Latest news with #UpendrakishoreRayChowdhury
The Print
3 hours ago
- Politics
- The Print
‘Don't demolish, we'll help': India asks Bangladesh to ‘reconsider' razing Satyajit Ray's ancestral home
In its statement, the Ministry of External Affairs expressed 'profound regret' over these reports. The statement followed local reports Tuesday that said that the ancestral house of Satyajit Ray's grandfather, Upendrakishore Ray Chowdhury, was being demolished in Bangladesh. New Delhi: India has asked Bangladesh to reconsider its decision to demolish the ancestral home of legendary filmmaker Satyajit Ray in Mymensingh, offering assistance to preserve the structure and convert it into a museum that would honour the shared cultural heritage of the two nations. 'Given the building's landmark status, symbolising Bangla cultural renaissance, 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 ministry said. 'India would be willing to extend full cooperation toward preserving the structure as a museum of literature and shared cultural values,' the statement added. The destruction of the Ray residence has drawn criticism from West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee as well, who called the move 'extremely distressing' and appealed to both the Indian and Bangladeshi governments to protect the legacy of the Ray family. 'This news is deeply distressing. The Ray family has been one of the foremost torchbearers of Bengali culture. Upendrakishore Ray Chowdhury stands as a towering figure of Bengal's renaissance, and this house is inextricably linked to our cultural heritage,' Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said in a post on X. She also called upon the Muhammad Yunus-led government in Bangladesh, as well as all 'conscientious' citizens of the country, to take immediate steps to preserve the historic home. Additionally, Banerjee urged the Indian government to actively intervene in the matter to help safeguard this invaluable piece of shared heritage. The two-story home, located along Harikishore Ray Chowdhury Road in Mymensingh, had fallen into disrepair after years of neglect. Constructed over a century ago by Upendrakishore Ray Chowdhury, the property later served as the local Shishu Academy, a government-run center for children's development. Activities at the academy reportedly stopped a decade ago when the building was deemed unsafe, with officials opting to rent a different space, according to local reports. According to the Bangladesh Department of Archaeology, the house was constructed over a century ago. Following the 1947 Partition, the property came under the ownership of the government. Despite appeals from historians, poets, and local residents, officials have proceeded with the demolition, citing structural concerns and safety risks to children. However, local poets and activists argue the historical value of the building has been systematically overlooked. 'The house remained in a sorry state for years, with cracks forming on its roof, yet the authorities never cared about the rich history these old buildings hold,' poet Shamim Ashraf, was quoted saying in The Daily Star. The incident comes at a time when Bangladesh has seen a noticeable deterioration in law and order. India's appeal follows mounting concern in India and Bangladesh over recent acts of violence and neglect targeting heritage sites linked to the region's pluralist history. Last month, a mob vandalised the ancestral home of Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore in Sirajganj, Bangladesh. New Delhi called the act part of a 'broad pattern' of assaults on the country's syncretic cultural identity. 'The violent act is a disgrace to the memory and the inclusive philosophy and teachings that the Nobel Laureate espoused in Bangladesh,' Randhir Jaiswal, Spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, had said. (Edited by Zinnia Ray Chaudhuri) Also read: Bangladesh scrap trader's lynching: Renewed call for polls as parties slam 'extortion-driven politics'
Scroll.in
5 hours ago
- Politics
- Scroll.in
Willing to cooperate with Bangladesh for repair of Satyajit Ray's ancestral home, says India
India on Tuesday said that it is willing to cooperate with the Bangladeshi government in repairing and reconstructing the ancestral home of filmmaker Satyajit Ray after reports emerged that the property was being demolished. Earlier in the day, Bangladeshi newspaper The Daily Star reported that the ancestral home of littérateur Upendrakishore Ray Chowdhury was being demolished to make way for a 'new semi-concrete structure'. Chowdhury is the father of poet Sukumar Ray and grandfather of Satyajit Ray. #Bangladesh | Satyajit Ray's ancestral home being demolished in Mymensingh In Bangladesh, the ancestral home of eminent filmmaker #SatyajitRay in #Mymensingh city, formerly used as the Mymensingh Shishu Academy, is being demolished to make way for a new semi-concrete structure.… — DD News (@DDNewslive) July 15, 2025 The newspaper reported that the home had been 'abandoned for ten years' and was being used as the Mymensingh Shishu Academy. The property was being demolished to build a semi-concrete structure with several rooms to start academy activities, the newspaper quoted an official as saying. The official claimed that the old structure, located on Harikishore Ray Chowdhury Road in Mymensingh, posed 'safety risks' for the children gathering in the compound. In light of the reports on the demolition, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday sought the intervention of both New Delhi and Dhaka in the matter. '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,' she said on X. 'It is said that the demolition work had already begun.' Describing the reports as 'extremely distressing', the Trinamool Congress chief said that the 'Ray family is one of the foremost bearers and carriers of Bengali culture'. Banerjee added that the home was 'intricately tied' to the cultural history of Bengal. 'I appeal to the Bangladesh government and all the conscientious people of that country to take steps to preserve this heritage-laden house,' she said. 'The Indian government should pay attention to this matter.' Later on Tuesday, India's Ministry of External Affairs said that it noted with 'profound regret' the demolition of the ancestral home of Satyajit Ray and his grandfather. 'The property, presently owned by the Government of Bangladesh, is in a state of disrepair,' the ministry said in a statement. 'Given the building's landmark status, symbolising Bangla cultural renaissance, 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,' it added. The statement said that the Indian government would be willing to extend cooperation for this purpose. The ancestral home, located about 120 km north of Dhaka, was built over a century ago by Chowdhury, The Indian Express reported, quoting Bangladesh' Department of Archaeology.
Time of India
13 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
CM flags razing of Upendrakishore home in B'desh, India offers help to rebuild it
Kolkata: CM Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday said she was "saddened" by reports emerging from Bangladesh that the residence of writer and painter Upendrakishore Ray Chowdhury in Bangladesh was being demolished. Upendrakishore was the father of one of Bengal's most celebrated poets, Sukumar Ray, and the grandfather of filmmaker Satyajit Ray. Taking to X, she wrote in Bengali: "Reports suggest the ancestral house of Satyajit Ray's grandfather, ren-owned writer-editor Upendrakishore Ray Chowdhury, in Mymensingh, Bangladesh, is allegedly being demolished. It is reported that the demolition work has already begun. This news is extremely saddening." "The Ray family is a significant bearer of Bengali culture. Upendrakishore was a pillar of the Bengal Renaissance. Therefore, I believe this house is intricately linked to the cultural history of Bengal. I appeal to govt of Bangladesh and all well-intentioned people of the country to preserve this heritage building. The Indian govt should pay attention to this matter," Banerjee added. You Can Also Check: Kolkata AQI | Weather in Kolkata | Bank Holidays in Kolkata | Public Holidays in Kolkata Later in the day, India called on Bangladesh to reconsider its decision and offered help to preserve the iconic building. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like All Senior Drivers Should Claim This Large Reward (Check If You Qualify) Read More Undo Describing the move as a matter of "profound regret", MEA said: "Given the building's landmark status, symbolising Bangla cultural renaissance, 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. Govt of India would be willing to extend cooperation for this purpose." According to media reports from Bangladesh, the home was being demolished to make way for a new semi-concrete structure. According to available records, the house was built more than a century ago by Upendrakishore, then a zamindar and entrepreneur from Masua in Kishoreganj's Katiadi upazila. Upendrakishore was the first to introduce colour printing in Bengal. He also began the first children's magazine in colour, Sandesh, in 1913. According to the local media in Bangladesh, after the Partition in 1947, the property came under govt ownership and was repurposed as Mymensingh Shishu Academy in 1989. According to Daily Star, who quoted Md Mehedi Zaman, the district children affairs officer, as saying: "The house has been left abandoned for 10 years. Shishu Academy activities have been operating from a rented space." The official added that the demolition was being carried out following procedure. When asked why such a historically significant building was being demolished, he said the building posed a risk to children who gathered at the compound. In June, Banerjee had condemned the vandalism at Rabindranath Tagore's ancestral home in Sirajganj, calling the incident a "barbaric assault on national pride and the subcontinent's cultural heritage".
Time of India
16 hours ago
- General
- Time of India
India tells Bangladesh to reconsider demolition of Satyajit Ray's ancestral home; offers support for repair
. NEW DELHI: A house in Bangladesh linked to three generations of Bengal's most respected literary and cultural figures is being demolished, drawing sharp concern from the Indian government. The building in question is the ancestral home of renowned children's author and publisher Upendrakishore Ray Chowdhury, located in Mymensingh city. Upendrakishore was also the father of poet Sukumar Ray and grandfather of legendary filmmaker Satyajit Ray . The property currently owned by the government of Bangladesh. The ministry of external affairs (MEA) expressed regret over the demolition, noting that the house is a landmark tied closely to the Bangla cultural renaissance. It said the building could instead be restored and converted into a literature museum celebrating shared heritage. The ministry also said that the Government of India would be ready to offer support if such a plan is considered. West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee also raised concern, saying the demolition of such a memory-filled place was 'heartbreaking'. She called upon both the governments of Bangladesh and India to take steps to preserve the historic site, describing the Ray family as 'torchbearers' of Bengal's cultural legacy. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Glasgow: If You Were Born Between 1945-1974 You Could Be Eligible For This British Seniors Read More Undo 'I learnt from media reports that the memory-entwined ancestral house of renowned writer-editor Upendrakishore Roychowdhury in Bangladesh's Mymensingh city is being demolished. The reports say that the demolition process had already begun. This is heartbreaking news. The Ray family is one of the most prominent torchbearers of Bengal's culture," Banerjee wrote on X. The house had fallen into disrepair and had been left unused for nearly a decade. It previously housed the Mymensingh Shishu Academy but was later abandoned. A Bangladeshi official told local media that the new plan involves constructing a semi-concrete building at the site to resume the academy's operations.
