The partial demolition of the ancestral house of Bharat Ratna awardee and shehnai maestro Ustad Bismillah Khan in Varanasi has triggered a political controversy, with Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav criticising the BJP over the incident. Yadav described the demolition as an attack on India’s shared cultural heritage, while civic officials and the musician’s family rejected the allegation of political involvement.
The Varanasi Municipal Corporation (VMC) maintained that it had no role in the demolition, claiming that the family had independently decided to pull down the old structure after declining a proposal to develop a museum at the site. Family members also said the building was in a dilapidated condition and that a museum would still be established in the reconstructed property.
Akhilesh Yadav criticises BJP over Bismillah Khan house demolition
In a post on X, Yadav criticised the BJP and its allies over the Bismillah Khan house demolition, describing them as conservative forces with a narrow mindset. He argued that destroying the legacy of a Bharat Ratna awardee amounted to dishonouring the country and its cultural traditions.
The Samajwadi Party leader framed the incident as an issue concerning India’s shared artistic heritage. His remarks brought the demolition into the political spotlight, with questions being raised over the preservation of the residence associated with one of India’s most celebrated classical musicians.
However, the allegations of political involvement were rejected by both the civic authorities and members of Bismillah Khan’s family, who offered a different account of how the demolition took place.
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Varanasi Municipal Corporation denies role in demolition
The VMC said it had held discussions with the family about establishing a museum at Bismillah Khan’s residence as part of a broader initiative to honour prominent personalities associated with the city.
According to VMC Public Relations Officer Sandeep Srivastava, the family did not give its consent to the proposal. He said the corporation could therefore neither develop the museum nor take responsibility for the demolition, which was carried out by the family.
Chowk police station SHO Vijay Kumar Shukla also said the property owner had undertaken the demolition independently. Police noted that the municipal corporation had earlier issued a notice concerning the poor structural condition of the building.
Shukla further said an internal dispute among family members over certain portions of the property had been resolved at the police station, following which the owner proceeded with the work. The Bismillah Khan house demolition, according to the police and civic authorities, was therefore not a municipal operation.
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Family says old structure was dilapidated, museum planned
Mohammad Sibtain, Bismillah Khan’s grandson, said the approximately 90-year-old structure was extremely dilapidated and was demolished with the family’s consent. He also said the family was receiving support from the administration and denied any political interference in the matter.
Sibtain clarified that the demolition would not end efforts to preserve the shehnai maestro’s legacy. A museum dedicated to Bismillah Khan and objects associated with his life and music will be established on the first floor of the newly reconstructed building, he said.
The controversy has brought renewed attention to the preservation of homes and personal belongings associated with India’s cultural figures. While Yadav has questioned the circumstances surrounding the Bismillah Khan house demolition, the civic body, police and family members have maintained that the decision was taken independently by the property owner.
The proposed museum could provide a space to preserve the musician’s legacy, although its development and the collection it will house remain matters to be followed.