KOLKATA, October 2: A collection of four personal letters written by Rabindranath Tagore to noted linguist and educationist Suniti Kumar Chatterji has sold for ₹42.35 lakh at an online auction. The final price was around 21% higher than the opening bid, reflecting continued collector interest in handwritten material connected with the Nobel laureate.
The letters were written between 1928 and 1940 and offer glimpses into Tagore’s thoughts on literary criticism, artistic life and the financial difficulties faced by artists associated with Santiniketan.
Four Letters Written Between 1928 and 1940
The collection consists of four letters exchanged during the later years of Tagore’s life.
Tagore and Chatterji shared a close intellectual relationship, and their correspondence provides valuable insight into the poet’s personal and creative concerns.
Letters Fetch ₹42.35 Lakh
The letters were sold for ₹42.35 lakh during AstaGuru’s online auction titled Manifest, held on September 29 and 30.
The final sale price exceeded the opening bid by approximately 21%.
Tagore Reflects on Literary Criticism
One of the letters discusses the criticism Tagore faced from contemporary literary circles.
Instead of viewing criticism simply as hostility, the correspondence shows Tagore reflecting on it as an unavoidable part of an artist’s public life.
Concern for Kala Bhavana Artists
Another letter reveals Tagore’s concern about the financial insecurity faced by artists associated with Kala Bhavana at Santiniketan.
His correspondence reflects anxiety over whether the institution and its artists could continue functioning without sufficient financial support.
Letters Previously Featured in Desh Magazine
The correspondence originally belonged to Suniti Kumar Chatterji’s collection.
The letters were also featured in a special issue of Desh magazine in 1990, published to commemorate Chatterji’s birth centenary.
Collection Classified as National Art Treasure
The group of letters has been classified as a national art treasure, which means it cannot be exported from India.
Such restrictions are intended to preserve culturally significant works and historical material within the country.
Auction Also Features Major Indian Artists
The Manifest auction included works by several major Indian modernists, including Nandalal Bose, Ramkinkar Baij, S H Raza and M F Husain.
Works connected with Santiniketan attracted particularly strong interest from collectors during the sale.
Handwritten Tagore Material Remains Highly Valued
Tagore wrote thousands of letters during his lifetime, and his correspondence remains an important source for researchers studying his literature, philosophy and personal relationships.
The ₹42.35 lakh sale highlights the continuing historical and cultural value attached to original handwritten material associated with the poet.
Source – The Economic Times / AstaGuru The Economic Times
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