How Atulprasad Sen’s ancestral home becomes 'Munshi Bari'

The name Atulprasad Sen shines brightly in the history of Bengali culture, music, and poetry. A legendary composer and lyricist of Bengali songs, Atulprasad was born in the village of Magur in the Bijhari Union of Naria Upazila, Shariatpur district. The iconic song “Moder Gorob Moder Asha, A-Mori Bangla Bhasha” — which inspired the Language Movement of 1952 — was written by him. But the very house in which he was born, where he spent his childhood and adolescence, is no longer known by his name. Today, it is known as ‘Munshi Bari’.

But how did this historic house, rich with the memories of Atulprasad, change hands and become known as Munshi Bari? When did this transfer happen, and what role did the government play? A recent investigative report by Views Bangladesh reveals the complex story behind the change in ownership, how the current Munshi family came to possess it, and how the local community feels about it.

To understand the history of this house, one must travel back nearly 150 years — to October 20, 1871, when Atulprasad Sen was born at his maternal uncle’s home in Old Dhaka. However, his ancestral home was located in Panchpalli (then Magur) in Naria, Shariatpur. Situated in a tranquil riverside village, the family’s estate featured a grand mansion, raised verandas, lush gardens, and vast open fields by the Padma River. Atulprasad’s father, Durgamohan Sen, lived there, and it was where Atulprasad spent his early years.

In the late 19th century, devastating erosion by the Padma River partially damaged their ancestral property. Fearing further loss, the family permanently relocated to Kolkata. After passing his entrance exams in 1890, Atulprasad enrolled at Presidency College (now Presidency University) and later went to London to study law. Though he returned to Bengal in 1894, he never again set foot in what is now Bangladesh.

It is said that in his final years, Atulprasad wished to visit his ancestral home. He reportedly made it as far as Chandpur, but turned back due to a cholera outbreak in the village. After that, he never returned. By then, the family's zamindari (landlord) status had largely dissolved, and the house remained abandoned for years.

So how did the house come to be known as Munshi Bari?

Nannu Munshi, one of the current residents and a vendor at the Naria Land Office, told Views Bangladesh, “My father said the Hindu landlords left long ago. Later, the land was listed as government khas (state-owned) property. A local man obtained it from the then Pakistani government through auction. My father, Ali Azzam Munshi, later bought the property from Rozina Begum’s family.”

According to Nannu Munshi, they are the third owners and have been paying land taxes regularly. However, many villagers dispute this claim, saying that the Munshi family took possession of the house during the Pakistan era without formal purchase.

Conversations with local elders reveal that after the Partition, Atulprasad’s brother, Basanta Kumar Sen, handed over the house to a known acquaintance before leaving. Atulprasad had no children, and Basanta Kumar’s children migrated to Kolkata and Dinajpur. Sources from Kolkata indicate that they now live in areas like Kalighat and South Kolkata — some as doctors, some as lawyers, and others abroad. Locals believe they have no active claim over the ancestral land.

Naria Land Office records show that most of the estate was listed under khas khatian (government ownership) after 1965 and was later allotted to a local Muslim family. Eventually, the property came under the ownership of the politically influential Munshi family, and it has since been popularly known as Munshi Bari.

Though locals commonly refer to it as Munshi Bari, some government records still identify parts of the house as an “old zamindar estate.” In reality, the only remaining trace of the Sen family is the room where Atulprasad once lived. The original concrete roof, weakened over time, has been replaced with a tin roof, and the house has been repainted.

A visit to Panchpalli via Shariatpur and Bhojeshwar Union reveals that virtually no traces remain of the renowned poet. Nannu Munshi’s younger brother Rafique Munshi now lives in Atulprasad’s room. Two other brothers, Dolon and Mohibul Munshi, reside abroad in Italy and France. A new structure now stands where the poet’s living room once was, erasing his final visible memory.

Even the old pond where the young Atulprasad once bathed has lost its stone steps — but the waterbody still remains, silently bearing witness.

Sumon (pseudonym), a local youth, told Views Bangladesh, “The Munshi family deliberately destroyed all remnants of the poet’s legacy.” Surprisingly, many local youths were unaware that this legendary cultural figure was born in their village. After learning the truth, they demanded government intervention: “If this really was his home, the government should preserve it.”

Lipi Sarkar (pseudonym), a local schoolteacher, said, “We’ve listened to Atulprasad’s songs, but many didn’t know he was from our village. While there’s a memorial plaque at the school, there’s no sign in front of the house itself.”

A visit to the Naria Upazila information center revealed no permanent display or monument dedicated to Atulprasad. Although a village fair was once held in his honor, it has long been discontinued. The fair was organized by former Deputy Commissioner (DC) Ram Chandra Das, who told Views Bangladesh that he initiated the event in 2015 at the grounds of Panchpalli Gururam High School. The goal was to preserve the poet’s memory. However, the fair was discontinued after two years for reasons unknown.

The former DC also said he had begun efforts to reclaim the ancestral property but was transferred before he could follow through. A local youth remarked, “If Ram Chandra had stayed longer, this house might have already been preserved and opened to the public as a historical site.”

He added that the government should take immediate steps to declare the site a cultural heritage location so that future generations can know that such a luminary was born here.

When asked why questions about the 1965 allotment have suddenly resurfaced, many cited political changes following the events of August 5. The long-standing resentment toward the Munshi family resurfaced amid local shifts in power.

The current Deputy Commissioner, Mohammad Ashraf Uddin, told Views Bangladesh that no heirs of Atulprasad had ever approached the administration to claim the property, nor had any request been made to preserve the house. If such a request were submitted, the administration would act accordingly through the Ministry of Cultural Affairs, he said.

Md. Abdul Moktader, Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Cultural Affairs (Archaeology and Museums), told Views Bangladesh that the issue had not yet come to their attention, but the ministry would take action.

Responding to a question, National Poetry Council President Mohan Raihan said emotionally, “This is not just a house — it is the spiritual address of Bengali heritage. It’s heartbreaking that this place has now become estranged. If we do not preserve homes like that of Atulprasad, history will not forgive us.”

He added, “Literature isn’t born in a day. To enrich our literary culture, we must preserve the birthplace of legends like Atulprasad Sen.”

Raihan further stated that Atulprasad is not merely a musician — he is an integral part of our national cultural identity. Not preserving his home is tantamount to denying our own history.

According to locals and experts alike, the government must act swiftly to preserve the site as a national cultural heritage. Installing plaques and informative displays can attract visitors and raise awareness. Locals also urge the continuation of an annual Atulprasad Memorial Festival and recommend incorporating his life and works into local school curricula to ensure his memory lives on.

While countries around the world take significant steps to preserve the memory of great personalities, the ancestral home of a cultural jewel like Atulprasad Sen seems destined to vanish from history.

Locals say that if the site known today as Munshi Bari is not preserved now, future generations may never know the deep connection Atulprasad shared with this land.

When asked, members of the Munshi family said they are not opposed to the government preserving the house. They stated that if alternative arrangements are made for them, they would have no objection.

Literary enthusiasts point out that the ancestral homes of many distinguished individuals in Bangladesh have already disappeared over time. Atulprasad Sen’s home is a painful example of that trend. Due to the lack of government intervention and regular upkeep, the legacy of this historic zamindar house is slowly fading into oblivion.