On the death anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore, the Academy of Fine Arts has reopened The Rabindra Galleries, one of its most beloved locations. There, it showcases an unmatched collection of the bard’s original paintings and personal relics.

This historic event named ‘Phire Pawa’ was graced by eminent guests like Shri Jogen Chowdhury, Eminent Painter; Shri Gautam Mohan Chakraborty, Former Commissioner of Police, Kolkata; Prof. Manoshi Roychowdhury, Co-Chairperson, Techno India Group and Smt Nandita Palchoudhuri, Cultural Entrepreneur.

Techno India Group and its students planned the inaugural program in its entirety.

An intimate look into the life and legacy of Rabindranath Tagore may be viewed at the recently refurbished Rabindra Galleries. Numerous original paintings by Tagore, his personal effects, letters, diaries, and publications are among the precious displays. A touching memento that he gave to Lady Ranu Mukherji on her wedding day is a section of his beard that is housed in an elaborate casket. To give the homage more depth, the collection also features pictures of Tagore created by other well-known painters.

The occasion reflected the Academy’s long-standing mission of conserving and advancing cultural heritage and represented a pivotal point in the organization’s history. The precedent for such initiatives was established by Sri Atul Bose’s November 1966 opening of the Gallery of Contemporary Art, which featured pieces by notable painters of the day.

The current collection, largely bequeathed by Lady Ranu Mukherji and other notable artists, includes masterpieces by Abanindranath Tagore, Gaganendranath Tagore, Nandalal Bose, Asit Kumar Haldar, Kshitin Mazumdar, and their distinguished students, including Benode Behari Mukherjee, Sarada Ukil, Sudhir Khastagir, Ram Kinkar Baij, Gopal Ghosh, Nirode Mazumdar, Hussain, Satyajit Ray, among others.

With funding from the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, the National Research Laboratory for Conservation (NRLC) in Lucknow painstakingly restored some 200 paintings from the Academy’s collection in 2016. Sri Jogen Chowdhury has carefully supervised the current display, which is a selection of these restored pieces that speak to both historical significance and creative brilliance.

The Rabindra Galleries’ reopening is evidence of the Academy of Fine Arts’ dedication to conserving and honoring India’s rich cultural heritage. This occasion pays tribute to Rabindranath Tagore’s memory while also giving modern audiences a chance to consider the lasting influence of his breathtaking compositions. The gallery will be open from 12 PM to 6 PM, Tuesday through Sunday.

It will be closed on Mondays and Public Holidays.

Ticket Information: General Admission: Rs 25/- Student Admission: Rs10/- (Valid student ID needed)

Priyanka Dutta