Remembering the architect of modern Kolkata, RN Mookherjee

History has proved that Job Charnock was not the father of Kolkata but there is no doubt that it was Sir R N Mookherjee who gave the city its modern look.

To commemorate his 163rd birth anniversary of one of Bengal's greatest industrialists which falls on Friday, a function will be held at Victoria Memorial Hall where floral bouquets will be placed at the base of his statue, the only statue of an Indian installed at Victoria. The statue was built by famous sculptor G Pal and it was installed on February 1, 1938.

Incidentally, Pal had made the statue of Sri Ramakrishna that has been installed at the Sri Ramakrishna temple at Belur Math on January 14, 1938.

Most of the structures that have made Kolkata proud today were built by Martin and Company. This includes Victoria Memorial, Chartered Bank building in BBD Bag, Esplanade Manson, Tipu Sultan Mosque, Belur Math, Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture, Gol Park, New Secretariat building, Aakashvani Bhavan among others.

Mookherjee was the chairman of the committee that was set up to replace the old pontoon bridge connecting Kolkata with Howrah. The committee recommended construction of a cantilever bridge, one its kind in the country.

Tarun Rana, historian and scholar, said it is unfortunate that the young generation do not know about this great industrialist and architect of modern Kolkata.

"Only a road in the city has been renamed after him but no step has ever been taken to make the younger generation aware of his monumental work," he said. The Institution of Engineers will organise a programme in the afternoon where Jahar Sarkar will give the RN Mookherjee oration on Science and Technology in Ancient India.