Born on August 10, 1924, in Machimdia, Narail, Sheikh Mohammed Sultan — affectionately known as SM Sultan — abandoned formal schooling early due to financial hardship. Encouraged by local zamindar Dhirendra Nath Roy, he enrolled at the Kolkata Government Art College but left in 1943 before completing his studies.
The proverbial practice of char dakhal has now extended to politics in the form of chandabaji (money extortion) as a metaphor for criminal greed.
