Kolkata’s new Sheriff

The city of Kolkata recently got its new Sheriff who became the 245th sheriff of the city. Prominent Bengali writer Mani Sankar Mukherji, better known by his penname 'Sankar' took the oath of office at the Calcutta High Court and became the new sheriff of the city. Dr. Sanjoy Chatterjee, the outgoing sheriff administered the oath at the Sherriff’s office which is situated in the Calcutta High Court premises. The Sheriff’s post is a largely ceremonial post which is bestowed for a year on a prominent citizen of Kolkata. This post was created in 1775 and James Macrabey was the first one to hold the post. However, it was in 1874 when an Indian, Manakjee Rustomjee assumed the Sheriff’s office for the first time. The first Bengali to hold this post was Raja Digamber Mitter who assumed office in 1875. The Sheriff is appointed by the Governor of West Bengal on the recommendation of Calcutta High Court for a period of one year. Mani Sankar Mukherji after assuming the office of Sheriff said, "I feel very humble as the new Sheriff, as I pay my respect to all my predecessors who have been great sheriffs of the great city Calcutta". Sankar’s famous works include Chowringhee, Jana Aranyaa, Company Limited, Thackeray Mansion, The Monk as Man, and The Unknown Life of Swami Vivekananda. Two of his works 'Seemabaddha' and 'Jana Aranya' were made into films by Satyajit Ray and 'Chowringhee' which was a popular film of 1968, was also based on his novel.

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