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Published : 18 Jul 2025, 01:00 AM
The old building in Mymensingh is not the ancestral home of Indian filmmaker Satyajit Ray, the government has said.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs clarified: “Upon reviewing archival records, it has been confirmed that there is no connection between this building and the ancestral family of Satyajit Ray.”
Following criticism over the partial demolition of the dilapidated one-storey house on Harikishore Road, the Mymensingh district administration had temporarily halted its operations. However, the Foreign Ministry’s clarification signals the possibility of the process resuming soon.
The government’s statement noted that the house was originally built by landowner Shashikanta Acharya Chowdhury near his “Shashi Lodge” bungalow to house his staff.
“With the abolition of the zamindari system, ownership of the property passed to the government. It was later allocated to the Bangladesh Shishu Academy and has since functioned as its district office,” the ministry added.
Demolition of the building sparked backlash after reports claimed it was a heritage site connected to Satyajit’s ancestors. Some reports alleged that the 200-year-old house had been used by the Ray family and was being dismantled by the Shishu Academy, which has occupied it since 1989.
The building, adjacent to the city’s BNP office, was abandoned and unused by the academy since 2010 due to its deteriorated condition.
On Tuesday, India’s Ministry of External Affairs offered assistance in restoring the building.
Meanwhile, after seeing the news of demolition, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee called the demolition unfortunate in an X post on Tuesday, and appealed to the interim government to preserve the heritage-laden house.
She also urged “conscientious individuals” to step forward and advocate for its preservation, calling on the Indian government to intervene in the matter.
"This news is extremely distressing. The Ray family is one of the foremost bearers and carriers of Bengali culture. Upendra Kishor is a pillar of Bengal's renaissance. Therefore, I believe this house is intricately tied to the cultural history of Bengal," the chief minister was quoted as saying in a post on X by NDTV.
