Siddhartha Shankar Ray Foundation

20/08/2026

08/07/2026

🏛️ 𝗛𝗼𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗚𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗼𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗣𝘂𝗻𝗷𝗮𝗯 & 𝗔𝗱𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗴𝗮𝗿𝗵 𝗦𝗵𝗿𝗶 𝗦𝗶𝗱𝗱𝗵𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗵𝗮 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸𝗮𝗿 𝗥𝗮𝘆'𝘀 𝗟𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗰𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗴𝗮𝗿𝗵'𝘀 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲 🪨

Today, the Siddhartha Shankar Ray Archives commemorates a significant milestone. On 𝟳 𝗝𝘂𝗹𝘆 𝟭𝟵𝟴𝟴, exactly 𝟯𝟴 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗴𝗼, 𝗣𝗵𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗜𝗜 of Chandigarh's iconic Rock Garden was formally dedicated to the public by the Honourable Governor of Punjab & Administrator of Chandigarh, Shri Siddhartha Shankar Ray.

🎨 Created by Padma Shri Nek Chand, the Rock Garden expanded during 𝟭𝟵𝟴𝟲–𝟭𝟵𝟴𝟵 with sustained administrative support under 𝗛𝗼𝗻. 𝗚𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗼𝗿 𝗦𝗵𝗿𝗶 𝗥𝗮𝘆.

🌿 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗼𝗰𝗸 𝗚𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗻 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗣𝗵𝗮𝘀𝗲𝘀: 🪨⛲️

1️⃣ Phase I (1976) introduced its iconic recycled-art sculptures.

2️⃣ Phase II (1988) witnessed a major expansion, featuring the celebrated waterfall and miniature village.

3️⃣ Phase III (1996) added public plazas, arches, swings, and further installations.

🏛 𝗔𝗱𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗗𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗵𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗜𝗜: 🫱🏻‍🫲🏼

✅️ Recognising Padma Shri Nek Chand's extraordinary vision, 𝗛𝗼𝗻. 𝗚𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗼𝗿 𝗦𝗵𝗿𝗶 𝗥𝗮𝘆'𝘀 Administration provided official status, manpower, and administrative resources, enabling the Garden's continued expansion.

✅️ On 𝟳 𝗝𝘂𝗹𝘆 𝟭𝟵𝟴𝟴, 𝗛𝗼𝗻. 𝗚𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗼𝗿 𝗦𝗵𝗿𝗶 𝗥𝗮𝘆 officially presided over the dedication ceremony of Phase II.

✅️ His Administration helped strengthen the Rock Garden's development and recognition as one of India's leading heritage sites.

🇮🇳 𝗔𝗻 𝗘𝗻𝗱𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗟𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗰𝘆

𝗛𝗼𝗻. 𝗚𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗼𝗿 𝗦𝗵𝗿𝗶 𝗥𝗮𝘆'𝘀 support for Padma Shri Nek Chand's vision contributed significantly to the Garden's development and international recognition.

Today, the principal dedicatory plaque bearing the names of Padma Shri Nek Chand and the Honourable Governor of Punjab & Administrator of Chandigarh, Shri Siddhartha Shankar Ray, remains prominently displayed at the entrance to Phase II, serving as a lasting reminder of this important chapter in Chandigarh's cultural history.

📸 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗠𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗿 𝗣𝗵𝗼𝘁𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗽𝗵𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗼𝗰𝗸 𝗚𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀.

✨️ 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗛𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆. 𝗛𝗼𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗟𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗰𝘆. 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲. 🇮🇳

© 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 𝗦𝗶𝗱𝗱𝗵𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗵𝗮 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸𝗮𝗿 𝗥𝗮𝘆 𝗔𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀. 𝗔𝗹𝗹 𝗥𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲𝗱.

Indian National Congress I Indian National Congress - Punjab I Indian National Congress - Chandigarh I Chandigarh Tourism

01/07/2026

Remembering the Architect of Modern West Bengal

Today, we pay our heartfelt tribute to Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy—an extraordinary physician, visionary statesman, and one of India’s greatest nation-builders, whose birth and death anniversary fall on the same day.

A recipient of the Bharat Ratna, Dr. Roy devoted his life to healing people and shaping institutions. His unwavering commitment to public service, healthcare, education, and urban development transformed West Bengal and continues to inspire generations.

As we remember his remarkable legacy, let us reaffirm our commitment to compassionate leadership, ethical public service, and the pursuit of a healthier, stronger, and more equitable society.

“The greatest service to humanity is to dedicate one’s life to the welfare of others.” This spirit defined Dr. B. C. Roy’s life and remains as relevant today as ever.

Siddhartha Shankar Ray Foundation pays its respectful homage to this legendary son of Bengal.

28/06/2026

🏟️⚽️ 𝗘𝘅𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝟱𝟬 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗴𝗼 𝘁𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆. 🇮🇳🔁✨️

On this day, 𝗝𝘂𝗻𝗲 𝟮𝟴, 𝟭𝟵𝟳𝟲, the 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗻𝗲 of the 𝗩𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗸𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗮 𝗬𝘂𝘃𝗮 𝗕𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶 𝗞𝗿𝗶𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗻 (𝗦𝗮𝗹𝘁 𝗟𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗱𝗶𝘂𝗺) was officially laid by 𝗦𝗵𝗿𝗶 𝗦𝗶𝗱𝗱𝗵𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗵𝗮 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸𝗮𝗿 𝗥𝗮𝘆, the then 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗲𝗳 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗪𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗕𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗹.

Half a century later, the weathered marks and moss on this stone stand as a beautiful testament to the passage of time. What started with this very plaque grew to become the 𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗼𝘁𝗯𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗱𝗶𝘂𝗺 𝗶𝗻 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗮 and was once the 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗱-𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗼𝘁𝗯𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗱𝗶𝘂𝗺 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱. 𝗛𝗮𝗽𝗽𝘆 𝟱𝟬𝘁𝗵 𝗔𝗻𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝗿𝘆 to a monumental piece of our sporting history! 🏟⚽✨

𝗦𝗵𝗿𝗶 𝗦𝗶𝗱𝗱𝗵𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗵𝗮 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸𝗮𝗿 𝗥𝗮𝘆'𝘀 profound relationship with fitness and sports was deeply rooted in his personal excellence. He holds a 𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗱 as a 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗰𝘂𝘁𝘁𝗮 𝗕𝗹𝘂𝗲 and captain in three distinct sports—𝗖𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗲𝘁, 𝗧𝗲𝗻𝗻𝗶𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗙𝗼𝗼𝘁𝗯𝗮𝗹𝗹. Driven by this lifelong discipline and dedication, he later brought his passion to the highest administrative level by serving as the 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗲𝘁 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗕𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗹 (𝗖𝗔𝗕) between 𝟭𝟵𝟴𝟮 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝟭𝟵𝟴𝟲.

As 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗲𝗳 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿, his 𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 transformed the sporting landscape of West Bengal through an array of significant developments. Among these, his 𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗱𝗶𝘂𝗺 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘀 revolutionized Kolkata's sports infrastructure. Arranged chronologically, a few of his landmark stadium initiatives include:

✅️🏟️ 𝗕𝗮𝗿𝗮𝘀𝗮𝘁 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘁 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗱𝗶𝘂𝗺/𝗩𝗶𝗱𝘆𝗮𝘀𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗿 𝗞𝗿𝗶𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗻 (𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗹𝗮𝗶𝗱: 𝟭𝟵𝟳𝟰): Initiated under his direction to promote district-level football and grassroots youth sports development.

✅️🏟️ 𝗡𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗷𝗶 𝗦𝘂𝗯𝗵𝗮𝘀𝗵 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗿𝗮 𝗕𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗼𝗼𝗿 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗱𝗶𝘂𝗺 (𝟭𝟵𝟳𝟱): Constructed in a remarkable nine-month period to host the 𝟯𝟯𝗿𝗱 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 𝗧𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗧𝗲𝗻𝗻𝗶𝘀 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽𝘀 (𝗪𝗧𝗧𝗖).

✅️🏟️ 𝗦𝗮𝗹𝘁 𝗟𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗱𝗶𝘂𝗺/𝗩𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗸𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗮 𝗬𝘂𝘃𝗮 𝗕𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶 𝗞𝗿𝗶𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗻 (𝗙𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗹𝗮𝗶𝗱: 𝟭𝟵𝟳𝟲): It grew to become the 𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗼𝘁𝗯𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗱𝗶𝘂𝗺 𝗶𝗻 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗮 and was once the 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗱-𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗼𝘁𝗯𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗱𝗶𝘂𝗺 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱, reflecting the remarkable scale and ambition of his administration.

✅️🏟️ 𝗗𝗿. 𝗕.𝗖. 𝗥𝗼𝘆 𝗖𝗹𝘂𝗯 𝗛𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲, 𝗘𝗱𝗲𝗻 𝗚𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘀 (𝗙𝘂𝗻𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝟭𝟵𝟳𝟳): Ray was instrumental in the construction and naming of this vital cricketing facility.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗰𝘆 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗹𝘆 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗱-𝗯𝗼𝗴𝗴𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 is that 𝗮 𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀 was all the time he had in office. During those five short years, his government had to tackle 𝗮 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗶𝗱𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗼 𝗼𝗳 𝗰𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗲𝘀: 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗮𝘅𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗲-𝗠𝗮𝗼𝗶𝘀𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆, 𝗮 𝗿𝗲𝗳𝘂𝗴𝗲𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗹𝘂𝘅, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮 𝗱𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗹𝘆 𝘀𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗽𝗼𝘅 𝗲𝗽𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗰.
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝘁 𝗮 𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 for what many believe could have evolved into 𝗮 𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗺𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗶𝘇𝗲𝗱 𝗕𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗹. Thereafter, the Emergency was declared across the country. At the time, it was considered necessary to address the severe unrest prevailing across the nation. Subsequently, political developments and wider national circumstances significantly affected the trajectory of governance in both India and West Bengal.

Yet, whichever aspect of his administration one wishes to examine, one finds 𝘀𝘂𝗯𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗱𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁, with 𝗻𝘂𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 extending well beyond the field of sports. Today, we have focused solely on sports infrastructure. 𝗢𝗻𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝘄𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 how Bengal's development might have unfolded had he remained in office for two more terms. Many believe the state could have witnessed 𝗮𝗻 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝗮𝗿-𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗮 𝗠𝗢𝗗𝗘𝗥𝗡 𝗕𝗘𝗡𝗚𝗔𝗟.

𝗪𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗿𝗲𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗻 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗵 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘁𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗵𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆. Until then, thank you. 𝗞𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝗳𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝗶𝗱𝗱𝗵𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗵𝗮 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸𝗮𝗿 𝗥𝗮𝘆 𝗔𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀 (𝗦𝗦𝗥𝗔). 🙏🏻✨

𝗣𝗶𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘆: Siddhartha Shankar Ray Foundation (SSRF).

Indian National Congress I Indian National Congress - West Bengal I Rajesh Chirimar

⚠️ 𝗣𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗡𝗼𝘁𝗲: 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗽𝗵𝗼𝘁𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗽𝗵 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗱𝗶𝗴𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗽𝗵𝗼𝘁𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗽𝗵.

16/06/2026

On the death anniversary of Deshbandhu Chittaranjan Das ji, Siddhartha Shankar Ray Foundation pays its heartfelt tributes to one of the foremost architects of India’s freedom movement and a towering son of Bengal.

A distinguished lawyer, visionary nationalist, and selfless patriot, Deshbandhu dedicated his life and resources to the cause of India’s independence. His unwavering commitment to Swaraj, his advocacy for Hindu-Muslim unity, and his belief in democratic institutions continue to inspire generations. As the founder of the Swaraj Party and a leader who placed national interest above personal comfort, he left an indelible mark on India’s political and social history.

Deshbandhu’s legacy also lives on through the public service and statesmanship of his descendants. As the maternal grandfather of Sri Siddhartha Shankar Ray, former Chief Minister of West Bengal, his ideals of duty, courage, and service continued to find expression in public life.

On this solemn occasion, we remember Deshbandhu not only as a freedom fighter and nation-builder but also as a symbol of sacrifice, integrity, and enlightened leadership