kolkata in 2024. 'Any piece by Tagore, be it a sculpture or a letter, is priceless. It does not surprise me that they fetched a high value. Though it is completely the prerogative of the owner to decide where they want to keep it, I would personally love to see them in museums where the public has a chance to view them. People should be able to read letters written by Tagore or see a piece sculpted by him. Though I belong to the family, I believe Tagore belongs to humanity,' said Sumanto Chattopadhyay, great-great-grandson of Satyendranath Tagore. The letters that Tagore sent to sociologist Mukerji offer deep insight into the poet's creative evolution, philosophical reflections, and transition from literary to visual expression. 'The result is especially significant considering the lot was not a visual artwork but a manuscript-based archive and yet became the second-highest price ever achieved for a Rabindranath Tagore creation at auction,' Mansukhani said.
Time of India
29-06-2025
- General
- Time of India
Tagore's 'heart' fetches Rs 1 cr & letters Rs 5.9 cr
'The Heart', the only known sculptural piece attributed to Rabindranath Tagore , was sold for Rs 1.04 crore at a Kolkata auction on Friday. Its estimated price was between Rs 55 lakh and Rs 70 lakh. According to auction house AstaGuru's "Collectors' Choice", the sculpture is believed to have been dedicated to Kadambari Devi, wife of Tagore's brother Jyotirindranath. At the same auction, a set of 35 handwritten letters and 14 envelopes sent by Tagore to sociologist Dhurjati Prasad Mukerji between 1927 and 1936, fetched Rs 5.9 crore. The estimated bidding price of the set was between Rs 5 crore and Rs 7 crore. Tagore was only 22 when he sculpted 'The Heart' in 1883 during a contemplative retreat in the coastal town of Karwar in Karnataka in the company of his brother Satyendranath and sister-in-law Jnanadanandini Devi. On it, he engraved in Bengali - "Having cut my heart of stone, I have engraved (the words) with my own hand. Will it be ever effaced by the flow of tears?" "Any piece by Tagore, be it a sculpture or a letter, is priceless. It does't surprise me that they fetched a high value. Though it is the prerogative of the owner to decide where they want to keep it, I would personally love to see them in museums. People should be able to read letters by Tagore or see a piece sculpted by him. Though I belong to the family, I believe Tagore belongs to humanity," said Sumanto Chattopadhyay, great-great-grandson of Satyendranath.
Time of India
28-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Set of Rabindranath Tagore's letters fetched a whopping Rs 5.9 crore
Rabindranath Tagore's handwritten letters to Dhurjati Prasad Mukherji were auctioned. The letters fetched Rs 5.9 crore. It is the second-highest price for Tagore's work at auction. AstaGuru Auction House conducted the sale. A sculpture by Tagore, "The Heart", was also sold. The letters chronicle Tagore's creative and intellectual life. They were written between 1927 and 1936. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Classified as national art treasures, an archival lot of 35 handwritten letters with 14 envelopes that Rabindranath Tagore penned to his confiante sociologist Dhurjati Prasad Mukherji fetched Rs 5.9 crore at an online auction, possibly the second-highest price ever achieved for a single lot under Tagore's name that had gone under the hammer over the sale of the set of letters was conducted by AstaGuru Auction House between June 26 and June result is especially significant considering the lot was not a visual artwork but a manuscript-based archive and yet became the second-highest price ever achieved for a Rabindranath Tagore creation at auction, said AstaGuru's chief marketing officer Manoj estimated price for the letters was Rs 5-7 crore.A sculpture "The Heart", hailed as the only sculptural piece attributed to Tagore was sold for Rs 1.05 crore, significantly higher than the estimated price of Rs 55 lakh to Rs 70 lakh. The quartzite piece was crafted in 1883 when the polymath was barely 22 and was in contemplative retreat in Karwar, broke the news of Tagore's letters and the sculpture going under the hammer in its June 21 edition."The overwhelming response to both lots — particularly the extraordinary result achieved by the letters — reinforces the growing recognition of archival and manuscript-based material as valuable cultural artefacts. These works offer not just collectible value, but living, breathing connections to India's intellectual and artistic heritage,' Mansukhani between 1927 and 1936, the letters chronicled the creative evolution of Tagore, the first non-European Nobel winner in literature, and his deeply illuminating intellectual belonging to a private Kolkata-based collection, these letters are classified as non-exportable. Many of these letters are preserved through a string of publications in journals like Parichay and books like Chhanda, Sahityer Pathe, Sur O Sangati and Sangit letters are written on different letterheads — from Visva-Bharati, his Uttarayan residence, Glen Eden in Darjeeling, and aboard his houseboat, Padma — tracing Tagore's intellectual and geographic journey, Astaguru said in the catalogue.
Indian Express
25-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
35 handwritten letters by Rabindranath Tagore, estimated to fetch Rs 5-7 crore, to be auctioned
A set of 35 handwritten letters written by Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore to sociologist and musicologist Dhurjati Prasad Mukerji are set to go under the hammer at AstaGuru's 'Collectors' Choice' auction that will be held online on June 26-27. Belonging to a private Kolkata-based collection, the set of letters written between 1927 to 1936, are estimated to fetch Rs 5 to 7 crore. The lot also includes 14 envelopes. Classified as 'National Art Treasure', which cannot be taken out of India, the letters reflect the relationship shared between Tagore and Mukerji, who was his close confidante. 'These letters go beyond mere communication; they offer a glimpse into Tagore's inner world during a period of profound artistic evolution. Within them, we witness the poet, the painter, the thinker — expressing himself across letterheads that trace his journey from Santiniketan to Darjeeling to his houseboat, Padma. The provenance, too, is exceptional. This set is a rare convergence of literary, cultural, and philosophical importance. These are not just letters — they are portals into a changing India, a poet's unfolding vision, and the very ethos that shaped Santiniketan,' notes Manoj Mansukhani, CMO, AstaGuru Auction House. Written in Bengali on pages with different letterheads — including Visva-Bharati, his Uttarayan residence and Glen Eden in Darjeeling — the discussions between the two span numerous subjects, including cultural activities, poetry and Visva-Bharati University, founded by Tagore in 1921 in Santiniketan. One letter, for instance, has the polymath discussing his poems in 'Punascha' and 'Shesh Saptak' and how critics received them. 'The rhythm of silence,' he noted, 'is part of the poem.' Another letter has him appreciating artist Nandalal Bose, who anchors what Tagore describes as 'Nandanology'. While several of these letters have previously been published in literary magazines such as Parichay, and books like Sangeet Chinta and Chhanda, AstaGuru notes that at least four of these are unpublished. The auction also includes a 1883 quartzite stone sculptural work by Tagore. Titled 'The Heart', it is estimated to fetch Rs 55 to 70 lakh. A note by AstraGuru states that the sculpture was made by Tagore when he was in his 20s, during a visit to Karwar, Karnataka. It also mentions that the work is believed to have been dedicated to Kadambari Devi, his sister-in-law. Engraved by Tagore on it are the words: 'Having cut my heart of stone, I have engraved (the words) with my own hand. Will it (the writing) be ever effaced by the flow of tears?' The other highlights of the auction include a MF Husain canvas from the 'Mother Teresa' series (estimated at Rs 2-3 crore), A Ramachandran's Visions of Ramdev – Ahalya in Red (estimated Rs 1.2-1.6 crore), and a Nandalal Bose landscape in watercolour and ink (estimated Rs 25-35 lakh).
