Sunday, June 22, 2014

India's Biggest Cover-Up

The National Best Seller got me attentive in the recent Boookfair and I bought the book in flipkart after researching a bit about the author and of course about the book itself. Clearly I was justified in the purchase as one of the most mysterious happenings in the life of the greatest Indian hero, Netaji, seemed to be at last given a public audience, thanks to this book. I would definitely defer to agree on all the views shared by the author but the evidences put forward in most of the cases defy any counter logic against the theories. The copies of several documents, the most chilling being the last photograph, proves once and for all that the predominant theory of Netaji's Taiwan air crash just don't stand much chance as an established logic. The excerpts of interviews of Netaji's INA brothers and their later movements as traced by Dhar, Barun Sengupta's investigative journalism, deliberations held in parliament, the precis of the commissions held, all give an entirely new dimension to the mystery. The views of Bose's relatives and near and (most but not all) dear ones also bear insight to the mystery that has kept several of the countrymen guessing for a solution that seemed so neglected at times. Not only the Japan angle but the Russian angle has been considered with a clear rationale that brings forth several new avenues (at least to me) that had been explored while documenting the beliefs in the book. Being an admirer of Netaji, as I don't think I have the audacity to idolize him, I find this endeavour to unmask any cover up a most welcoming one and also the citizens of a democratic country should have right to the truth.

Monday, June 16, 2014

Sherlock Hebo

As with other Sanyal detective stories, extreme loquaciousness is the primary downside of all the narratives. Also there are innumerable printing errors that makes this new get up fare poorly after the reading.
The little sleuth is introduced in Sherlock Hebo Gurubidae Parbo though his first exploit is placed after this in Adi Parbo and finally Palashpur Parbo completes a chapter of his career during his school days. In these several of the side characters are introduced, the most annoying and recurring being Mejda, the person responsible for adding the illustrious title to Hebo's name. The most interesting part is that though in earlier Bengali literature, there had been instances of minors as detectives but never have been a detective is seen making laughable blunders that keeps his ego under control. Sincerely speaking, in the first three episodes Hebo has been a mix of a lesser Holmes and a greater 'Pagla Dashu'. Ocassionally allowing the imagination to run wild, Hebo is found to overdo detection in various cases albeit the primary problem is always solved.
But in the finale Sherlock Hebo Fire Elen the analytical mind is truly revealed as the sleuth matures and his documenter, his Chotokaka pens the most interesting case namely the solution to a aged riddle. The story is not only the best but also the literary talent of Naryanbabu is truly revealed that masks the reader of some of the obvious points that remains hidden in plain view.
So as a whole this will be a good compilation for the collection of detective stories but may not appeal much to the matured mind after a first read. Added attraction to the book is illustrations bu Chandi Lahiri that not only augments the stories but really shows the stark superiority over Sanyal's efforts to parallel the same.