Eminent Bengali writer Mani Sankar Mukhopadhyay, known by his pen name “Sankar,” passed away at a private hospital in Kolkata yesterday at the age of 92. He succumbed to his illness at approximately 1:30 pm while receiving medical care at Peerless Hospital in Kolkata.
Sankar, a recipient of the Sahitya Akademi award, is renowned for his novels such as “Chowringee,” “Seemabaddha,” and “Jana Aranya.” “Chowringee,” originally published in Bengali in 1962, narrates the story of Shankar, a determined young man who loses his job as a secretary when his employer, an English barrister, passes away. Facing hardships, Shankar resorts to selling wastepaper baskets until a friend intervenes and secures him a position at the Shahjahan Hotel. The novel delves into the lives of Kolkata’s elite and was later adapted into a film in 1968.
His other literary works, “Seemabaddha” and “Jana Aranya,” were also transformed into films under the direction of Satyajit Ray. Born on December 7, 1933, in Bongaon, the then undivided Jessore district (now Jashore), Sankar’s father, Haripada Mukherjee, was a renowned lawyer. The family relocated to Kolkata before World War II, and he spent his early years in Howrah.
In 1959, Ritwik Ghatak commenced the production of a film titled “Kato Ajanare” based on Sankar’s debut novel. However, due to financial and production challenges, the project was discontinued with only a few scenes pending.
Some of his notable works include “Charan Chhuye Jai,” “Vivekananda,” “Achena Ajnana,” “Dwitiya Purush,” “Monihar,” and “Piklu’s Kolkata Travel.” Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed their condolences on the demise of the esteemed Bengali writer.
Sankar’s literary creations retain remarkable relevance, addressing themes of educated unemployment, ethical compromises, societal aspirations, and urban disconnection that resonate through different eras. He comprehended a fundamental truth about contemporary life – that the most significant tragedies often unfold gradually. Through his literature, he crafted moral landscapes, delineating the intersections of ambition, survival, and self-respect. Rather than a monument, his writings serve as a reflective mirror of human existence.