"The sale of the paintings at public auction will be an unprecedented opportunity for broad competition and the initial response from collectors to the announcement of the sale has been positive. Both Sotheby's and Dartington would be delighted if the works were acquired by an Indian institution - and returned to India - as they are certainly of museum quality," Sotheby's said.
The 12 paintings were gifted to the Dartington Hall Trust 71 years ago and are now estimated to be worth £250,000.
West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, worried that Tagore's treasures may fall into the wrong hands, had written a letter to the Prime Minister to bring the paintings back.
"This news has deeply disturbed us. These Elmhirst collections of Gurudev's paintings are priceless treasures of Indian culture and the government should take steps to bring these paintings back. I shall be grateful if you issue appropriate direction," Bhattacharjee wrote in the letter.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had said the government would examine a proposal to buy the paintings back but there were legal issues involved as under the Antiquities Act only works that are at least 100 years old get the heritage tag facilitating the Government to intervene.
Bhattacharjee's concern for the paintings may require the Centre to pursue diplomatic channels in the UK and even purchase the whole lot at a price well over £250,000.
"There are instances in the past where Government of India has also intervened regarding some portrait of Gandhiji," said West Bengal's Special Secretary, Department of Information and Cultural Affairs, Niloy Ghosh.
The paintings were presented for sale by the Dartington Hall estate, a charitable organisation in South Devon whose innovative programmes drew Tagore closer to Elmhirst and his wife Dorothy and led to the poet's several visits to Dartington during which he painted the said canvases.
That's exactly why it won't be easy to bring back the paintings.
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