From the history of the Ray family, it is known that one of their earlier ancestors Shri

Ramsunder Deo (Deb) was a native of Chakdah, Nadia District, Bengal (now in West Bengal,
India). From there he migrated to Sherpur in East Bengal in search of fate. The Zamindar of
Jashodal, Raja Gunichandra met him in the Zamindar House of Sherpur and was immediately
impressed by him. He took Ramsunder with him to his estate in Jashodal, gave him a part of
his Zamindari and made him his son-in-law.[5][6]

Early life and background

Satyajit Ray as a child

The facade of Satyajit Ray's house in Kolkata

Satyajit Ray's ancestry can be traced back for at least ten generations.[7] Ray's grandfather,
Upendrakishore Ray was a writer, illustrator, philosopher, publisher, amateur astronomer and
a leader of the Brahmo Samaj, a religious and social movement in nineteenth century Bengal.
He also set up a printing press by the name of U. Ray and Sons, which formed a crucial
backdrop to Satyajit's life. Sukumar Ray, Upendrakishore's son and father of Satyajit, was a
pioneering Bengali writer of nonsense rhyme (Abol tabol) and children's literature, an
illustrator and a critic. Ray was born to Sukumar and Suprabha Ray in Calcutta.[citation needed]

Satyajit Ray's family had acquired the name 'Ray'(originally 'Rai') from the Mughals.
Although they were Bengali Kayasthas, the Rays were 'Vaishnavas' (worshippers of Vishnu)
as against majority Bengali Kayasthas who were 'Shaktos' (worshippers of the Shakti or
Shiva) .[8]