Tagore house attack: Urge B’desh to deliver justice, Didi writes to Modi
Times of India | 13 June 2025
12 Kolkata: Reacting sharply to the vandalism of Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore's ancestral home in Bangladesh's Sirajganj, CM Mamata Banerjee on Thursday wrote to PM Narendra Modi, urging him to take up the matter with Bangladesh and urge the neighbour to "to swiftly bring to justice the perpetrators of this heinous and mindless act."Stressing that Tagore's fame was not only limited to Bengal but extended to the entire world, Banerjee wrote, "Although untold damage is already done, a strong international protest would at least deter any future attack on monuments of cultural legacies that have withstood all tests of time." The CM added, "What is vandalised is not a mere house, but a towering fountain of creativity in our subcontinent.""For people of Bengal, this attack is an onslaught on the commonly held legacy of Tagore," said Banerjee, adding that the legacy of the poet's creations and his contributions to Bengali culture had been targeted by this act of vandalism.Stressing the importance of the Sirajganj house, Banerjee said that Tagore went there frequently and many of his finest works had been conceived or written there. The poet's creativity had close links to his association with this ancestral estate, she said.The CM wrote, "The incident is not only shocking but also unfortunate for our national pride and cultural legacy. It is a vile attack on our sensibilities, our cherished treasures and our common nostalgia for a past when Tagore could transcend all thresholds in pursuit of his immortal creations." She also wrote on how Tagore had raised his voice against the Partition of Bengal.Earlier, Trinamool Congress urged Centre to act on the issue, posting on X: "Gurudev is a symbol of Bengal's cultural heritage and a global icon of literature and humanism. Such acts of disrespect are an affront to every Bengali's identity and pride. We urge Central Govt to take cognisance of this grave incident and initiate bilateral dialogue to ensure that the concerned authorities in Bangladesh act swiftly and bring the culprits to justice. Our icons are not collateral damage for mob fury."Bengal leader of opposition Suvendu Adhikari posted on X: "This shameful and utterly disgraceful act of destruction targeted a site that embodies Bengal's cultural soul and Tagore's universal message of humanity. Windows shattered, furniture ruined, and a Global Icon's memory insulted."
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