India has expressed regret over reports of the demolition of the ancestral property of legendary filmmaker and Academy Award winner Satyajit Ray in Bangladesh‘s Mymensingh.
As the ancestral home is being demolished to make way for a new “semi-concrete structure”, the Indian government stepped in on Tuesday and volunteered to help in the repair and reconstruction of the property into a “museum of literature”.
Located on Horikishore Ray Chowdhury Road in the city, the century-old house was home to Upendrakishore Ray Chowdhury. Upendrakishore, a prominent 19th-century litterateur in his own right besides being a painter and publisher, was the father of celebrated poet Sukumar Ray and grandfather of filmmaker Satyajit Ray.
A semi-concrete structure with several rooms will be built to house a Shishu Academy at the historically significant building, the ‘Daily Star’ reported.
According to reports, the property, which was built by Upendrakishore more than a century ago and previously housed the Mymensingh Shishu Academy, fell into a state of disrepair after years of neglect by the authorities.
The Ministry of External Affairs said, “We note with profound regret that the ancestral property of noted filmmaker and litterateur Satyajit Ray in Mymensingh, Bangladesh, belonging to his grandfather and eminent litterateur, Upendra Kishor Ray Chowdhury, is being demolished. The property, presently owned by the Government of Bangladesh, is in a state of disrepair.”
“Given the building’s landmark status, symbolising Bangla cultural renaissance, it would be preferable to reconsider the demolition and examine options for its repair and reconstruction as a museum of literature and a symbol of the shared culture of India and Bangladesh. The Government of India would be willing to extend cooperation for this purpose,” the MEA said.
Expressing anguish, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee posted on X, “The Ray family is one of the most prominent torchbearers of Bengal’s culture. Upendrakishore was among the pillars of the Bengal Renaissance. I feel this house is inextricably linked to Bengal’s cultural history. I appeal to the Bangladeshi government and to all right-thinking people of that country to preserve this edifice of rich tradition. The Indian government should also intervene.”
A local official in Bangladesh told Daily Star that the demolition is being carried out in accordance with “proper procedures” and “necessary approvals”. A semi-concrete building with several rooms will be built to start academy activities, he said.
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Asked why such a historically significant building, located on a 36-acre plot, was being demolished, the official stated that the building posed a serious risk to children when they gathered at the compound.
