Veteran Bengali author Shankar passes away

Veteran Bengali author Mani Shankar Mukhopadhyay, popularly known as Shankar, passed away on Friday (February 20, 2026) at the age of 92. He had been undergoing treatment at a Kolkata hospital for the past 15 days for multiple age-related ailments. His family announces his demise on Friday (Frbruary 20) afternoon.

A towering figure in Bengali literature, Shankar authored several celebrated novels, including Chowringhee, Jana Aranya, and Seemabaddha. All three were made into films, with Chowringhee becoming particularly iconic. Jana Aranya and Seemabaddha were adapted for the screen by legendary filmmaker Satyajit Ray.

He was widely admired for his stories and novels, which mostly revolved around the struggles and lives of common people. His body of work also included detailed writings on Swami Vivekananda.

Over a literary career spanning more than seven decades, Shankar received numerous accolades. In 2021, he was honoured with the Sahitya Akademi Award. He also won the Bankim Puraskar and the Farha Blue Kazi International Award. Beyond literature, he served as the Sheriff of Kolkata during his lifetime.

He is survived by his two daughters.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed shock and sadness over his death, describing it as “the fall of one of the brightest stars in the world of Bengali literature” in a post on X. She offered her condolences to the bereaved family.