Tagore In Print- A Comparative Study Before and After Expiry of Copyright

Email

Whatsapp

Facebook

Pinterest

Twitter

Copy link

Partha Pratim Ray MA, M.Lib. I.Sc., M.Phil., in Library and Information Science is a working librarian and guest faculty in the Institute of Education, Visva-Bharati, Dr. Ray has contributed more than twenty-seven research papers in journals of national and international repute. Presently, he is engaged in bringing out a volume of his published papers. Besides Tagore's literature his area of specialization includes role of information communication in society and bibliometric study.

Rabindranath Tagore a renaissance figure, breathtaking in vigour, volume and variety, put forward Indian literature to the world. Essentially known as poet, but he was a dramatist, writer of short stories, novelist, a social, political, religious, aesthetic thinker, educational innovator, pioneer of rural reconstruction programme in India, a believer of One World concept "Yatra Visvam Bhavatyckanidam" (where the world makes its home in a single nest). Rabindranath, the composer of two National anthems, has sketched the picture of people with personal touch in his numerous writings. His untranslatable songs known as Rabindra Sangit have become a symbol of cultural ethos of both West Bengal and Bangladesh. Rabindranath took painting late in life and yet achieved distinction as a painter. Rabindranath was more than a literary icon, a cultural ambassador, a real myriad-minded universal man.

Rabindranath not only expressed his vision on society, religion, aesthetics, education, rural development, nationalism, internationalism in his writings but tried to give concrete shape with the establishment of his experimental school at Santiniketan and rural development programme at Sriniketan, which in course of time became an academic and cultural centre of national importance known as Visva-Bharati. The same was declared as a central university in 1951. Rabindranath, during his life time, gave treasure of his manuscript and copyright (in the year 1907) to Visa-Bharati. The publishing department of Visa-Bharati known as Visva-Bharati Granthan Vibhaga (termed as VBGV) was responsible for publishing Tagore's literature (Tagoreana) with the motto of publishing complete writings of Tagore ("Samagra Rabindranath'), at affordable cost ("Sulabh Rabindranath') accurately ('Bisuddha Rabindranath").

But after expiry of copyright in 2001, it has become free for private publishers to publish Tagoreana.

The present study is not directed towards assessing, interpreting or criticizing the treasure of Tagoreana, but to assess how far the uniqueness or quality of Tagoreana is being maintained by private publishers after the expiry of copyright. Intellectual output of Rabindranath has a universal acceptability and implications too. So, it is the responsibility of intellectual community to maintain a vigil on the quality of publication of the thought content of this viswamanab (Universal man). The present work is a humble effort towards this direction.

**Contents and Sample Pages**