Satyajit Ray's ‘ancestral home' that wasn't? What Bangladesh said on row

India Today

3 days ago

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 family.In 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 publisher.advertisement'Detailed 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 clarified.The 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 statement.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 site.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 heritage.Officials 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 building.advertisementIn 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 noted.In 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 ancestors.Eminent 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 family.Local 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 Mymensingh.advertisementSwapan 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 read.Satyajit 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 folklore.advertisementSubscribe to India Today Magazine- Ends