Betrayal: BJP blasts Trinamool for demolition of Abanindranath Tagore's house
Calling it an attack on the "history, heritage and Hindu cultural identity", the BJP has slammed the ruling Trinamool Congress over the demolition of the residence of celebrated 20th century painter Abanindranath Tagore in Santiniketan by acting against a civic body order. Abanindranath was the nephew of legendary poet Rabindranath Tagore."The house of Abanindranath Thakur - Rabindranath's nephew and a towering figure in Indian art - is being demolished in Santiniketan. Let that sink in. Abanindranath, the second Acharya of Visva Bharati, the man who gave us the iconic painting of Bharat Mata, and helped define the visual identity of our national spirit - is being reduced to rubble in the name of so-called development," BJP IT cell chief and Bengal co-incharge Amit Malviya posted on X.Today, both Hindus and their most revered cultural icon, Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore, find themselves under siege — not just in Bangladesh, but in West Bengal itself.This is a betrayal of the very purpose for which Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee ensured the creation of West Bengal pic.twitter.com/wxwj1vfThi— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) June 3, 2025advertisement"His son, Alokendranath Thakur, had purchased that house in Santiniketan, where the great artist himself lived. The area even came to be known as 'Abanpalli' in his honour. But today, his legacy is being erased - disrespected and destroyed. This is not just an attack on a structure. It is an attack on history, heritage, and Hindu cultural identity," he added.
The Bolpur Municipal Corporation had issued an order not to demolish the historic structure, but the local administration still went ahead. The house was built by Alokendranath Tagore, son of Abanindranath, who stayed there for a few years.Later, the property was sold by the Tagore family. The property to whom it was sold tried to demolish it a few months back. But the Bolpur administration stayed the demolition. However, turning a blind eye to the civic body's order, the house was demolished on Monday.advertisementAfter receiving the information about the demolition, the municipal corporation tried to intervene, but the damage had been done by that time.Now, the BJP is in an attacking mode, accusing the Mamata Banerjee government of disrespecting history and the state's cultural legacy."Today, both Hindus and their most revered cultural icon, Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore, find themselves under siege — not just in Bangladesh, but in West Bengal itself. This is a betrayal of the very purpose for which Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee ensured the creation of West Bengal - as a homeland for Hindu Bengalis, to preserve their identity, culture, and heritage. And yet, in Mamata Banerjee's West Bengal, we witness an unforgivable act," Malviya continued his tirade.
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