India condemns vandalism at Tagore's ancestral home in Bangladesh
India on Thursday (June 12, 2025) 'strongly' condemned the vandalisation of the ancestral home of Rabindranath Tagore in Bangladesh's Sirajganj district. Addressing the weekly press briefing, Randhir Jaiswal, Official Spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, said the attack was part of a 'broad pattern' of assaults on the pluralist culture of Bangladesh.
'We strongly condemn the despicable attack and vandalisation of the ancestral home of Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore by a mob on June 8, 2025. The home, historically called Rabindra Kachharibari, is located in Sirajganj district of Bangladesh. The violent act is a disgrace to the memory and the inclusive philosophy and teachings that the Nobel Laureate espoused in Bangladesh,' Mr. Jaiswal said.
Bangladesh has witnessed a deterioration in law and order in recent month, with mobs targeting homes of prominent leaders. On February 5 this year, a mob destroyed the residence of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at 32 Dhanmondi, an address historically associated with Bangladesh's liberation movement. The June 8 attack on the rural ancestral home of the Tagore family reportedly followed a similar pattern, with a group of arsonists vandalising the property. Following the incident, the interim government has suspended public access to the heritage site.
After its independence, Bangladesh adopted 'Amar Shonar Bangla', composed by Rabindranath Tagore, as its national anthem.
Mr. Jaiswal further said, 'The attack falls in the broad pattern of systematic attempts by extremists to erase the symbols of tolerance, and eviscerate the syncretic culture and the cultural legacy of Bangladesh.' He urged the Bangladeshi authorities to rein in extremist elements and 'take strict action against the perpetrators to prevent recurrence of such incidents that sadly have become a repetitive feature'.
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