Bengal sheds its dilemma over ode to Tagore

The West Bengal government may have missed most important date – 22nd Sravana – the death anniversary of Tagore - to bring out a reprint of Paschim Banga’s special edition Rabindra Smwaran (Reminiscing Tagore). But now , theState Education Department gave its nod to a much larger reprint.

Earlier, in two minds, the State Education Department "took rather a long time to come to a decision for reprinting the edition, but recently when it took the decision, it decided for even a larger edition," sources in the department said.

"We were told to include 20 to 25 more articles in the new edition," an official said, adding, "but as it would be even larger in size, layout and in incorporating changes, we would take a longer time to come out with the edition."

In late 2010, 1000-page Paschim Banga’s special edition of Rabindra Smwaran (Reminiscing Tagore) with 80 articles by 80 authors was brought out as a tribute to Tagore in his 150th birth anniversary.

Priced Rs200, 5000 copies got sold out in no time, leaving hints for the Government that now the edition will now be sold in black with a heavy price.

Though the reasons for Writers’ "indecision" were not very clear, which led the government missing a date – August 8, (22nd Sravana) Tagore’s death anniversary - notwithstanding the fact that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee happens to be a great lover of Tagore!

Though the price this time would be revised and would be much higher than Rs200 per book, but no final decision is taken on this issue as yet. "We have to see the cost of new reprint in bigger size then decide on its price," sources said.

Earlier, the government gave about Rs200 subsidy per book. If the production cost of each book cost was put at Rs400, its price was kept at Rs200.