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News18
13-06-2025
- Politics
- News18
‘Tagore Integral To Heritage': Bangladesh Forms Committee, Arrests 2 Over Poet's Ancestral Home Vandalism
Last Updated: The Department of Archaeology formed a three-member inquiry committee and ordered a report within five days. The Government of Bangladesh has confirmed legal action following a violent incident at Rabindranath Tagore's ancestral home in Shahzadpur, Sirajganj district. The site, managed by the Department of Archaeology, holds deep cultural significance as the Nobel Laureate's residence during the 1890s—where he penned several notable works including Sonar Tori and Chaitali. The unrest began with a dispute between museum staff and a visitor over a motorcycle parking fee. According to eyewitnesses, the situation escalated when the visitor and his family were allegedly confined and assaulted by staff members. As news of the altercation spread, local residents gathered in protest. What began as a peaceful demonstration quickly turned violent, with a mob storming the Rabindra Kachharibari premises and vandalising property, including the museum auditorium. One of the institution's directors was also reportedly assaulted. #Bangladesh revers Nobel Laureate #RabindranathTagore, as integral to 🇧🇩linguistic & cultural #heritage. People hold Tagore in highest esteem.🇧🇩Govt has acted promptly on an incident at the Govt-maintained property of his ancestral at👇🏼 — Ministry of Foreign Affairs (@BDMOFA) June 13, 2025 In response, the Department of Archaeology formed a three-member inquiry committee and ordered a report within five days. The site has since been closed to visitors for security reasons. On June 10, a criminal case was registered with local police, and two individuals were arrested in connection with the violence. The district administration has also launched a separate inquiry. 'The people and the Government of Bangladesh hold Poet Rabindranath Tagore in the highest of esteem and his contribution to our language, literature and culture is deeply revered," the release mentioned. 'The Government and the people of Bangladesh would continue to cherish his contributions and would like to reiterate that in the Bangladesh national and cultural space there is no scope for any divisive and motivated attempt to foment controversy on the subject, reaffirming its reverence for the iconic Bengali poet, the Government of Bangladesh stressed that Tagore is integral to the nation's cultural identity," it added.
The Print
12-06-2025
- Politics
- The Print
Mamata writes to Modi, seeks international pressure on B'desh govt for vandalism of Tagore property
Expressing her anguish over the incident, Banerjee urged Modi to 'take up the matter very strongly with the neighbouring country's government, so that no stone is left unturned to swiftly bring to justice the perpetrators of this heinous and mindless act'. What was damaged is not just a house but a 'towering fountain of creativity' in the subcontinent, she said in the letter. Kolkata, Jun 12 (PTI) West Bengal Chief Minister on Thursday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking his intervention into the alleged vandalisation of Rabindranath Tagore's ancestral mansion in Banglaesh's Sirajganj district by a mob on June 11. According to local reports, the attack on the Nobel Laureate poet's ancestral residence was a follow-up of a June 8 dispute over the parking fee for a two-wheeler between a visitor and staff member of the Rabindra Kachharibari in Sirajganj which also doubles up as the Rabindra Memorial Museum. 'Although untold damage has already been done, a strong international protest would at least deter in future any attack on monuments of cultural legacies that have withstood steadfastly all tests of time,' Banerjee wrote in the letter, while adding: Tagore is famous not only in Bengal but also in the whole world. Reports in Bangladeshi media have stated that the Department of Archeology has temporarily suspended visitor access to the building and set up a three-member committee to probe the incident. 'Tagore frequented the place repeatedly in his lifetime, and many of his finest works were conceived or written while he was there,' Banerjee stated. 'The poet's creativity was intertwined with his association with this ancestral estate of theirs in an intimate manner. What has been vandalised is not a mere house, but a towering fountain of creativity in our subcontinent,' she continued. Local reports in Bangladesh suggested that what began as a minor dispute escalated quickly after the visitor was allegedly locked inside a room and physically assaulted, sparking anger among locals. A mob later stormed inside the museum premises and ransacked the building, especially its auditorium while also allegedly assaulting the director of the institution. 'For the people of Bengal, this attack is an onslaught on the commonly held legacy of Tagore… To strike at the ancestral traditional roots of Tagore today tantamounts to striking at the roots of immortal creations of the great poet intrinsically bonding the brothers and sisters of the world,' the chief minister wrote in her letter. Located in Shahzadpur in the Rajshahi division, the Kachharibari served as the Tagore family's revenue office and residence. Purchased by Rabindranath's grandfather Dwarakanath Tagore in 1840, the premises worked as a favourite recluse for the Nobel laureate who wrote many of his notable literary works at this site. Tagore's celebrated works from the Sirajgunj Kachharibari include plays like 'Bisarjan', poetry collection 'Sonar Tori' and several shorties of 'Golpoguchho'. The BJP has already slammed the Md Yunus government alleging that the destruction was a 'preplanned attack' by radical groups, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh. PTI SMY NN This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
Scroll.in
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Scroll.in
Rabindranath Tagore's ancestral home vandalised in Bangladesh days after parking dispute
The ancestral home of Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore was vandalised on Tuesday in Bangladesh's Sirajganj district, two days after a parking dispute in the premises, state-owned news agency Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha reported. The vandalisation at the Rabindra Kacharibari, or the Rabindra Memorial Museum, led to sharp condemnation in India from the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Trinamool Congress. On June 8, an altercation broke out at the memorial between a visitor and a staffer about a parking fee. The situation escalated when staff members allegedly confined the visitor in an office room, sparking public outrage, the Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha reported. On June 10, a group of residents organised a human chain and protest rally near the Kacharibari. During their protest, a group of demonstrators entered the museum premises and vandalised its auditorium, the news agency reported. Bangladesh' Department of Archaeology formed a three-member committee to investigate the incident and assess damages. It is expected to submit its report within five days. The site has since been closed to visitors. The police have filed a case against 50 to 60 persons in connection with the incident, The Daily Star reported. However, no arrests have been made yet. The two-storey Kachharibari was bought by Dwarkanath Tagore, Rabindranath Tagore's grandfather in 1840, according to The Daily Star. The poet spent a significant amount of time there, creating many of his notable literary works including Bishorjon, Sonar Tori, Chitra and Meyeli Chhara. Indian politicians condemn vandalism Leaders from both the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Trinamool Congress condemned the vandalism and demanded that Bangladeshi authorities act against the culprits. 'Rabindranath Tagore is no ordinary personality,' BJP MP Sambit Patra said. 'When his house has been attacked, his way of thinking has been attacked, we appeal to the world community to come together against this.' #WATCH | Delhi: On the attack on Rabindranath Tagore's house in Bangladesh, BJP MP Sambit Patra says, "Rabindranath Tagore is no ordinary personality. When his house has been attacked, his way of thinking has been attacked, we appeal to the world community to come together… — ANI (@ANI) June 12, 2025 The Trinamool Congress called on the Union government to take notice of the incident and 'initiate bilateral dialogue to ensure that the concerned authorities in Bangladesh act swiftly and bring the culprits to justice'. 'Our icons are not collateral damage for mob fury,' the party added. We strongly condemn the vandalism of Kobiguru Rabindranath Tagore's ancestral home in Bangladesh's Sirajganj district. Gurudev is a symbol of Bengal's cultural heritage and a global icon of literature and humanism. Such acts of disrespect are an affront to every Bengali's… — All India Trinamool Congress (@AITCofficial) June 12, 2025
News18
12-06-2025
- Politics
- News18
Mob Vandalises Rabindranath Tagore's Ancestral Home In Bangladesh Over Parking Dispute
Last Updated: Eyewitnesses reported that the confrontation began when a visitor, accompanied by family, was allegedly confined and assaulted by staff after an argument over motorcycle parking A mob stormed and vandalised Rabindranath Tagore's ancestral home in Bangladesh's Shahzadpur in Sirajganj district on Wednesday following a dispute between a visitor and museum staff over a parking fee, raising concerns over the protection of historical sites in the country. Eyewitnesses told that the confrontation began when a visitor, accompanied by family, was allegedly confined and assaulted by staff after an argument regarding motorcycle parking. News of the altercation quickly spread through the local community, prompting residents to stage a protest outside the historic property. What began as a peaceful demonstration escalated rapidly. A group of protesters forcibly entered the Rabindra Kachharibari premises—known for its association with the Nobel laureate—and damaged property, including the museum's auditorium. One of the institution's directors was also reportedly assaulted during the attack. News agency BSS reported that in the wake of the violence, the Department of Archaeology formed a three-member inquiry committee and ordered a report within five days. The site has since been closed to visitors. Md Habibur Rahman, the custodian of the museum, confirmed the closure, citing security concerns and 'unavoidable circumstances". The incident has drawn widespread condemnation, particularly given the cultural and historical significance of the site. Tagore spent time at the Shahzadpur home during the 1890s and penned several notable works there, including Sonar Tori and Chaitali. Authorities are continuing their investigation, and security has been tightened at the site. As of now, no arrests have been confirmed. According to local media reports, the mob included members allegedly affiliated with the Jamaat-e-Islami and Hefazat-e-Islam who also raised slogans against Tagore. The incident comes in the backdrop of escalating unrest directed at the interim government headed by Mohammad Yunus. In an effort to maintain control, the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has imposed an indefinite ban on public gatherings in key parts of the capital. Meanwhile, Yunus's official residence, the Jamuna Guest House, has been sealed off as protests continue to intensify. First Published: June 12, 2025, 08:20 IST
