India Urges Dhaka to Reconsider Ray’s Home – Repair Offer
Ancestral Home of Satyajit Ray‘s Grandfather Demolished in Mymensingh, Sparks Outrage in India
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Mymensingh, Bangladesh & New Delhi, India – July 15, 2025 – The ancestral home of the renowned Ray family, including that of legendary filmmaker Satyajit Ray’s grandfather, Upendra Kishore Ray Chowdhury, has been demolished in Mymensingh city, Bangladesh, to make way for a semi-concrete structure. the decision has ignited strong condemnation from india,with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) expressing profound regret adn urging Bangladeshi authorities to reconsider.
India’s Strong Reaction and Appeal for Preservation
The MEA issued a statement highlighting the landmark status of the building, which symbolizes the ”Bangla cultural renaissance.” “We note with profound regret that the ancestral property of noted filmmaker and litterateur Satyajit Ray in Mymensingh, Bangladesh, belonging to his grandfather and eminent litterateur, Upendra kishore Ray Chowdhury, is being demolished,” the statement read.
India has proposed that the building be repaired and reconstructed as a museum of literature, serving as a symbol of shared culture between India and Bangladesh. The Indian government has also offered its cooperation with local authorities to explore such preservation options.
A Century of History and Cultural meaning
The century-old structure was originally built by Upendra Kishore Ray Chowdhury, a prominent figure in Bengali literature and the father of poet Sukumar Ray. The building, located on a road named after another Ray ancestor, horikishore Ray Chowdhury, formerly housed the Mymensingh Shishu Academy.The Ray family’s contributions to Bengali literature and art are widely recognized as foundational.
Years of Neglect Preceded Demolition
According to a report by The Daily Star, the building had suffered from years of neglect by local authorities. Md Mehedi Zaman, the district Children Affairs Officer, was quoted as saying, “The house has been left abandoned for 10 years. Shishu Academy activities have been operating from a rented space.” he further explained that a new semi-constructed structure would be built on the site to accommodate academic activities.
Local poet Shamim Ashraf lamented the lack of care for the historic building, stating, “The house was in a pitiful state for years; cracks developed in its roof, but the authorities concerned never cared for the rich history behind old buildings.”
The property was taken over by local authorities after the Partition in 1947 and was repurposed as the Mymensingh Shishu Academy in 1989.
Widespread Opposition and Mamata Banerjee‘s Appeal
Local residents have voiced strong opposition to the demolition, arguing that it represents the erasure of a crucial element of the city’s cultural and literary heritage.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also reacted to the news, describing it as “extremely distressing.” In a post on X, she emphasized the Ray family’s pivotal role in Bengali culture and upendrakishore’s significance to Bengal’s renaissance. “Therefore, I believe this house is intricately tied to the cultural history of Bengal,” she stated.
Banerjee appealed to the interim government of Bangladesh and its people to preserve the historic home and urged the Indian government to intervene in the matter.
Satyajit Ray, a recipient of India’s highest civilian honor, the Bharat Ratna, and an Honorary Academy Award, remains one of the most celebrated figures in global cinema.