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News18
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- News18
Satyajit Ray's Ancestral Home in Bangladesh Faces Demolition India Steps In to Rebuild
| Satyajit Ray ancestral home in Bangladesh is being demolished to replace it with new semi concrete structure, Indian government has stepped in to help with rebuilding the property In a shocking development, the ancestral home of legendary filmmaker Satyajit Ray in Kishoreganj, Bangladesh is reportedly being demolished to make way for a semi-concrete modest home, rich with personal and cinematic history, was slipping through the cracks of neglect — until public outcry and emotional appeals from historians and cinema lovers, the Indian government has stepped in with a proposal to help restore and preserve the iconic global impact on cinema — from Pather Panchali to Charulata — makes this not just a regional issue, but one of cultural heritage and international legacy. News18 Mobile App -
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First Post
7 days ago
- General
- First Post
Not Satyajit Ray's ancestral home: Bangladesh denies any connection between filmmaker and Mymensingh property
The Government of Bangladesh on Thursday (July 17) denied reports that a historic property linked to iconic Bengali filmmaker and author Satyajit Ray was being demolished in the northern city of Mymensingh. read more Eminent filmmaker Satyajit Ray's ancestral home in Dhaka was reportedly being demolished by Bangladeshi authorities. Image Courtesy: VladAdiReturns/X The Government of Bangladesh on Thursday (July 17) denied reports that a historic property linked to iconic Bengali filmmaker and author Satyajit Ray was being demolished in the northern city of Mymensingh. In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said a review of archival land records found no connection between the house in question and Ray or his family. The building, located near 'Shashi Lodge' in Mymensingh, was originally constructed by local zamindar Shashikant Acharya Chowdhury for his employees, The Economic Times reported citing the statement STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'In this regard, Swapan Dhar, an archaeology researcher from Mymensingh, also stated that the house in question is not the ancestral home of Satyajit Ray,' it said. The ministry added that the building is also not listed as an archaeological monument. The clarification came in response to media reports that claimed the structure being demolished was once the ancestral home of the Ray family. Ray, considered one of the greatest filmmakers in world cinema, is celebrated for his works such as Pather Panchali, Charulata and The Apu Trilogy. His legacy continues to influence global film and literature.
India Today
17-07-2025
- Entertainment
- India Today
Unforgivable: Rupali Ganguly slams Bangladesh for demolishing Satyajit Ray's home
Television actor Rupali Ganguly has strongly condemned the demolition of legendary filmmaker Satyajit Ray's ancestral home in Mymensingh, Bangladesh. The act has triggered widespread outrage across India and among the global Bengali community. The 'Anupamaa' actor expressed her anger over the incident, calling it nothing short of a cultural betrayal."Disgusting and unforgivable!" Rupali wrote in her X post. "Under the so-called 'moral leadership' of Muhammad Yunus, Bangladesh has demolished the ancestral home of Bharat Ratna Satyajit Ray. This wasn't just a demolition - it was a message. They fear art. They erase legacy."advertisementShe went on to call the actions glorifying violence, adding, 'They glorify violence, not culture. This act exposes their true colours.' The demolished house, situated on Harikishore Ray Road, originally belonged to Satyajit Ray's grandfather, Upendra Kishor Ray Chowdhury, a renowned figure in Bengali literature. After the Partition of India in 1947, the property was taken over by the Bangladeshi government and served as the Mymensingh Shishu Academy until 1989. Over time, the house fell into neglect and disrepair, and was recently cleared to make way for a new semi-permanent government many believe that, despite its condition, the home should have been preserved as a monument to Ray's legacy. The creator of cinematic masterpieces like 'Pather Panchali', 'Charulata', and 'The Apu Trilogy', Satyajit Ray is not only revered in India but also globally for his contribution to world Indian government has also weighed in on the matter. In an official statement, the Ministry of External Affairs urged Bangladesh to reconsider its decision and proposed turning the property into a museum. India has even offered assistance in restoring the house as a tribute to Ray's life and work.- EndsMust Watch
News18
17-07-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Rupali Ganguly Calls Out Bangladesh For Demolishing Satyajit Ray's House: 'They Fear Art...'
Last Updated: Rupali Ganguly reacts to demolition of Satyajit Ray's ancestral home in Bangladesh, calling it an attack on art and culture. MEA urges Bangladesh to preserve the legacy. Television star Rupali Ganguly has voiced her fury over the demolition of legendary filmmaker Satyajit Ray's ancestral home in Mymensingh, Bangladesh—an act that has sparked widespread outrage across India and the Bengali diaspora. Taking to social media on July 16, the Anupamaa actress didn't mince words. 'Disgusting and unforgivable!" she wrote. 'Under the so-called 'moral leadership' of Muhammad Yunus, Bangladesh has demolished the ancestral home of Bharat Ratna Satyajit Ray. This wasn't just a demolition—it was a message. They fear art. They erase legacy." Disgusting and unforgivable!Under the so-called "moral leadership" of Muhammad Yunus, Bangladesh has demolished the ancestral home of Bharat Ratna Satyajit Ray in wasn't just a demolition! it was a message: They fear art. They erase legacy. They glorify… — Rupali Ganguly (@TheRupali) July 16, 2025 Calling the act a 'cultural crime," Rupali further added, 'They glorify violence, not culture. This act exposes their true colours." Her scathing remarks reflect the growing chorus of criticism surrounding the demolition of the historic structure once owned by Ray's grandfather, Upendra Kishor Ray Chowdhury—a pioneer of Bengali literature and publishing. The house, located on Harikishore Ray Road, had stood as a relic of Bengal's rich cultural history. After the Partition, the property was taken over by the Bangladeshi government and had briefly served as the Mymensingh Shishu Academy in the late 1980s. Over the years, it fell into disrepair and was recently cleared to make way for a new semi-permanent facility. Many, including Rupali, argue that the structure, though crumbling, should have been preserved or restored as a tribute to Satyajit Ray's legacy. His cinematic contributions—from Pather Panchali to Charulata—have left an indelible mark on global cinema, making the loss of this heritage site feel deeply personal to many. In response to the incident, the Indian government issued a formal statement urging Bangladesh to reconsider the decision. The Ministry of External Affairs even proposed converting the property into a museum, offering assistance to restore the building in memory of Ray's unparalleled contribution to Indian and world cinema. First Published: July 17, 2025, 10:10 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Indian Express
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Beyond Devdas and Srikant: 5 Bengali books where women take lead
Devdas, the tragic hero who drank himself into legend, and Srikanta, the wandering romantic. These men have long stood at the centre of Bengali literature. But what about the women? The ones who loved, longed, rebelled? Bengali literature is full of women whose stories are just as powerful. These books speak of women's inner desire, their loneliness and their resistance. Their lives may have played out within the constraints of home and custom, but their hearts reached far beyond. Here are five Bengali books where women take the lead. The Broken Nest (Nastanirh) Charulata has everything a woman is supposed to need- comfort and a respectable marriage. Yet she feels unseen. Her husband Bhupati is too busy with his political newspaper to notice her. Into Charu's loneliness walks Amal, Bhupati's cousin, full of love for literature and poetry. As they share poetry and long conversations, a tender bond blooms between them. Rabindranath Tagore perfectly shows the emotional hunger of a woman whose world opens just as it begins to fall apart. It's a story of intimacy without touch and love without name. Charu's emotional longing and Bhupati's obliviousness make this book a devastating and memorable read. Satyajit Ray's iconic film Charulata is based on The Broken Nest. A young girl, Satyabati, married at the tender age of eight. She is tormented by her mother-in-law, but refuses to accept the life forced upon her. In a deeply patriarchal society, she fights against her marital family's norms and defines a new way for women. This feminist novel is one of the earliest pieces of Bengali literature and a truly powerful one. Satyabati fights for her daughter so that she doesn't have to bear the same fate as her, and get married as a child. The First Promise is a book about women's fight against social prejudices and family control in a patriarchal society. This is the story of an orphaned girl, Lalita, who grows up in her uncle's home. She is secretly in love with her neighbour Shekhar. Their fragile bond, tested constantly by class divides and wounded pride. Beneath its soft romantic surface, Parineeta is a protest against power and patriarchy. Lalita holds the novel together, making her one of Sarat Chandra's most unforgettable characters. This book has been adapted to the screen many times. Most memorable is the 2005 film, Parineeta, starring Vidya Balan. When Maitreyi Devi was a teenager, she had a secret romance with Romanian writer Mircea Eliade. Years later, she discovered that he had turned their relationship into a novel, La Nuit Bengali. It was without her knowledge and he had also added fictional elements. Decades later, she published her rebuttal, It Does Not Die. In this memoir, she tells her side of the story, the one she did not get to tell. It's about love, heartbreak and the pain of being written about without consent. Eliade's book was made into a film The Bengali Night, starring Hugh Grant and Supriya Pathak. It completely ignored Devi's rebuttal. Her book remains a firm act of reclaiming the narrative proof that the story doesn't end until she tells it. Her side of the story is also said to have loosely inspired Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam. After her husband's early death, Bandana refuses to become the traditional image of a grieving widow. As society turns hostile and even her closest ties begin to break, she chooses a new path. She leaves behind everything familiar to find meaning in helping others. Graceful and rebellious, Bandana reclaims her life on her own terms. This is the story of a woman who loses everything, but finds herself. Adapted into a Bengali Film Shet Patharer Thala, starring Aparna Sen. (The writer is an intern with
