The first edition of Bhanusingha Thakurer Padabali

The first edition of Kabi Kahini. Pictures by Snehamoy Chakraborty

Santiniketan, May 7: Visva-Bharati will organise a weeklong exhibition on the first editions of some of Tagore’s books published between 1878 and 1925.

The exhibition, to be organised by Rabindra Bhavana, will begin on Rabindranath Tagore’s birth anniversary on May 9 (Ponchishe Baisakh).

Rabindra Bhavana officials said the exhibition would be the first of its kind at the varsity. It will be held so that people can see the first editions of Tagore’s books and get a brief background of the publications.

“Rabindra Bhavana is trying to find out new ways to discover Tagore. We have come to know that a large number of people are interested in the first editions of books penned by Tagore. So, we will organise the exhibition. We will organise such an exhibition for the first time. The first editions will be brought from our archives,” said Tapati Mukherjee, the director of Rabindra Bhavana.

One of Tagore’s earliest books of poems to be exhibited is Kabi Kahini, published in 1878 by Prabodh Chandra Ghosh of Calcutta. Ghosh was known to the Tagore family.

“This is the oldest published work of Tagore we have in our collection. The book will be displayed for the first time along with other first editions,” said Amrit Sen, the spokesperson for Visva-Bharati.

Bhanusingha Thakurer Padabali was the first book published by the poet himself in 1884. The rare edition will also be on display for the people who visit Rabindra Bhavana during the weeklong exhibition.

“Another book, Rabichhaya, a collection of Tagore’s songs, was first published in 1885 by Jogendra Narayan Mitra, who was an employee of the then British India government’s revenue section. He wanted to publish a book of Tagore’s songs. Tagore knew him,” a Rabindra Bhavana official said.

“Mitra was moved by Tagore’s singing. Rabichhaya will be displayed at the exhibition,” he added.

Tagore’s songs Gahano Kusumo Kunja Majhe and Boli amar golap bala are part of Rabichhaya.

Purabi, which will also be on display, was the first book of poems Tagore published himself. It was published from Visva-Bharati Granthalay in 1925.

“We shall showcase more than 10 first editions of Tagore’s books in the exhibition,” said Sen, who is involved in organising the exhibition.

Apart from the books, some parts of old printing machines of Visva-Bharati, such as letter blocks used during Tagore’s time, will also be displayed.

The agreement between Tagore and Chintamani Ghosh of Indian Press, a publisher from Allahabad, for the poet’s book of verse Kabya Grantha will also be put up at the exhibition.