Nandalal Bose’s handprint, Ray’s practice signatures and Messi’s jersey: Kolkata exhibition brings history to life

At ‘Sahi-Sabud’ in Kolkata, signatures and personal memorabilia of politicians, artists, writers and sportspersons offer a glimpse into an era when an autograph was more than a keepsake. It was a moment to remember, an interaction with an idol to cherish.

In an age when a quick selfie has replaced the autograph, a Kolkata exhibition is taking visitors back to a more personal way of meeting history through handwriting, spending time with a legend, and preserving the memory.

At the Nehru Children’s Museum, Kolkata, Kathakata is showcasing a fascinating collection of signatures, handwritten letters and memorabilia under the title ‘Sahi-Sabud’. The exhibition, which continues until next Sunday, brings together material collected by 13 collectors and covers personalities from politics, literature, cinema, art and sport.

The biggest surprise is perhaps not a signature at all.

Framed behind glass is a red handprint—the right-hand impression of celebrated artist Nandalal Bose. Collectors describe it as a rare piece, and it stands out amid hundreds of signatures as a stunning personal memory.

There are plenty of familiar names. Lord Curzon, Bidhan Chandra Roy, Jyoti Basu, Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee and Mamata Banerjee feature alongside sportspersons such as V.V.S Laxman, Sourav Ganguly, and Australian cricketer Ian Botham.

One particularly charming exhibit offers a glimpse into the handwriting of Satyajit Ray. On a preserved sheet, Ray can interestingly be seen practising the signatures of Rabindranath Tagore and Bernard Shaw. It is a small, almost private moment involving one of India’s most celebrated filmmakers trying to imitate the handwriting of his idols.

The exhibition also reaches deep into Kolkata’s colonial past. A letter from 1782 bearing the signature of Elijah Impey, the first Chief Justice of the Supreme Court at Calcutta, is among the historical exhibits. There is also a handwritten letter by Gopal Mukherjee, whose name has resurfaced in recent discussions about the Great Calcutta Killings and the context of renaming of a street in his name.

For sports fans, the collection extends beyond signatures. A jersey of Argentine football star Lionel Messi is among the attractions, while signatures of sportspersons and public figures from different countries add an international flavour.

Another unusual piece was collected by magician P.C. Sorcar Jr. He obtained the autographs of Jyoti Basu, artist Chintamoni Kar and Satyajit Ray not on paper, but on cement. That unusual autograph has also been preserved as part of the exhibition. The displays are divided broadly into sections covering history, politics, writers, cinema and sport. Kolkata Kathakata has also published an autograph book featuring signatures of eminent personalities.

The arrangement of the exhibits, however, feels somewhat crowded and could have benefited from a more professional and carefully organised presentation.

But that does little to diminish the exhibition’s central appeal.

At a time when celebrities are more likely to be asked for a selfie than a signature, Sahi-Sabud brings back the charm of a disappearing habit, collecting a few strokes of handwriting as a physical memory of having crossed paths with history.

The exhibition will continue till August 9.