Back from Dead Inside the Subhas Bose Mystery

The mystery that has puzzled numerous Indians for decades seem to divulge more than the eyes could discover. The 1st in the series, Dhar explores the twisted reportings and tries to unearth a secret that may reveal several dark features. Among the murky waters of Indian politics there lies a secret that is curious yet extremely dangerous. The curious disappearance of Netaji seemed to have posed questions to many. If he actually died, why the reportings were delayed of an important personality? What happened to the INA treasure? Why India remains silent about the list of war criminals? Why some persons became multimillionaire overnight and why a monk seemed to hold key to everything? I have read the sequel to this book earlier which compelled me to buy this one but this proves to be more intense with its reportings. Starting from the fateful day that Netaji plans escape from Japan the narrative climaxes with the appearance of the peculiar monk Bhagwanji at UP. Full of details acquired through extensive research, the book converges logically and poses several questions to the readers. Several in the arena of Indian politics have come up enquiring about the disappearance of the great leader but each time the culmination seem far from satisfactory. But the book has pointed out to a certain pattern in the behaviour of the loyal followers of the man with the lion's heart. An oath so strict that the followers pledged that what Bose told would be followed till the person himself asked them to do otherwise. So it is very obvious that if he asked someone to hold the truth it will be held stubbornly till the next order comes from him. So if Habib-ur-Rehman told that Bose died in plane crash, then there remains a chance that Bose might have proposed his lieutenant to tell so. It also seems natural that if Bose turned a monk and asked his fiercely loyal followers who came in touch with him to not divulge the secret it will be not be made public. Going like this the book make certain revelations that will seriously cause some inquisitiveness to the honest soul. So this might serve as the stepping stone to solve a mystery that have eluded investigators for decades.

Kiriti Omnibus Vol IX

Dr. Shri Naneelal Sen’s Introduction is by no way less mysterious as the other selections in the volume as the web of words that is woven will cause much suspense to the reader’s mind and is best kept for the last as spoilers might act obvious spoilsport to the stories.

Of the four stories that it contains, both the novels Kaalohaat and Chayakuheli are no doubt sincere novels in their own right. Including them as mystery stories will do grave injustice to the plot as well as unfortunately to the genre too. Reminiscent of Kalobhramar, the 1^st one is a mystery where people related by their past gets killed one by one but a curious turn of events and chanced acquaintances help the sleuth to catch the perpetrator. Actually there are two plots in one which is cleverly unraveled by Kiriti, thanks to his hand getting the right clue at the right moment. So though some disappointment is in store but its absoluteness makes it a nice thriller in its own right. The 2^nd one starts with a curious will and an even curious case of false identities that make the police dumbfounded and the law at a stalemate. It again remains on Kiriti to solve but though a fantastic mystery was woven but the solution with an even more fantastic coincidence makes it a touch unrealistic and quite definitely robs it away of its charm. The short story Mrityubish, on the other hand, is a regular mystery story which starts with a tragedy of death of twin children. Written from the perspective of Subrata, the deaths are though confirmed to be case of poisoning but there seemed to be no clue to the perpetrator and the mode of poisonings. The case was presented long after the last rites of the body and so armed with only the police snaps of the deadbodies, the clues are unearthed and criminals apprehended. The other story Padmini again starts with a promise of mystery but its final pages actually do not complete to solve the mystery but only to close the story.

Recommended for its thriller like plots the mystery lovers may feel a bit disappointed though the classic edge of the stories will have to be acknowledged.

Rusty Comes Home

Rusty returns home from London to settle while carrying out his writings. His beloved hills and the country has in store for him several interesting adventures that he narrates to his readers. He yearns to return to his hometown to see how the cosy nooks have changed. In the process he meets several characters like a disabled child, a poor and frail boy, ladies from the hills, the eccentrically evil uncle, the boy who leaves with his family in his old house, a jinn who can extend his arms as long as he wishes. Behind the curtains, the author weaves some wonderful tales of pathos tinged with humour where the losses are depicted such impersonally that the readers will feel the melancholy mood yet will stay captivated by the lucid flow of words. There is an instance where the author narrates the tale of a tiger to a young lad while asking him to complete after he stops. The most invigorating part is, the author weaves the story with several reliefs in between that too are so gripping yet he disallows the central plot to be shifted at all. He leaves the story with a hint towards its finish. But the listener makes an optimistic twist literally keeping the life of the story still beating as it completes. Filled with several such awesome stories the book is made even more lively by the illustrations of Archana Sreenivasan. Breathing puffs of fresh air the book will complete with a longing for more.