Kolkata, August 23 (TNA) A piece of Bengal's literary and cultural history is teetering on the edge of collapse in Howrah, where the house once occupied by novelist, poet and administrator Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay now lies severely dilapidated, prompting an urgent appeal from residents for immediate conservation and formal heritage protection.
A House Steeped in History
The property, located on Panchanantala Road in Howrah, holds a significant place in Bengal's cultural memory. Bankim Chandra, celebrated as the author of Vande Mataram, India's national song, and widely regarded as one of the towering figures of 19th-century Bengali literature, lived in this house during his tenure as Deputy Magistrate and Deputy Collector of Howrah, first from 1881 and again during a second stint beginning in 1883.
It was here that he is believed to have written Muchiram Gurer Jibancharit, one of his notable satirical works. The house was not merely a private residence but a hub of intellectual and cultural exchange in its time, having reportedly hosted a stream of prominent personalities from Bengal's literary and social circles, including Rabindranath Tagore. Given this legacy, the property was formally declared a heritage building by the Howrah Municipal Corporation, with an adjoining 17-cottah plot developed into what is known as Bankim Park.
Promises Made, Little Delivered
Despite the heritage tag, and despite a grant of ₹5 crore having reportedly been sanctioned years ago for the site's restoration and development-including plans for an archive, library, conference hall and guesthouse commemorating Bankim Chandra's life and work-residents say little meaningful work has materialised on the ground. The structure has continued to deteriorate over the years, with cracked walls, crumbling plaster and a roof in visibly poor condition, according to those living in the vicinity.
Locals Sound the Alarm
Residents of the area told reporters that the condition of the house has worsened considerably in recent months, with visible structural damage raising fears that the building could give way at any time. They have called on both the state government and municipal authorities to step in urgently-not only to prevent an irreversible loss of heritage, but also to address the safety risk the crumbling structure now poses to the surrounding neighbourhood.
The demand is not new. Descendants of Bankim Chandra have, in the past, also voiced similar concerns about the neglect of properties associated with the writer, including his ancestral house in Kantalpara, Naihati, and a Kolkata residence on Pratap Chatterjee Lane. Family members have previously said that state authorities have made little direct contact with them regarding the upkeep of these sites, despite the properties' historical significance, and have separately renewed calls for greater institutional recognition of Bankim Chandra's legacy, including the long-standing demand for a university to be established in his name.
A Question of Priorities
The situation in Howrah stands in contrast to how other literary heritage sites associated with Bengali writers in the region have fared. Sarat Chandra Kuthi, the house of novelist Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay in Samta, also in Howrah district, was repaired after flood damage decades ago and now enjoys formal protection under the West Bengal Heritage Commission Act. Similarly, Bankim Chandra's birthplace and ancestral home in Naihati has, after a period of ruin, been restored and now functions as a museum and research centre, drawing visitors who describe it as well-maintained.
Residents and heritage observers argue that the Howrah house-tied to one of the most consequential periods of Bankim Chandra's public life and literary output-deserves no less. With the structure now reportedly at risk of collapse, the coming weeks are likely to prove decisive in determining whether authorities act in time, or whether Howrah loses a tangible link to one of Bengal's most significant literary figures.