Archive · 9 Aug 2026
Kolkata Exhibition Showcases Rare Autographs, from Tagore to Ray
Some people in Kolkata collect autographs, which are the signatures of famous people.
Twelve of these collectors put their special collections together for an exhibition.
The exhibition is called Soi Sabud and is inside the Nehru Children's Museum.
It shows amazing things like a paper where filmmaker Satyajit Ray practiced writing Rabindranath Tagore's signature.
Ray did this for his documentary movie about Tagore.
Visitors can also see signatures of old British leaders and Indian freedom fighters.
There is a poem handwritten in 1958 by a writer named Rajsekhar Basu.
There are even cricket bats and a cap signed by famous players like Rohit Sharma.
The exhibition opened on Friday and ends on Sunday, so people have only a few days to see it.
Twelve autograph collectors under the Kolkata Kathokata banner assembled rare items for the exhibition Soi Sabud at the Nehru Children's Museum.
A highlight is Satyajit Ray's practice copy of Rabindranath Tagore's signature, made for a scene in his documentary on Tagore.
The collection is arranged thematically into British Raj, freedom fighters, politicians, literature, spiritual world and scientists.
Exhibits include signatures of Lord Curzon and Warren Hastings, a letter by Mahatma Gandhi and a 1958 handwritten poem by Rajsekhar Basu.
The exhibition opened on Friday and ends Sunday, with actors Chiranjeet and Barun Chanda among opening attendees.
- Who
- Twelve autograph collectors under the banner of Kolkata Kathokata, displaying their private collections.
- What
- Soi Sabud, an exhibition of rare autographs including Satyajit Ray's practised copy of Rabindranath Tagore's signature.
- When
- Opened on Friday and continues until Sunday.
- Where
- Ground-floor hall of the Nehru Children's Museum, Kolkata.
- Why
- To showcase priceless fragments of the city's cultural heritage preserved in private collector archives.
- Exhibition name
- Soi Sabud
- Venue
- Nehru Children's Museum, Kolkata
- Collectors
- 12 autograph collectors under Kolkata Kathokata
- Thematic sections
- British Raj, freedom fighters, politicians, literature, spiritual world, scientists
- Star exhibit
- Satyajit Ray's practice copy of Rabindranath Tagore's signature
- Notable items
- Mahatma Gandhi letter; 1958 Rajsekhar Basu poem; signed cricket bats and Rohit Sharma cap
- Last day
- Sunday