On the banks of the Kapotaksha river in Khulna's Paikgacha upazila stands the ancestral home of Acharya Prafulla Chandra Ray, often regarded as the father of chemical science in India.
Born in the village of Raruli on August 2, 1861, Ray founded Bengal Chemical and Pharmaceutical Works, the subcontinent's first indigenous chemical and pharmaceutical company.
Today marks the 165th anniversary of his birth. However, even after all these years, an uncomfortable question remains: has the state done enough to preserve the legacy of one of the greatest scientists of this soil?
The irony is that Ray invested in his birthplace himself. In 1903, he established the RKBK Harish Chandra Institution, named after his father and four neighbouring villages -- Raruli, Katipara, Bati and Kumarkhali.
Over half a century earlier, his father, Harish Chandra Ray, had founded Bhubanmohini Girls' School in 1850, one of the region's earliest institutions for girls' education.
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Photo: Habibur Rahman/Star
In 1909, Ray also established a cooperative bank in the village, among the pioneering cooperative ventures in southern Bengal.
Unfortunately, for decades, the historic homestead has been suffering from neglect, illegal occupation, legal disputes and inadequate maintenance.
A significant portion of the property fell under illegal occupation after 1985, prompting a long campaign by the Acharya Prafulla Chandra Ray Smriti Sangshad. Its members organised human chains, demonstrations and submitted memorandums before part of the property was finally reclaimed in 2003.
Even then, the victory was only partial. Of the estate's 3.42 acres, only 1.43 acres -- including the main house and pond -- have come under the Department of Archaeology. The remaining 2.29 acres are still tied up in ownership disputes, preventing the government from preserving the property as a unified heritage complex.
Locals say that had the government acted decades earlier, the birthplace of one of South Asia's greatest scientists could have become a nationally important centre for science, history and education. Instead, years of official inaction allowed that opportunity to slip away.
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Photo: Habibur Rahman/Star
The Department of Archaeology declared the main residence, the Natmandir and the Kachari Bari protected heritage in November 1996. But conservation efforts have remained sporadic.
During the 2012-13 fiscal year, restoration work covered parts of the eastern and southern rooms, the western verandah, roofing, beams, cornices and damaged plaster. Bilingual information plaques introducing Ray's life and achievements were installed in 2014-15.
Residents and researchers say these initiatives were too limited. Without a comprehensive conservation programme, parts of the historic structure continued to deteriorate.
Only in December last year did the Department of Archaeology begin another restoration project, spending around Tk 39 lakh.
The current work includes restoring five rooms and two verandahs of the northern two-storey building and repairing exterior plaster. Restoration of the temple and interior sections has been discussed for later phases, while plans for a boundary wall and a display room remain under consideration.
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Photo: Habibur Rahman/Star
But many argue that preserving a few buildings alone cannot do justice to Ray's legacy.
They envision the site as a national science heritage centre, with a science museum, research and documentation centre, digital exhibition galleries, an auditorium, visitor accommodation and educational programmes for young people.
Dr Muhammad Kawsar Ali Gazi, president of the Acharya Prafulla Chandra Ray Smriti Sangshad, said transforming the ancestral home into an international-standard science and heritage centre is the state's responsibility. He also proposed naming Khulna University's second campus at Paikgachha after Ray.
Among the organisation's other demands are the acquisition of the remaining land, speedy disposal of pending court cases, construction of a science museum, auditorium, research facilities, rest house and tourism infrastructure, as well as greater emphasis on Ray's life and work in the national curriculum.
The organisation has also called for the nationalisation of Bhubanmohini Girls' School and upgrading the RKBK Harish Chandra Institution into a degree college under government management.
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Photo: Habibur Rahman/Star
Meanwhile, the government does not dispute that significant challenges remain.
Md Mahidul Islam, regional director of the Department of Archaeology in Khulna, said restoration is currently focused on the inner section of the main house, with additional work to be carried out in phases. A boundary wall and display room are also planned.
He also acknowledged that legal disputes remain the biggest obstacle, as only 1.43 acres are under the department's jurisdiction, while the remaining of 3.42 acres land is still under litigation.
Once the court cases are resolved, he said, the department will take steps to acquire the rest of the property. “Any further infrastructure, however, will depend on future budget allocations,” he added.
