Kolkata, Jan 9 (IANS): Popular Bengali writer Mani Sankar Mukherji, better known as Sankar to his legions of readers, will be awarded an honorary D.Litt. by the University of North Bengal at its 46th Convocation in Siliguri on February 18.

West Bengal Governor Kesari Nath Tripathi, the ex-officio Chancellor, will preside at the Convocation, sources said.

Born on December 7, 1933, Sankar's first book Kata Ajanare -- based on life around law courts and the last days of the last English barrister practising in Kolkata (the Calcuta) "had created a sensation after it was serialised in a well-known literary weekly in 1954-55.

Acclaimed as a masterpiece, the book has since been translated in many languages.

Sankar has written over 80 novels, short stories, travelogues, biographies and historical pieces.

The translations of his novels and biographies have appeared in many languages across India, as also in other nations like Britain, France, Italy, Spain and China.