Badshahi Angti

My favoutire Feluda novel with the perfect theft blended with surprises and just the right amount of action and mystery.

The place is Lucknow where Feluda and Topshe is holidaying with Topshe’s father. There, they are guest to Dhirubabu, friend to Topshe’s father and plans their tour from there. But soon after their arrival, they meet Dr. Srivastav who shows them a ring, which is believed to be a part of Aurangzeb’s personal ornaments. Dr. Srivastav received it as a gift from one of his orthopaedic patients, Piyarilal when the doctor cured the later’s only living son, Mahabir. But Dr. Srivastav is apprehensive as he recounts that on the previous night there had been an attempted robbery in his house. He felt that the thief is after the ring. Dhirubabu understands his anxiety and offers to keep the ring is his disposal. But on the next day the ring is found stolen. The other characters are also introduced in this juncture, the chief being Banbiharibabu whose business was to supply wild animals to different firms and who now leads a retired life enjoying his personal zoo consisting of ferocious and poisonous creatures like wild cat, corocodile, rattle snake, hyena, etc. The other important character is Mahabir, now a film actor, who is on a visit to his birthplace.

These characters also get involved as Feluda tries to investigate the theft while continuously receiving threats. Suspects accumulate in the form of Mahabir, who is thought to have an interest to the ring from the financial standpoint, Banbiharibabu, who is found to be an antique collector, though he never shows interest to it in front of others. Dr. Srivastav is also suspected on the ground that to baffle the thief, the doctor might have staged a theft so as to prevent a further attempt in his house. Also there is the mysterious saint whose movements arouse suspicion and the person(s)(?) who delivers(s) the threatening letters to Feluda. We also find one Bilasbabu near the end of the story who also plays a somewhat major role.

The riddle continues and the culmination is at Lachmanzula where the actual villain is caught amidst a tension filled atmosphere.

The storytelling is outstanding and the novel, I feel, is a treasure to readers of all age.