Kolkata’s new sheriff Goutam Ghose plans preservation of 250-year-old records

Renowned filmmaker Goutam Ghose was formally appointed Sheriff of Kolkata and used his felicitation ceremony to announce an ambitious cultural initiative to recover and restore the city’s long‑forgotten colonial history . The event, hosted by The Bengal at The Taj Bengal , brought together distinguished figures from culture, business and civic life, including the Consul Generals of the United States, Germany and Australia , underscoring the wide interest in the project.

The 250‑year‑old Sheriff’s office , established in 1774 , houses an extensive collection of *administrative and judicial records dating back to the East India Company era . Many of these rare documents have remained largely untouched, offering a unique window into Kolkata’s colonial past. Ghose said he plans to lead a formal restoration effort in collaboration with expert conservators and the Calcutta High Court’s archive committee to begin salvaging these fragile materials. “These are more than 200‑year‑old documents,” he said, acknowledging the challenge ahead but stressing their potential to reveal unknown insights about Bengal and colonial rule* for students and researchers.

Ghose also highlighted the cultural significance of the Sheriff’s role— a historic, apolitical ceremonial post that dates back to British rule and is unique to Kolkata and Mumbai in India. Though the position no longer carries executive power, the office and its archives remain a repository of centuries of civic memory and tradition.

In his remarks, Ghose praised parallel civic efforts such as Pronam , a joint initiative of The Bengal and Kolkata Police that supports more than 20,000 senior citizens across the city. He described the archival project as part of a broader mission to celebrate and preserve Bengal’s cultural heritage.

The Bengal’s leadership welcomed Ghose’s vision. Chairman H M Bangur lauded him as a cultural ambassador and storyteller of civilisations , while Secretary General Sundeep Bhutoria emphasised his deep connection to the “heartbeat of Bengal” through his cinematic work. Previous Sheriffs have included prominent figures such as footballer Chuni Goswami and literary icon Sunil Gangopadhyay, continuing the tradition of eminent personalities holding this historic post