Tucked away at 80B Karl Marx Sarani in Kolkata’s Khidirpur area, the crumbling residence of Michael Madhusudan Dutt—one of Bengal’s literary titans—is on the verge of being delisted from the Kolkata Municipal Corporation’s heritage register.

Once designated as a Grade 1-B heritage structure, the building now stands at the centre of a contentious legal battle that may soon result in its demolition and replacement by a modern high-rise.

Michael Madhusudan Dutt, renowned for introducing Amitrakshar chhanda (blank verse) into Bengali literature, is believed to have resided in this very building. Located near the Fancy Market bus stop, just off Khidirpur Bridge, the house is considered a cultural landmark. Some accounts even suggest that a printing press once operated within its premises, possibly publishing some of the poet’s earliest works.

Public sentiment and cultural appeals

Historians, literary enthusiasts and cultural activists have long appealed for the preservation of this historic structure, citing its invaluable cultural legacy. Despite these emotional and intellectual appeals, the house’s fate now lies in the hands of the judiciary.

The situation intensified after the death of a private owner who had acquired the house years ago. The current legal heir now seeks to promote and redevelop the property — a move that could erase a significant piece of Bengal’s intellectual heritage.

Although the Kolkata Municipal Corporation’s Heritage Department submitted archived newspapers, media reports, and anecdotal evidence of Dutt’s connection to the building, the court has remained firm in demanding irrefutable legal documentation — such as original deeds or mutation records. In the absence of these, the court has rejected oral testimonies and historical narratives, no matter how convincing.

A cradle of literary thought

The building is said to have been home to Madhusudan Dutt as early as 1831, during his formative years. It reportedly served as a gathering space for other iconic intellectuals of the era, including Rajnarayan Bose and Banku Bihari Dutta. Within these very walls, timeless literary works were likely composed, and ideas exchanged.

The Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) had earlier denied demolition permissions, acknowledging the structure’s cultural value. However, now pressured by the judiciary and lacking robust legal records, the administration finds itself at an impasse. The court’s leaning toward delisting the house from the official heritage list leaves little hope.

If the court rules in favour of redevelopment, the home once graced by the genius of Madhusudan Dutt may soon give way to glass-and-concrete towers. What was once a haven of poetic thought and literary dialogue might be silenced forever.
As one municipal official stated solemnly, “We tried to present everything we had — archival clippings, reports, and testimonies — but the court demanded legal records. Unfortunately, we had none to show.”

Unless critical historical documentation emerges soon, Kolkata may lose not just another old building — but a living memory of its literary and cultural soul.