Vandalism at Tagore’s Ancestral Home in Bangladesh: A Petty Incident Miscast as Communal Violence

On June 8, a jarring incident unfolded in Sirajganj, Bangladesh: a mob attacked Kacharibari, an ancestral home of Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore. 

This two-story mansion, tucked away in Shahzadpur, 147 kilometres from Dhaka, is more than just a house; it's a living testament to Tagore’s literary genius, where a number of his iconic works were penned. 

Sirajganj itself, nestled by the river Padma, is known for its cultural heritage and delectable sweets – a backdrop that makes the recent vandalism even more incongruous.

Authorities in Bangladesh clarified that a minor parking dispute had escalated that day, and that it led to an angry mob targeting the historic house. While two individuals have been arrested in connection with the incident, the damage, both to the physical property and to the delicate fabric of cross-border relations, has already been done.

This act of vandalism comes at a particularly sensitive time for Bangladesh-India relations. Since the ousting of Sheikh Hasina’s government after its 15-year autocratic rule, the two neighbouring countries have found themselves on less than cordial terms. 

The Indian establishment is cautiously navigating its relationship with the interim administration led by Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus, making it clear that a full normalisation awaits the arrival of an elected government.

A persistent and thorny issue between the two nations remains the perceived treatment of Hindu minorities in Bangladesh, who constitute approximately 8% of the population. 

Following the fall of the Hasina regime and the subsequent revolutionary-scaled uprising, at least nine Hindus were killed. Indian media, in particular, often attributed these killings to communal violence. 

However, an investigation by the Sweden-based investigative outlet Netra News revealed that these tragic deaths were primarily linked to the victims’ affiliations with the Awami League, rather than their religious identity.

Nonetheless, an Al Jazeera report from last December documented the prevailing discomfort among the Hindu community, with some victims expressing that they still didn't feel safe in Bangladesh. It's important to note, however, that in the past six months, there have been no reported communal killings of Hindus in Bangladesh.

Deepak Kumar Goswami's documentary offers a nuanced perspective on the ground realities for Hindus in Bangladesh. Yet, despite such objective reporting, the incident at Tagore's ancestral home in Sirajganj has once again ignited an "out of proportion" response from certain segments of the Indian media and establishment, particularly given that the attack had no apparent connection to communal tensions.

Clarifications and condemnations

Bangladesh's Ministry of Cultural Affairs and the foreign ministry swiftly issued clarifications, detailing how the dispute originated from a misunderstanding between an on-duty employee of the Kacharibari and a visitor. This escalated into a physical altercation, with the visitor allegedly assaulted by the house's custodian.

As investigations were underway, local residents organised a demonstration on June 10, forming a human chain in support of the assaulted visitor and demanding action against the accused officials. Following this protest, an agitated crowd reportedly entered the premises, injuring several employees in an attempt to assault staff members.

In response, both the district administration and the department of archaeology launched investigations, and police promptly arrested two individuals. Bangladesh's foreign ministry underscored the nation's profound respect for Rabindranath Tagore, affirming that it would not tolerate any "divisive and motivated attempt to foment controversy on the subject."

However, before these clarifications and prompt actions could fully resonate, India's Ministry of External Affairs condemned the incident, with spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal attributing it to a "broad pattern of systematic attempts made by extremists to erase the symbols of tolerance and eviscerate the syncretic culture and the cultural legacy of Bangladesh." 

This statement, linking the isolated incident to broader extremism, highlights the ongoing diplomatic tightrope walk between the two nations.

This incident at Tagore's Kacharibari, despite Bangladesh's swift clarifications, has resonated deeply within India, sparking strong condemnations from political figures. 

Uttarakhand chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, in a post on X, labeled the attack "Shocking and Unacceptable," asserting it occurred "under the silent gaze of Mohammad Yunus's government." 

He went further, characterising it as "far beyond mere vandalism. It is a premeditated hate crime, an attack on the civilizational spirit and cultural heritage of Bharat." 

Dhami emphasised Tagore's global stature as a "treasured symbol of India's soul" and voiced concern over "the ongoing marginalisation of Hindu Bengalis in Bangladesh, their identity, history, and legacy being systematically eroded." 

He implored the international community not to remain "indifferent," calling for "attention, condemnation, and action."

Delhi BJP workers during a protest rally against the alleged vandalism of Rabindranath Tagore's ancestral home in Bangladesh, in New Delhi, Monday, June 16, 2025. Photo: PTI.

Need for a more nuanced approach

Similarly, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee conveyed her dismay in a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging him to "kindly take up the matter very strongly with the neighbouring country's government, so that no stone is left unturned to swiftly bring to justice the perpetrators of this heinous and mindless act."

These reactions from the Indian establishment are understandable through a particular lens: a perception of Bangladesh under its interim government as a state in disarray, where mobs act with impunity, engaging in vandalism and communal attacks at will. However, the reality on the ground appears far more nuanced.

This "out of proportion" response from Indian media and official circles has been evident before. In late April, the death of a Hindu leader in Bangladesh's northern district of Dinajpur garnered significant front-page coverage in Indian newspapers, often with a narrative suggesting he was beaten to death, injecting a communal spin. 

Yet, an investigation by Bangla Outlook revealed no evidence of a beating or communal motives; rather, it pointed to a possible death by heart attack, linked to financial distress from an unpaid loan.

Such reactions, exemplified by yesterday's (June 16) massive protest march by the West Bengal BJP unit to the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission in Kolkata, even after elaborate clarifications from Bangladeshi authorities, do little to bridge the existing rupture between the two nations. 

In a delicate phase of bilateral relations, a more measured approach, grounded in verified facts rather than presumed chaos, is essential for fostering a stronger and more cooperative bond. As both nations navigate this sensitive period, the need for clear communication and a focus on shared cultural heritage, rather than reactive rhetoric, becomes paramount.

Rezaul Karim Rony is the editor of Joban magazine in Bangladesh.

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