[MSN] Kolkata: In what could be a huge loss to the nation Rabindranath Tagore's Nobel prize medal may be lost forever. The CBI is now about to close the investigation into the burglary of that medal three-years-ago.

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Rabindranath Tagore's Nobel medal lost forever

Neenaz Ichaporia
CNN-IBN

Photo:
http://www.ibnlive.com/news/rabindranath-tagores-nobel-medal-lost-forever/47
903-3.html

LEGACY LOST: CBI is now to close investigation into Rabindra Nath Tagore's
medal burglary. 

Kolkata: In what could be a huge loss to the nation Rabindranath Tagore's
Nobel prize medal may be lost forever. The CBI is now about to close the
investigation into the burglary of that medal three-years-ago. 


It took the CBI three-and-half years to confirm that Rabindranath Tagore's
original Nobel medallion may be lost forever. The medal along with other
valuables and citations were stolen from a museum in the Uttarayan complex
in Santiniketan in March 2004. 


On Saturday, the CBI informed the Visva Bharati authorities that it is
closing the investigation, leaving Tagore fans fuming.


"I'm very upset. I'm a Bengali and have admired Tagore for ages. The
authorities should get up and take some serious steps, not just words," said
Sarmistha Chakraborty, a Tagore aficionado. 


The CBI took over the investigation from the Bengal CID soon after the
theft. And although a few were arrested during the course of the
investigation, it failed to nab the thief. 


"This is only expected given the callous attitude of the Vishva Bharti
authorities. Tagore will continue to live in every Bengali's heart. We love
him not for his medallions. I don't think at this stage it would make a
difference," said Nilanjan Moitra, a bank executive. 


Even though The Nobel Foundation replaced the original medal with a replica
in gold in December, 2004 most Tagore admirers aren't satisfied.


"You should love what you have; respect what you have, without that you
cannot keep it," said Sarmistha Chakraborty.