On Tagore's birthday, Kolkata's oldest bookshop says his books sell every single day

The Hindu

09-05-2025

On the occasion of Rabindranath Tagore's birthday today (May 9, 2025), celebrated according to the Bengali calendar, Kolkata's oldest existing bookshop, Dasgupta & Co., took the opportunity to pay homage to the poet, saying his works continue to be a cornerstone of daily life. This year, however, the city's focus has been somewhat diverted by the ongoing India-Pakistan conflict, yet the significance of Tagore's legacy remains undiminished.
'Tagore's relevance has never been more pronounced than it is today,' said Arabinda Dasgupta, Managing Director of Dasgupta & Co., the iconic bookshop on College Street, established in 1886. 'For him, humanity took precedence over nationalism, over religion. His love for people, for nature, and his belief in education beyond the walls of the classroom resonate more than ever in today's world. We need his wisdom now, more than before.'
Tagore, born on the 25th day of Baisakh in 1861, has always been a central figure in Kolkata's cultural consciousness. This year, his birthday, falling on April 9, is particularly poignant. Mr. Dasgupta, reflecting on the poet's unwavering presence in the city, recounted a powerful memory from 1984 that underscored Tagore's importance even during times of hardship.
'A girl came to our shop in waist-deep floodwaters, looking for a copy of Tagore's Sesher Kobita. I asked her why she had braved such dire conditions for just one book, and all she said was, 'Today is my boyfriend's birthday. I had to,'' he shared. 'Even in the face of calamity, the city did not stop reading Rabindranath Tagore. His works were a constant, enduring presence, even in times of great hardship.'
For Mr. Dasgupta, the deep connection between the people of Kolkata and Tagore is evident in the daily sales at his bookshop. 'Never does a day go by without us selling a Tagore book — even if it's just one. His works are the only books we sell every single day,' he added.
As a child, Mr. Dasgupta was immersed in the fervour surrounding Tagore, remembering long queues outside the Visva-Bharati bookshop on College Street when the 18-volume Rabindra Rachanabali was published during the poet's centenary year. 'I was only 10 at the time, but the memory of those crowds is etched in my mind,' he remarked.
However, he expressed concern over the lack of recent editions of Tagore's works by Visva-Bharati, the institution founded by the poet. 'Visva-Bharati has not published many of Tagore's works in a long time, and in their absence, local publishers often bring out cheaper versions, filled with errors,' he noted. He also lamented that some of Visva-Bharati's editions were priced exorbitantly, driving readers to alternative, often flawed versions.
Yet, Mr. Dasgupta acknowledged a shift in the way people engage with Tagore today. 'I've noticed that English translations of Tagore are outselling the original Bengali versions. Even many Bengalis seem to prefer translations, even for iconic works like Gitanjali,' he said. 'While this trend may not be ideal, it is not necessarily a bad thing, for translation helps introduce Tagore to new audiences.'
As Kolkata marks Tagore's birthday, it is clear that while the city's priorities may shift, the poet's words continue to echo across generations, transcending borders and languages, remaining a vital part of the city's soul.