Neglect mars legacy of Bangladesh's chemical science pioneer on 165th birth anniversary

Acharya Prafulla Chandra Ray, a pioneering chemist and founder of the subcontinent's first indigenous chemical company, is being honored on his 165th birth anniversary. However, his ancestral home in Bangladesh's Khulna district stands as a symbol of neglect and unfulfilled potential.

Ray, born in 1861, established the Bengal Chemical and Pharmaceutical Works and invested in his birthplace by founding the RKBK Harish Chandra Institution in 1903 and a cooperative bank in 1909. His father had earlier established one of the region's first girls' schools in 1850.

Decades of neglect, illegal occupation, and legal disputes have plagued the historic homestead. After a long campaign by the Acharya Prafulla Chandra Ray Smriti Sangshad, part of the property was reclaimed in 2003, but ownership disputes over the remaining land hinder its development into a unified heritage complex. Locals lament that earlier government action could have transformed the site into a national center for science, history, and education.

The Department of Archaeology declared the main residence and other structures protected heritage in 1996, with sporadic restoration efforts since then. However, residents and researchers argue these initiatives have been insufficient, with parts of the historic structure continuing to deteriorate. While new restoration work began in December, the full preservation of Ray's legacy remains uncertain.