The other Nobel’s mother is stunned and relieved, too

‘‘Nothing, absolutely nothing is here at home,’’ she told The Sunday Express. ‘‘I am somewhat relieved at that. I am also fortunate that every award Amatya wins, he brings it home to show me and then takes it back into safe custody.’’ Shocked at the theft, Amita Sen says the blame game is pointless. ‘‘The least one can do now is to find out how such a thing happened. If anyone is responsible, it’s all of us who have failed to protect our priceless treasure.’’

For her, the loss is also personal. Born in 1912, Amita was one of the students taught by Tagore. She got into Patha Bhavan, the school wing of Santiniketan in the mid 1920s, and grew up under the direct guidance of Tagore. When she had a child in 1933, it was Tagore who christened him Amartya.

So traumatic has the Tagore theft been for her that a doctor was summoned and she had to have a medical check-up. There is now a police picket at the entrance of Pratichi, the Sens’ house in Santiniketan. The mother confirmed that Amartya Sen, who is in Japan, is expected to be in Santiniketan soon. ‘‘I am to hear from him about what he thinks of the theft,’’ she says. Meanwhile, the probe, the police say, is on.