Prodyot Coomar Tagore Biography 
Prodyot Coomar Tagore was a philanthropist, art collector, and photographer from Bengal, and a member of royal family. He also belonged to the Pathuriaghata branch of the famous Tagore family. Maharaja Bahadur Sir Prodyot Kumar Tagore was the eldest son (adopted) and heir of Sir Jatindramohan Tagore. Sourindra Mohan Tagore, a Bengali musicologist was his biological father. He was adapted to the royal family.
Prodyot Coomar Tagore was born on 17 September 1873 in Kolkata, West Bengal. He was born as the son of Sourindra Mohan Tagore, a Bengali musicologist, belonging to the Pathuriaghata branch of the Tagore family. He was adopted by his father’s brother, Jatindramohan Tagore. Tagore family's art collection was begun by Gopi Mohan Tagore, his great grandfather since early 1800s. Later Prodyot Coomar greatly expanded the collection, and by the time of his death, it was the largest collection of European art in India. His art collections included the great works of Van Dyck, Rubens, Constable, Veronese and Murillo, apart from several British painters who lived in India during his time.
Coomar donated extensive collections of Company Paintings to Victoria Memorial Hall in Kolkata during late years. Tagore collection was finally dispersed in the 1950s a few years after his death. Coomar was active in public life also. He held administrative positions such as Commissioner of the Corporation of Calcutta, a Governor of the Mayo Hospital, and a member of the Bengal Legislative Council during his lifetime. He represented Kolkata at the coronation of Edward VII in 1902. He also kept good relation with members of the royal family of British, and used to the present in their visits to India, in a few occasions. Tagore died on 28 August 1942.
Published: February 03, 2019
Updated: February 03, 2019
