-by Pratyusha Mukherjee
Governor of West Bengal Shri R. N. Ravi will inaugurate the exhibition “Celebrating Freedom Through Bengal” at the Marble Hall of Lok Bhavan on Saturday, August 8, at 5:00 p.m. Organised in the run-up to Independence Day, the exhibition pays tribute to the freedom fighters, revolutionaries and patriots of Bengal whose courage and sacrifice made a significant contribution to India’s struggle for Independence.
The exhibition will remain open to students and the general public from August 9 to August 14 at Lok Bhavan. Educational institutions across West Bengal have been invited to organise visits for students, providing them with an opportunity to engage with the history of India’s freedom movement and gain a deeper appreciation of Bengal’s role in the country’s march towards Independence.
Curated around the theme of Bengal’s contribution to the national movement, the exhibition brings together an extensive collection of rare letters, photographs, autographs, stamps, coins, medals, postcards, historical documents and other memorabilia. Through these artefacts, it seeks to preserve the legacy of the freedom movement while fostering an understanding of the ideals of patriotism, sacrifice and public service that shaped modern India.
Among the highlights are an autographed photograph of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, letters written by Netaji to his maternal uncle, a telegram from Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy, the complete set of the thirteen decorations instituted by the Azad Hind Government, an autographed photograph of Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore, original signed artworks by Shri Nandalal Bose and his contemporaries, autographs of prominent personalities associated with the freedom movement, and rare century-old postcards depicting historic Calcutta.
The exhibition aims to connect younger generations with the stories of India’s freedom struggle through authentic historical artefacts associated with some of the country’s most distinguished leaders, including Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore, Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy, Shri Nandalal Bose and the Azad Hind Government. Organisers hope the exhibition will inspire students to reflect on the values that continue to shape nation-building in independent India.
The exhibition has been organised by the Calcutta Collectors’ Club in association with the Philatelic Congress of India.
Schools, colleges and other educational institutions wishing to visit the exhibition with their students may submit their requests to the designated email address. Visits will be organised in batches, with the allotted date and time communicated to participating institutions by email.
Exhibition Details are hereunder:
Dates: From 9th August to 15th August, 2026
Timing: 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Email: lokbhavantour@gmail.com
