The Hindu : National : Chennai-based firm to replace stolen Tagore Nobel medallion

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Aug 28, 2004

National

National

Chennai-based firm to replace stolen Tagore Nobel medallion

By Marcus Dam

KOLKATA, AUG. 27. The Vishwabharati University in West Bengal has asked a Chennai-based company to manufacture a replica of the Nobel medallion awarded to Rabindranath Tagore in 1913 and stolen from the university's Rabindra Bhavan museum in March. The decision comes in the wake of the Swedish Academy for Nobel Prizes' lack of response to requests for replacement.

The replica will be manufactured in one of Europe's largest and modern mints near Stuttgart, Germany, belonging to a leading numismatics multi-national firm registered in the British Virgin Island. The Chennai-based company — Gold Quest International Private Limited — is a subsidiary of the multi-national. The replica, to be made free of cost, is expected to be ready in about 18 months.

Third request

A third reminder, this time in German and French, apart from English, for a replacement of the medallion has been sent to the Swedish Academy, the Vice-Chancellor, Sujit Kumar Basu, told The Hindu over telephone from Santiniketan today.

The museum, which had been closed to the public since the discovery of the theft, was re-opened on Thursday.The box that had contained the stolen medallion is on display.

Security measures

Security on the university campus, including the museum, was being revamped, Dr. Basu said. The University Grants Commission recently approved a request for Rs. 10 crores for the purpose and will send an experts' team to the university on September 1 for an assessment of the security requirements.

Boundary walls surrounding the campus are to be constructed, a burglar alarm system installed, vehicles for patrolling requisitioned and fire-fighting facilities to be set up both underground and over-ground, according to Dr. Basu.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

National