"Satyajit Ray Wanted To Use Pics Of Bangladesh Home But...": Son Sandip Ray To NDTV
"I have never been to Bangladesh to see this building; neither did Baba [Satyajit Ray]. What I saw were the pictures of the building. But I remember Baba wanted to use the pictures of this building when he was working on the Sukumar Ray documentary," Sandip Ray tells NDTV.
"A close associate, who used to look after Baba's production, was sent to Bangladesh to click some pictures of this building. But Baba was very disheartened to see the building in a dilapidated state. He, then, decided that he wouldn't use those pictures in his documentary," Ray adds.
The century-old house, located on Harikishore Ray Chowdhury Road in Mymensingh, is an emblem of the legacy of the illustrious Ray family.
Referring to its heritage and contributions to the Bengal's cutural renaissance, the Government of India said, "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 statement added, "The Government of India would be willing to extend cooperation for this purpose."
Earlier, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee appealed to the Mohammad Yunus government in Bangladesh to take steps to preserve the ancestral property.
"News reports reveal that in Bangladesh's Mymensingh city, the ancestral home of Satyajit Ray's grandfather, the renowned writer-editor Upendrakishore Ray Chowdhury, steeped in his memories, is reportedly being demolished. It is said that the demolition work had already begun. This news is extremely distressing. The Ray family is one of the foremost bearers and carriers of Bengali culture", Banerjee wrote on X.
খবরে প্রকাশ যে, বাংলাদেশের ময়মনসিংহ শহরে সত্যজিৎ রায়ের ঠাকুরদা, স্বয়ং স্বনামধন্য সাহিত্যিক-সম্পাদক উপেন্দ্রকিশোর রায়চৌধুরীর স্মৃতিজড়িত তাঁদের পৈতৃক বাড়িটি নাকি ভেঙে ফেলা হচ্ছে। ভাঙার কাজ শুরু হয়ে গিয়েছিল বলে খবর প্রকাশিত।
এই সংবাদ অত্যন্ত দুঃখের। রায় পরিবার বাংলার…
— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) July 15, 2025
Asked about the demolition, Md Mehedi Zaman, Mymensingh's district children affairs officer, said the decision to demolish the house was made by a committee led by the district's Deputy Commissioner Mofidul Alam, as per a report by The Daily Star.
Citing the risk factors for children, the official said, "The house had been abandoned for 10 years, and Shishu Academy activities have been running from a rented space," adding, that the new semi-concrete building with several rooms will be built to resume academy activities.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
NDTV
2 hours ago
- NDTV
Tamil Nadu Cops Seek Public Help In Child Rape Case, Post Photos Of Suspect
Chennai: The local police in Tamil Nadu's Tiruvallur district have released images of an unidentified man and appealed to the public for information, nearly a week after a 10-year-old schoolgirl was allegedly sexually assaulted. The disturbing incident has ignited serious concerns over child safety and the efficacy of protection systems in the state. CCTV footage, which has since circulated, shows the man stalking the minor girl before forcibly lifting her, according to initial police accounts. The police have formally registered a case under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, and multiple special teams have been formed to trace the perpetrator, though no arrests have been made yet. "We have formed special teams and expect a breakthrough soon," a senior police officer told NDTV. The Tiruvallur Police had shared pictures of the suspect on their official social media, urging public assistance to identify him: The suspect in the photos/video is involved in a heinous crime of sexually assaulting a child. It is requested to communicate any information pertaining to him on 9952060948 — Thiruvallur District Police (@TNTVLRPOLICE) July 20, 2025 Child rights activists have voiced profound alarm, highlighting the incident as a stark reminder of the dangers children face in public spaces and the existing gaps in surveillance, community vigilance, and awareness. "Every time a child is harmed, it's not just a law and order issue - it's a failure of the system meant to protect them," said an advocate who preferred to remain anonymous. The incident has also drawn political condemnation, with the AIADMK slamming the ruling DMK saying "There is no safety for women under the DMK rule". Former state BJP chief K Annamalai had earlier urged immediate action, warning that the suspect's freedom poses a continued threat to society. The crime comes amid a worrying rise in offenses against women and children across the state. The state police and the ruling DMK maintain that stringent action is being taken in each case. The authorities have pointed to recent fast-tracked trials and convictions - such as the life sentence awarded in the Anna University sexual assault case and another in which a pregnant woman was assaulted on a moving train - as evidence of their commitment to delivering justice.
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
No reason why Bengali-speaking people should be put in jail: Mamata Banerjee ahead of rally
Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee seems to be creating a new political narrative by kindling Bengali (asmita) identity by fighting for " Bengali-speaking migrants " in BJP-ruled states , ahead of the 2026 assembly polls and a day before Martyr's Day on Monday. A day ahead of Trinamool Congress' rally, Kolkata Police have deployed a team of senior officers, introduced a helpline and issued detailed guidelines following the Calcutta High Court's instructions on Friday. The HC had directed the Kolkata Police to ensure that the processions should not cause any traffic congestions with Justice Tirthankar Ghosh restricting the movement of processions during office hours from 9 am to 11 am on Monday. "We have deployed senior officers. We have introduced a helpline. After 11 am, the rallies will be as usual. We will follow the instructions by the court," Commissioner of Kolkata Police- Manoj Verma said. Meanwhile, Banerjee reiterated on Sunday: "There is no reason why Bengali-speaking people should be put in jail. Why should they be tortured, harassed or arrested?" Banerjee, her cabinet members and Trinamool general secretary Abhishek Banerjee have overseen the preparations on Sunday ahead of the rally. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Select a Course Category Finance MBA PGDM Leadership Project Management healthcare Data Science Data Science Product Management Degree Digital Marketing Public Policy Healthcare Others others Technology Artificial Intelligence CXO Cybersecurity Data Analytics Management Design Thinking Operations Management Skills you'll gain: Duration: 7 Months S P Jain Institute of Management and Research CERT-SPJIMR Fintech & Blockchain India Starts on undefined Get Details Migrant workers from Bengal form a substantial 22 lakh population of the state, according to the chief minister. She protested against their alleged confinement, detention and labelling of Bengali migrant workers in BJP-ruled states. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Libas Purple Days Sale Libas Undo Banerjee usually uses the Martyrs' Day platform to kick-off the tone for the upcoming polls. However, this time, she walked in a procession from College Square to Esplanade in Central Kolkata for the cause of migrant workers, and setting the tone of the next polls. There have been many instances of Bengali-speaking migrants workers being detained in many parts of the country, including in Odisha, Rajasthan, Delhi and Maharashtra, in the recent past.
NDTV
3 hours ago
- NDTV
Monsoon Session: Delhi Assembly Gears Up For Digital Rollout, School Fee Bill
Delhi Assembly In Monsoon 2025: With the Monsoon Session just around the corner, the Delhi Legislative Assembly is preparing for a full digital transition, alongside a heated debate on a private school fee regulation bill that has already drawn public attention and protest. The session, expected in the first week of August, will mark the Assembly's move toward paperless proceedings under the National e-Vidhan Application (NeVA). A three-day hands-on training program for MLAs begins Monday, July 21, at the Vidhan Sabha Complex. Eighteen computer systems have been installed, and expert trainers from the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs will guide legislators from July 21 to 23. "Digital transformation is no longer a choice but a necessity for people-centric legislation," Speaker Vijender Gupta said, adding that the move reflects the Assembly's commitment to accountable and tech-forward governance. The highlight of the upcoming session is the proposed bill to regulate private school fee structures, based on an ordinance cleared by the Delhi Cabinet on April 29. The draft introduces a fine system for arbitrary hikes, ranging from Rs.1 lakh to Rs.10 lakh, and mandates refunds within 20 working days. Delays in refunding would trigger escalating penalties, and repeated violations could bar school management from revising fees or holding office. The bill also proposes a three-tier regulatory mechanism, including school-level, district, and revision committees, with the latter empowered to deliver binding decisions in case of disputes. "The bill is designed to make fee practices more transparent while preserving the integrity of educational institutions," a senior official told NDTV. Meanwhile, NDTV spoke to parents who have been continuously protesting against arbitrary fee hikes at several private schools across Delhi. Divya Mattey, a parent protesting outside DPS Dwarka, said that while the bill's intent appears positive, several aspects require deeper public discussion. "The overall concept of the bill looks promising, but there are several aspects where we'd like more detail and the opportunity to offer constructive suggestions," he said. Parents have sought a more structured and transparent approach to school-level committee formation, requesting that it be based on nominations rather than lottery, with clear eligibility criteria. They also want the government to disclose the 18 parameters proposed to determine fee hikes and to clarify whether audit reports of school accounts, currently conducted by the Directorate of Education, will continue under the new law. Defined timelines for reviewing and deciding fee hike proposals have been welcomed, but parents are seeking details on how district and state-level committees will function and whether documents and deliberations will be accessible to them. "We're a bit skeptical since the bill hasn't been made public yet," Mattey added. "But we hope ongoing coordination with the DoE and government will bring clarity and finally resolve the long-pending issue of fee disputes, stuck in litigation since 2011." The proposed fee regulation bill is set to become a flashpoint in the upcoming session, with the opposition Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) gearing up to corner the BJP-led government on a range of civic issues, from monsoon flooding and Yamuna pollution to water supply complaints across the city. With the Assembly going digital and the private school fee bill under the spotlight, the Monsoon Session is set to open on a high-stakes note.
