Among the names of the world’s best filmmakers, who have revolutionised films forever, Satyajit Ray’s name has been etched in the history of world cinema. Ray was born in Kolkata of pre-partition India, and his grandfather’s home was located in East Bengal, which is now Bangladesh. After years of being in a dilapidated state, officials in Bangladesh are attempting to demolish Satyajit Ray’s grandfather’s house to construct a semi-concrete structure and use it for an academy. However, Indian officials are trying to intervene and save the structure to preserve the landmark of cultural relevance.
Satyajit Ray’s ancestral property in Bangladesh to be demolished
Satyajit Ray was born to a family of exceptional creative talent. His father was a renowned Bengali poet, Sukumar Ray and his grandfather was a painter and publisher, Upendrakishore Ray Chowdhury. Nearly a century ago, the painter had built a home in Mymensingh, Dhaka, in undivided Bengal. After the partition, the house became the government’s property and was converted into Mymensingh Shishu Academy around the ’80s. However, after years of neglect, the house has become an extremely dilapidated structure and a den for drug use, as reported by the Daily Star, a Bangladeshi newspaper.
As a result, Ray’s ancestral property is now being taken down so that a semi-concrete structure can be made in its place. To restart the academy activities, a new building will be constructed on the land after the demolition. According to the report, when officials were asked about the demolition of the historically significant building, they stated that the unkempt structure had become a dangerous compound for children.
Indian officials try to intervene and offer repairs
Many Indian officials have taken to their social media and urged the Bangladesh government to preserve the cultural landmark. BJP’s Amit Malviya shared the video of the demolition on his X and called it an ‘erasure of history’ and said that the house was a ‘symbol of heritage’ for the entire world. India’s Ministry of External Affairs has offered help with the repairs and suggested to reconstruct the building into a museum of ‘literature and a symbol of the shared culture of India and Bangladesh’. West Bengal CM, Mamta Banerjee, has also asked the Bangladeshi government to reconsider the demolition and preserve the landmark. The MEA stated:
“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 Government of India would be willing to extend cooperation for this purpose”.
More about Satyajit Ray
Satyajit Ray was born on May 2, 1921, in Calcutta, Bengal Presidency (now Kolkata, West Bengal). With films such as the Apu Trilogy, Charulata, Nayak, and others, Ray is considered one of the most influential filmmakers in the history of cinema. He was conferred with India’s highest civilian award, the Bharat Ratna and also won a record 37 National Awards. Due to his irreplaceable contribution to the global film industry, Ray was also honoured with an Academy Honorary Award. Nearly three decades after his passing, Satyajit Ray and his filmography continue to have a cult-like following among passionate cinephiles.
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