India offers support to restore Satyajit Ray’s ancestral home in Bangladesh

NEW DELHI: The Indian government expressed regret on Tuesday over the reported demolition of the ancestral property of celebrated filmmaker and writer Satyajit Ray in Mymensingh, Bangladesh, and expressed its willingness to extend cooperation in its restoration.

“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 Kishor Ray Chowdhury, is being demolished”, the Ministry of External Affairs said.

“The Government of India is willing to cooperate with the Government of Bangladesh for the repair and reconstruction of the ancestral property of Satyajit Ray,” the Ministry of External Affairs said. Further, the ministry emphasised that “the property, presently owned by the Government of Bangladesh, is in a state of disrepair”.

#Bangladesh | Satyajit Ray’s ancestral home being demolished in Mymensingh

In Bangladesh, the ancestral home of eminent filmmaker #SatyajitRay in #Mymensingh city, formerly used as the Mymensingh Shishu Academy, is being demolished to make way for a new semi-concrete structure.… pic.twitter.com/2fNZJ4vec1

— DD News (@DDNewslive) July 15, 2025

India emphasised the significance of the property as a cultural landmark and urged reconsideration of the demolition plan. “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 ministry said.

Satyajit Ray, the legendary Indian filmmaker, was born in Kolkata on May 2, 1921. His most prominent works include The Apu Trilogy, Jalsaghar, Charulata, Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne, Pather Panchali and Shatranj Ke Khiladi. He was also a screenwriter, documentary filmmaker, author, essayist, lyricist, magazine editor, illustrator, calligrapher, and composer.

He received many major awards in his career, including 32 Indian National Film Awards, a number of awards at international film festivals and award ceremonies, and an Academy Honorary Award in 1992. Ray was also honoured with the Bharat Ratna in 1992. (ANI)