
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.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Those with disability who can do the work can't be rejected: HC
Madurai: Any person with minor deformities that don't significantly impact their ability to perform the duties of the post has to be considered for selection, observed Madras high court on Tuesday while quashing an order by the review medical board which rejected a person's candidature to the post of constable in Central Armed Police Forces. The board had rejected his candidature on the ground that he had polydactyly on left thumb. "If a person with disability of any kind is capable of performing the same duty as performed by a normal person, then his case is also to be considered as that of the person, who is normal in the strict sense," said Justice Vivek Kumar Singh. The court was hearing the petition filed by R Balamurugan, an undergraduate degree holder. He had applied for the post of constable in various Central Armed Police Forces such as BSF, CISF and CRPF. He cleared the computer-based examination, participated in certificate verification, physical standard test, and physical efficiency test. Thereafter, he was rejected in medical examination on the ground of polydactyly on left hand. In Oct 2024, he was rejected by review medical board, which he subsequently challenged through the present petition. The petitioner's counsel submitted that there is no extra digit on the radial side of the petitioner's hand, but his left hand thumb is only unsized, which cannot be categorized as polydactyly. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Thôn Cầu Sắt: Nhà tiền chế lắp đặt chỉ trong 1 ngày Prefabricated Homes Tìm hiểu thêm Undo He said clause 7 of the home ministry's revised guidelines gives discretion to the medical examination board to accept the candidature in case of minor acceptable defects which will not in any way affect the efficiency of the candidate. Justice Vivek Kumar Singh said it would be appropriate to direct govt bodies and authorities, who formulate laws and rules regarding medical examination, to bear in mind that instead of going to the technicality of the medical disability, they should rather see it on humanitarian approach. "Considering this aspect, if he or she is able to perform the duty as performed by other normal persons, their name for employment making him medically unfit would not be rejected on this sole ground," he said. "In our country, disability should not be a barrier to secure govt jobs, as the law mandates non-discrimination and reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities as per the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016," the court said. Various high courts have rendered the decisions in favour of petitioners whose cases are identical as that of the petitioner. Hence, the judge quashed the review medical examination report and directed the authorities to review/re-conduct medical examination for the petitioner.


Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Vamanapuram River severelypolluted, action plan on cards
Thiruvananthapuram: The Vamanapuram River, flowing through the northern parts of the capital district, has become severely polluted, according to a recent Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) report. It has now surpassed the Karamana River in contamination levels. The Karamana, previously more severely polluted, has shown marginal improvement after a two-year clean-up drive. Following the alarming report, the National Green Tribunal (NGT), the River Rejuvenation Committee of the Kerala State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) and the district administration convened a high-level meeting. The irrigation department has been tasked with preparing an urgent action plan, which includes desilting and constructing side protection walls at critical points along the Vamanapuram River. Preparatory work for a detailed project report (DPR) is underway and is expected to be completed within three months. Once the DPR is ready, a tender will be floated for the clean-up, modeled on the successful Killi River Mission. As part of the DPR, surveys will be conducted to identify areas where side walls and other protective measures are needed. A senior official from the irrigation dpartment said the clean-up model used for the Karamana River has shown moderate success, with water quality improving slightly. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giá vàng đang tăng mạnh trong năm 2025 — Các nhà giao dịch thông minh đã tham gia IC Markets Tìm hiểu thêm Undo However, pollution remains severe in stretches like Thiruvallam, which will be cleaned in the coming weeks ahead of the Karkidaka Vavu Bali ritual. A tender is expected to be issued this week. KSPCB has traced the pollution in Vamanapuram River to multiple sources, including untreated effluents from hospitals, service centres, residential apartments, markets, and small industries. Rapid urbanisation, encroachments, illegal sand mining and the absence of wastewater treatment systems have worsened the situation. Water quality data from the CPCB revealed that the river falls under "Priority IV" due to high biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) levels, with a water quality index (WQI) score of 6.3, indicating severe organic pollution. Officials pointed out that sustained clean-up operations, public participation, and improved infrastructure are key to restoring the river's ecological balance. The irrigation department plans to adopt community-led strategies and eco-friendly technologies, drawing from the Killi River model.


Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Kumaon hills gear up for Harela festival with traditional fervour and ecological commitment
1 2 3 Bageshwar: People across the Kumaon hills of Uttarakhand are preparing to celebrate Harela on Wednesday, marking the arrival of the monsoon and the sacred month of Shravan. The festival, reflecting the agricultural and ecological heritage of the state, re-affirms the state's commitment to environmental conservation and sustainable practices. Preparations had commenced nine days ago, with families utilising clean soil to plant seven varieties of grains – including paddy, maize, black soybean (bhatt) and lentils – in earthen pots or bamboo containers. On the tenth day, the sprouted greens, representing abundance and fertility, are harvested, presented to deities and distributed amongst family members and relatives as blessings. "This tradition has continued for centuries. The green shoots are believed to indicate the health of the upcoming harvest. Even twigs planted on this day tend to grow well, which villagers consider a divine sign of nature's favour," said Bhagwat Singh, an elder from Bageshwar. The festival features religious ceremonies, sapling plantations and community gatherings where people receive blessings from elders. Homes display clay idols of Lord Shiva's family, while residents sing folk songs as part of the festivities. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 《喵國無雙》萌貓集結,網頁遊戲免下載即開即玩,三國冒險從喵喵培養開始 喵國無雙 立即播放 Undo Highlighting Harela's scientific significance, professor KS Rawat from the District Institute of Education and Training (DIET) in Bageshwar, said, "In remote hilly areas without formal agricultural labs, this festival offers a natural way to test soil and seed quality. A healthy Harela crop indicates good seed and fertile soil, while a poor one calls for corrective action." This year's festival focuses on environmental consciousness through initiatives such as "A Tree in Mother's Name" and "Celebrate Harela, Repay Mother Earth". Officials said over two lakh saplings will be planted in public parks, riverbanks, forest areas, school premises, govt offices and residential areas in the Kumaon region. "Harela is not just a religious event," said Bhagwati Devi, a local resident. "It's a time of shared joy, music, and a deep connection with nature and each other."