India urges Dhaka to reconsider demolition of Satyajit Ray's ancestral home
In an official statement on Tuesday, the External Affairs Ministry noted: 'We note with profound regret that the ancestral property of noted filmmaker and litterateur Satyajit Ray in Mymensingh, belonging to his grandfather and eminent litterateur, Upendra Kishor Ray Chowdhury, is being demolished.'
The building, owned by the Government of Bangladesh and located on Horikishore Ray Chowdhury Road, had reportedly fallen into disrepair after years of neglect. It was most recently used as the Mymensingh Shishu Academy.
Bangladeshi newspaper The Daily Star reported that the century-old structure is being razed to make way for a new semi-concrete building. The house stands just behind the historic Shashi Lodge, a prominent regional archaeological site.
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India Today
2 days ago
- India Today
Satyajit Ray's ‘ancestral home' that wasn't? What Bangladesh said on row
The Bangladesh government has categorically denied allegations that legendary Indian filmmaker Satyajit Ray's ancestral home in Mymensingh city has been demolished, asserting that the structure in question has no connection whatsoever to the Ray a media statement issued by the Bangladesh ministry of foreign affairs, the government stated that a detailed review of archival and land records confirmed that the house being demolished was originally built by a local zamindar, Shashikant Acharya Chowdhury, and not by Upendra Kishor Ray Chowdhury, the grandfather of Satyajit Ray and a renowned author and inquiry into the archival records reconfirmed that the house in question had never had any relation with the ancestors of the esteemed laureate Satyajit Ray,' the statement structure, located in Mymensingh district, had for decades served as the office of the Bangladesh Shishu Academy. According to the government, after abolition of the zamindari system, the land on which the house stands came under state control and was later leased on a long-term basis to the academy. The land itself is officially recorded as non-agricultural government (khas) land. The government statement said local authorities had conducted a meticulous review of historical records and found no connection between the Ray family and the property. 'The district authorities have reviewed the land records related to the house and confirmed that the land belongs to the government and has no association with the Ray family whatsoever,' it said.'Local senior citizens and respected individuals from various communities also attested that there is no known historical connection between the Ray family and the house and land currently leased to the Shishu Academy. The house is not listed as an archaeological monument, either,' said the government further clarified that while the Ray family did indeed own a home in Mymensingh, it was located on Harikishore Ray Road, a street named after Satyajit Ray's great-grandfather and the adoptive parent of Upendra Kishor Ray Chowdhury. However, that house was sold by the family long ago and no longer exists. A modern multi-storey building now occupies the controversy had erupted after media reports in both Bangladesh and India claimed that a century-old house once belonging to the Ray family, apparently built by Upendra Kishor Ray Chowdhury, was being demolished by the authorities in Mymensingh. The reports quickly went viral on social media, drawing condemnation from admirers of Ray and sparking concerns over the erasure of shared cultural in Mymensingh, however, swiftly moved to refute those claims. According to the media statement, the structure now being razed had been lying abandoned since 2014, when the Shishu Academy relocated to a rented facility elsewhere in the city. Over time, the site reportedly became a den for unlawful activities involving 'local anti-social elements', prompting district authorities to draw up plans for constructing a new semi-permanent early 2025, the Shishu Academy formally requested permission to dismantle the dilapidated structure. Following due process and an open public auction, the district administration approved the demolition. A public notification regarding the removal of the building was widely circulated through national and local newspapers on March 7, the statement response to the recent public outcry, the deputy commissioner of Mymensingh convened a high-level meeting on July 16, which included senior citizens, journalists, authors and community members. During the discussion, several local intellectuals expressed strong support for the government's position and reiterated that the house in question had no association with Satyajit Ray or his writer Kangal Shahin, speaking at the meeting, emphasised that the building under the Shishu Academy's authority 'does not belong to Hari Kishore Ray or Satyajit Ray'. Civil society member Professor Bimal Kanti Dey echoed noted that a longstanding misconception had existed about the structure being tied to the Ray poet and writer Farid Ahmed Dulal also testified that 'the house has no connection with Satyajit Ray or his family'. All participants at the meeting reportedly supported the construction of a new building for the Shishu Academy, citing the importance of educational infrastructure for the children of Dhar, an archaeologist based in Mymensingh, independently verified the government's position, stating: 'The house in question is not the ancestral home of Satyajit Ray.'In a firm closing statement, the ministry of foreign affairs urged the media and the public to act responsibly and refrain from spreading unverified or misleading claims. 'Drawing on the factual and meticulous re-examination of all records, the government of Bangladesh urges all quarters to refrain from spreading misleading or factually inaccurate narrative, in any form, that ends up creating confusion and disrupts harmony,' the statement Ray, the iconic filmmaker, author and artist, remains an unparalleled cultural figure whose legacy is deeply revered across the subcontinent. A recipient of India's highest civilian honour, the Bharat Ratna, and an Oscar for Lifetime Achievement, Ray's influence on global cinema and Bengali literature continues to inspire generations. But as the Bangladesh government now insists, the building currently being dismantled in Mymensingh is not part of that legacy, and that efforts to preserve history must be guided by facts, not to India Today Magazine- Ends
The Hindu
3 days ago
- The Hindu
'No association' with Satyajit Ray: Bangladesh on house in Mymensingh that is being demolished
Bangladesh on Thursday (July 17, 2025) said that a house in Mymensingh district that is being demolished due to "dilapidated, risky and unusable" structure has "no association" with eminent filmmaker and author Satyajit Ray. India on Tuesday (July 15, 2025) called on Bangladesh to reconsider its decision to demolish the ancestral property of Satyajit Ray and offered help to preserve the iconic building as it symbolises Bangla cultural "renaissance". In a statement issued on Thursday, Bangladesh's Foreign Ministry said a "detailed inquiry into the archival records re-confirmed that the house in question never had any relation with the ancestors of Satyajit Ray". India had urged Bangladesh to convert the "landmark" building into a museum symbolising the shared culture of the two countries and pledged to extend cooperation for it. Bangladesh's Foreign Ministry said the house was built by local Zamindar Shashikant Acharya Chowdhury next to his bungalow for his employees. Upon the abolition of the zamindari system, it came under the control of the government, which allocated it to the 'Shishu Academy, it said. "The district authorities have reviewed the land records related to the house and confirmed that, as per the past records, the land belongs to the Government and has no association with the Ray family whatsoever," the statement said. It added that local senior citizens and individuals also said that "there is no known historical connection between the Ray family and the house and land currently leased to the Shishu Academy. The house is not listed as an archaeological monument, either". However, the road in front of the house, 'Harikishore Ray Road', is named after Satyajit Ray's great-grandfather Harikishore Ray, the statement said, adding that the Ray family had a house on Harikishore Ray Road, which they had sold long ago and thus no longer exists. "A multi-storied building was constructed there by the new owner. The building that is now being demolished was dilapidated, risky and unusable," it added. "Since 2014, the Academy had shifted to a rented property elsewhere in Mymensingh city, and the abandoned house became a den for unlawful activities by local anti-social elements. Hence, an initiative was taken to construct a semi-permanent building at the site in the first half of 2024," the Ministry said. It said that during a meeting of senior citizens, literary and cultural personalities, journalists and local community members on Wednesday, eminent writer Kangal Shahin said that the building does not belong to Hari Kishore Ray or Satyajit Ray. "All attendees were in unequivocal agreement that the abandoned building of the Bangladesh Shishu Academy has no historical or familial ties with Satyajit Ray or his family. In this regard, Swapan Dhar, an archaeology researcher from Mymensingh, also stated that the house in question is not the ancestral home of Satyajit Ray," it added.
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First Post
3 days ago
- First Post
Not Satyajit Ray's ancestral home: Bangladesh denies any connection between filmmaker and Mymensingh property
The Government of Bangladesh on Thursday (July 17) denied reports that a historic property linked to iconic Bengali filmmaker and author Satyajit Ray was being demolished in the northern city of Mymensingh. read more Eminent filmmaker Satyajit Ray's ancestral home in Dhaka was reportedly being demolished by Bangladeshi authorities. Image Courtesy: VladAdiReturns/X The Government of Bangladesh on Thursday (July 17) denied reports that a historic property linked to iconic Bengali filmmaker and author Satyajit Ray was being demolished in the northern city of Mymensingh. In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said a review of archival land records found no connection between the house in question and Ray or his family. The building, located near 'Shashi Lodge' in Mymensingh, was originally constructed by local zamindar Shashikant Acharya Chowdhury for his employees, The Economic Times reported citing the statement STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'In this regard, Swapan Dhar, an archaeology researcher from Mymensingh, also stated that the house in question is not the ancestral home of Satyajit Ray,' it said. The ministry added that the building is also not listed as an archaeological monument. The clarification came in response to media reports that claimed the structure being demolished was once the ancestral home of the Ray family. Ray, considered one of the greatest filmmakers in world cinema, is celebrated for his works such as Pather Panchali, Charulata and The Apu Trilogy. His legacy continues to influence global film and literature.
