মনের মতো লেখা‌, মনের মতো খেলা, আমার ছোটোবেলা

ছোটোবেলা থেকে আমার শরৎকালের একটা আলাদা আকর্ষণ হচ্ছে পুজাবার্ষিকী আনন্দমেলা। শরৎকালটা কার কি ভাবে আসে জানি না, আমার তো এই পত্রিকা হাতে পাওয়া থেকেই শুরু হয়। এমনকি, যেহেতু এই লোভনীয় পুজাবার্ষিকীটা অন্যগুলোর তুলনায় অনেকটাই আগে প্রকাশিত হয়, আমি এখনো কিন্তু মন থেকে চাই যে এটা যেন দেরিতে আমাদের বাড়িতে ঢোকে, কারণ একবার এই বইটা হাতে পেলে, বাইরের দুনিয়ার "এখনও পুজো তো দেরি আছে মশাই" ভাবটা অসহনীয় হয়ে ওঠে আমার কাছে।

এবার অবশ্য শুধু এটাই একমাত্র নয়, এবার শরতকালেই আরেকটি চমক রয়েছে অনেকের কাছে। এবার ছেলেদের ক্রিকেট বিশ্বকাপটা শুরু হচ্ছে শরতের মধ্যেই। আমার কিন্তু আবার ক্রিকেট দেখা শুরু তখন থেকে যখন ইন্ডিয়া টিম বলতে আমি শুধু কপিল দেব বুঝতাম। লাল ডিউস বলে দিনের আলোয় সাদা পোশাক পরিহিত খেলোয়াড়দের জমানার ১৯৮৭ সালের রিলায়েন্স ওয়ার্ল্ড কাপ আমার দেখা প্রথম বিশ্বকাপ। তখনকার কপিল দেবের নেতৃত্বাধীন ইন্ডিয়া টিম থেকে সৌরভ গাঙ্গুলীর টিম ইন্ডিয়া পর্যন্ত আমি খেলাটার মধ্যে থেকে অদ্ভুত এক আনন্দ পেতাম। কিন্তু তারপর কি যে ঘটল - গ্রেগ সাহেবের গোলমাল না চামড়া ঝলসানো চড়া গরম সামলে আইপিএল দেখার চরম চাপ - খেলাটা দেখার আনন্দটা যেন হারিয়ে গেলো। একমাত্র ব্যতিক্রম ছিল বোধহয় বিশ্বকাপ।

এবার কি সেটাও হারিয়ে যাবে? কারণ বিশ্বকাপের মূল পর্বের শুরুটাই হচ্ছে অঘটন দিয়ে! ওয়েস্ট ইণ্ডিজ বাদ! কি কাণ্ড! এ যেন ব্রাজিলকে বাদ দিয়ে বিশ্বকাপ ফুটবল। এই টিমটাই যে ক্রিকেটটাকে উপভোগ করতে শিখিয়েছিল! মনমাতানো ব্যাটিং তো ছিলই তাদের, আর ছিল বিপক্ষকে চুরমার করে দেওয়া তীব্র গতির বোলিং। কিরকম যেন প্রথম থেকেই পেস বোলিং আমার প্রিয় হয়ে উঠেছিল, গতির প্রতি ভয় হয়তো এমন উল্টো অ্যাট্রাকশনের কারণ। তাই ম্যালকম মার্শাল, কার্টলি অ্যামব্রোস, কোর্টনি ওয়ালশদের ভালোবাসতে বেশি সময় লাগেনি! শুধু কি বোলিং, তাদের চলাফেরার মধ্যেই যে পরিস্কার 'ডোন্ট কেয়ার' ভাবটা ফুটে উঠতো, সেটাই মনে হয় যথেষ্ট ছিল তাদের প্রতি সম্ভ্রম জাগাতে। অবশ্য এর জন্য বোধহয় এদের ক্যাপ্টেনই দায়ী! কারণ চিউংগাম চিবোতে চিবোতে রাজকীয় ঢঙে যখন ভিভ রিচার্ডস ব্যাট হাতে বিপক্ষের বোলারদের পরম অবজ্ঞায় ঠেঙাতো, তখন লোকটাকে কিং ভিভ বলাটাই ঠিক দেখাতো, আর রাজার বন্ধুবান্ধব যে বাকিদের পাত্তা দেবে না, সেটাই যেন স্বাভাবিক ছিল! তারপর ব্যাটিং করতে নেমে ছিল ডেসমণ্ড হেনস ও গর্ডন গ্রিনিজের ওপেনিং যুগলবন্দী। আমার ধারনা যে এদের দুজনের মুখের গড়নটাতে কিছু সমস্যা ছিল, তার কারণ দুজনেই কিরকম হাসতে হাসতে বিপক্ষের বোলিং লণ্ডভণ্ড করতো! হাসিটাকে ধরে রেখে ওরকম ব্যাটিং তাণ্ডব তো এই দুজন ছাড়া আর কাউকে তো করতে দেখিনি মনে হয়! ব্যাটিংটা সত্যিই যে এই দুজন উপভোগ করত, বোঝা যেতো। জুটির কথাই যদি বলি তো বলব আরো দুজনের কথা, হার্পার আর হুপার। কে কোনটা ছিল ভুলে গেছি, তবে একজন অলরাউণ্ডার ছিল, আরেকজন বোলার। এদের কেউ জুটি বলবে কি না জানা নেই, কিন্তু আমার নিজের কাছে এদের একটা অন্য মাহাত্ম্য ছিল। হয়তো ইণ্ডিয়া ম্যাচ চলাকলীন এদের ব্যাট হাতে নামতে দেখলাম। ব্যাস! আমি নিশ্চিন্ত! এবার চান্স আছে জেতার! কারণ এদের নামা মানে উপরের দিকের ব্যাট হাতে ঠ্যাঙানোর ধ্বজাধারীরা আউট! এরকম কিছু ঘটলে বেশ লাগতো ভারতের বিপক্ষে খেলা হলে! অবশ্য হার জিৎ যেটাই হোক না কেন, খেলাটাই যেন শুধু মনটাকে ভরিয়ে রাখত। আর ছিলো স্মৃতিগুলো, যা এখনও তাজা আছে বুঝতে পারছি! বোধহয় সেটাই স্বাভাবিক! কারণ যে লোকগুলো বল হাতে বিপক্ষের মাথা না তুলতে দিতে বদ্ধপরিকর আর ব্যাট করতে নেমে অপর পক্ষের আক্রমণ দফারফা করতে পিছপা নয়, তারাই আবার নিজেদের খেলাটা খেলে নিয়েই কিরকম যেন অন্য মানুষ। কখনও নিজেদের মধ্যে হাসিমজায় ব্যস্ত, আবার কখনও অন্য টিমের প্লেয়ারদের সাথে ইয়ার্কি করতে!

আমার তো আবছা হলেও মনে পড়ছে টিভিতে দেখা একটা দৃশ্যের কথা! খেলাটা ইন্ডিয়ার সাথে বলেই বোধহয় আগে থেকে দেখছিলাম। টসের মুহুর্ত, ক্যামেরায় দুই ক্যাপ্টেনকে দেখা যাচ্ছে! কয়েনটা মাটিতে পড়ে যেতেই আমাদের ক্যাপ্টেন সামনে নীচু হয়ে দেখতে যেতেই রিচার্ডস দিল এক হঠাৎ ধাক্কা! টাল সামলে তাকাতেই, কপিল না আজহার, খেয়াল নেই কে ছিল, দেখলো রিচার্ডসের বদমাইশি ভরা হাসিমুখ তার দিকে তাকিয়ে, ঠিক যেন পাড়ার বড় দাদা, ছোটদের সাথে কোনো ফ্রেন্ডলি ম্যাচ খেলছে!

বাকিদের কথা জানিনা, ক্রিকেটে আমার কাছে ওয়েস্ট ইন্ডিজ মানে এটাই। এগারোটা প্লেয়ার মাঠেতে একসাথে দুলকি চালে যখন নামতো, তখনই খেলাটা যেন কি একরকমের রাজকীয় মাত্রা পেত। ক্রিকেটিয় অ্যাগ্রেসন নিয়ে অনেক কিছু দেখেছি, অনেক কথা শুনেছি, কিন্তু অ্যাগ্রেসনের সৌন্দর্যটা ক্রিকেট মাঠে বোধহয় একটাই টিমের থেকে দেখেছিলাম - ওয়েস্ট ইন্ডিজ। তাই এবার বিশ্বকাপ ক্রিকেটের মূল পর্বে তাদের না থাকাটায় বেশ আশ্চর্য লেগেছিল। বুঝেছিলাম, টিমটা এখন সত্যি অনেকটাই পিছিয়ে গেছে প্রতিযোগিতায়। আশা রাখব, পরের চার বছরের মধ্যে আবার এই দলটা স্বমহিমায় ফিরে আসবে! আরেকটাও আশা রাখব, যদি অন্য আরেকটি দলকে পাই, যার খেলাটা দেখে ভালোবাসতে পারবো!

শুরুটা আনন্দমেলা দিয়ে করে খেলাতে ঢুকে পড়লাম। এবার আবার ফিরে আসি সাহিত্যে। বিশ্বকাপ ক্রিকেটে যেরকম ওয়েস্ট ইন্ডিজকে না দেখে অস্বাভাবিক লেগেছিল, এবার পুজাবার্ষিকী আনন্দমেলা পেয়েও খানিকটা সেরকমই অনুভুতি হয়েছিল! আমি ঠিক কোন বছরে প্রথম পুজাবার্ষিকীটা নিয়েছিলাম মনে নেই এখন, কিন্তু শীর্ষেন্দু মুখোপাধ্যায়ের উপন্যাসবিহীন শারদীয়া আনন্দমেলাটা এই প্রথম! বোধহয় প্রথম যে উপন্যাসটা আমি পড়েছিলাম শীর্ষেন্দুবাবুর, এই শারদীয়াতে, তা হলো ঝিলের ধারে বাড়ি! প্রথমে কিন্তু আদৌ তেমন পছন্দের ছিলো না শীর্ষেন্দুবাবুর বড় লেখাগুলো। কত চরিত্র রে বাবা গল্পগুলোতে! তার উপর অদ্ভুতুড়ে প্লট, ভালো চোর - খারাপ চোর, বদমাইশ ভূত - ভীতু ভূত, ভীনগ্রহী, গুপ্তচর, বোকা গোয়েন্দা, দৌড়বীর, কৃপণ জমিদার, পাগলা সাহেব, ততোধিক ক্ষেপা শিক্ষক, গুপ্তধন, বিজ্ঞানী, গায়ক, বাদক, কি নেই! আর তাদের বয়স - শীর্ষেন্দুর গল্পে সাপোর্টিং কাস্টের গড় বয়স প্রায় একশোর কাছাকাছি হয় যদিও তাদের স্বাস্থ্য হবে মজবুত! সংক্ষেপে, মাথার মধ্যে গোলমাল পাকানোর জন্য যা যা বিদঘুটে কম্বিনেশন দরকার, সমস্ত তো একসঙ্গে থাকতোই উপন্যাসগুলোতে, সঙ্গে থাকতো আরো অনেক কিছু! তাই প্রথমদিকে মাথাটাথা গুলিয়ে একাক্কার! বাকিদের লেখার সাথে কিছুতেই মিলতো না, পড়তে পড়তে ভয় হতো, উপন্যাসের শুরুতে কোন চরিত্র কি ছিল ভুলে না যাই। কিন্তু কি আশ্চর্য, প্রতিবারই গল্পটার গভীরে কখন যে ঢুকে যেতাম, বুঝতেই পারতাম না। উপন্যাসের শেষের পাতায় এক নিরবিচ্ছিন্ন আনন্দ পেতাম অধিকাংশ ক্ষেত্রেই! প্রথমে যতই চরিত্রের ঘনঘটা থাকুক না কেন, প্লটের মধ্যে ঠিক সবাই কিরকম মিশে যেত। কল্পনার সীমানা পার করে দেওয়া প্লটগুলো প্রতিবার পরিবেশিত হত মজার মোড়কে। এমনকি গল্পের নামগুলো পর্যন্ত মুখেতে হাসি নিয়ে আসতো। শীর্ষেন্দু মুখোপাধ্যায়ের উপন্যাস আসলে যেন রূপকথার হাতছানি - আধুনিক রূপকথা। তবে এই রূপকথা ঠিক ঠাকুমার ঝুলি হতো না, হতো ঝুলির বাইরে থাকা পৃথিবীটা নিয়ে রূপকথার এক মায়াময় জগত, যে কাহিনীগুলো খুব সহজেই কিশোর মনে দিতে পারতো খুশির দোলা। এই জগতের মানুষগুলোর চমকপ্রদ কিছু বৈশিষ্ট্য থাকলেও, তারা ভিতরে কিন্তু হয় সহজ সরল! তাই তো তাদের আকর্ষণ অমোঘ! এটাই তো কারণ যে প্রতিবার মুখিয়ে থাকি শীর্ষেন্দুর লেখাটা পড়ার জন্য, সে বয়স হোক না আমার কিশোরোর্ধ কি তারও অনেক বেশি! তাই তো এবার মনটা কিরকম করে উঠলো শীর্ষেন্দুর লেখাটা না দেখতে পেয়ে! হঠাৎ করে বুঝতে পারলাম বয়সটা তাহলে সবারই বাড়ছে! কিন্তু তা বলে কি আর পাবো না আমার এই প্রিয় লেখকের উপন্যাস? নিশ্চয়ই নয়! আবার আশা করব পরের বার, না হলে তারও পরের বার! সাথে চাইব নতুন কাহিনীকারদের মধ্যে আরেকটি শীর্ষেন্দু যেন আবার আসে! আবার যেন দেখতে পাই আলো ঝলমলে কিছু লেখা, যে লেখায় পাবো প্লটের মজা, সীমাহীন কল্পনা, সত্যের জয়, লেখনীর জোর আর মনটাকে বড় করেও মনের বয়সটাকে বাড়তে না দেওয়ার ক্ষমতা!

প্রিয় শারদীয়ায় শীর্ষেন্দু ও বিশ্বকাপে ওয়েস্ট ইন্ডিজকে না পাওয়া কিরকম যেন সমাপতন লাগছে। তবে মিলটা শুধু মনখারাপের নয়, মনকেমন করা কিছু স্মৃতির ভাণ্ডার খুলে শরৎকালের চেনা আমেজটা এই যে দুজনে মিলে মনে পড়িয়ে দিল, সেটাই বা কম বলি কি করে!

Birthday thoughts for the playful Prof: the Generous Giant of Physics

Ukraine has been in the forefront of newsreels these days, and so is Russia, both for all the wrong reasons known to mankind! But Ukraine, in 1904, constituting the Russian empire, had given birth to one of the giants of science, who had not only been one of the greatest in the field but his hearty service to mankind stands stark opposite to what these countries today reflect, albeit apparently.

Whenever we talk about any scientist, the invariable question that will require an answer in due course, will be regarding the contribution, of that particular person, in the field of science. But the great, about whom I am referring to, not only did contribute significantly to science, but contributed nothing less to popularise it through his humour laced narratives that encompassed physics and cosmology and peeked into genes and computer architecture. Truly speaking, each of his serious writings penned with witty reliefs, surely will draw equal appreciation both as a literary classic as well as an unputdownable article of science.

Yes, George Gamow was truly a giant of a scientist as far as I am concerned, but he was also a prankster in his own right. One of his very notable pranks lies in a famous paper, made famous not just because of its content (in fact, the content apparently fell short of its original claim slightly) but the names of the authors who wrote it. Alpher, Bethe and Gamow authored that particular paper concerning the origin of elements that we see all around. The original was penned by Alpher, with Gamow advising. While publishing, the advisor noting that the names of Alpher and Gamow having closer resemblance to Alpha and Gamma, felt it would be unjust to omit Beta in between. To rectify this apparent defect, a Beta author was to be inserted. This resulted in filling the gap by inserting the name of a physicist of eminence, Hans Bethe, in the original manuscript, much to the dismay of the Alpha author but to the complete satisfaction of Gamma, the playful[1]. The Greek alphabets might have been satisfied though the contents of the paper had the chance to appear Greek to Prof Bethe himself. The Alphabet paper, as it was nicknamed, was pioneer in predicting correctly the proportions of hydrogen and helium formed in the early universe and was the stepping stone to the hypothesis of the Big Bang nucleosynthesis[2] that describes how the elements actually took birth.

My association with Gamow’s literary works dates back to my secondary years when my father handed me with a copy of a Mr Tompkins series and “Physics: Fundamentals & Frontiers”, though the sequence is now forgotten, thanks to my memory, which is the very definition of volatility.

Mr Tompkins is a very well known character in the popular science reading circle but those who are still trying to understand how the name of a Mr is popping up while describing a Prof, let me assure you that this Mr is a fictitious character, created none other than by the witty educator in Gamow to look into the world of science and technology through the eyes of the layman.

Mr Tompkins is a humble bank clerk with a keen interest in science and a physicist father-in-law. As fathers-in-law are prone to with their sons-in-law, frequent chats with the younger in-law listening becomes the order during the visits of the older. But this leads to the son-in-law dozing off at times while the lectures become scientifically too heavy for the simple mind of the humble clerk. Thus begins his series of dreams, just like Alice while she dreamt about the Wonderland, the difference being that these dreams take the dreamer to a wonderland of science as the subject opens up in a simpler perspective. The scientific constants are trimmed here and the fantasy of dream prevails as the dreamer and the reader alike journeys through the apparently complex but unavoidably quite real concepts of relativity, thermodynamics, quantum mechanics, computer processors, cells and genes, just to name a few and gets piqued as the scientific world unfurls the simple rationales that forms the basis of ground breaking ideas. I still remember that particular episode where Mr Tompkins understands relativity and space contraction just by watching a cyclist riding through blocks in a world where the speed of light is limited to a few metres/sec only. The series has yet another appeal and that is of the illustrator himself. As it happened, while the series was ongoing, the regular illustrator vacated the post only to be filled in by the author himself, who not only excelled in the job but presented a delightful array of sketches, throbbing with humour, very much in line with the original and augmenting the themes with visual reliefs, which could only be as perfect as possible.

The other book that was mentioned earlier, “Physics: Fundamentals & Frontiers”, is in the other hand, a textbook, but not like any other that I have gone through. Devoid of a single instance of calculus, higher secondary physical science is introduced with vivid illustrations accompanied by lucidly patient elaborations. Actually physics would have been a perennial fright for me but for some teachers and books like these as when in higher secondaries, physics starts with differential equations while calculus is formally reserved as a mathematical course for the next standard.

Thus started my tryst with this natural teacher mainly through his popular articles and is happily continuing till now.

Gamow wrote “Thirty Years That Shook Physics: The Story Of Quantum Theory” that portrayed the scientific era of 1900 to 1930 as modern physics unfolded by the breathtaking leap to the quantum world. Being one of the chief protagonists in moulding modern physics, the author offers a vantage point of view of the limitations of classical theories and embarks on the world of quantized energy, wave mechanics, uncertainty principle, anti particles with explanations and elaborations and touching on the scientific minds of the giants who defined them. Blended with humour, the illustrator in Gamow presents some astoundingly appealing sketches of a few of the greatest scientific minds of the era as well as some Gamowish cartoons, as always.

The apparently mysterious atom is explained by Gamow in “Atomic Energy in Cosmic and Human Life Fifty Years of Radioactivity”, which elaborates the basics of science to understand the energy lying within and designs of engineering to harness the same. Touching on the destructive use that the risk poses, the constructive visions of utilizing the vast energy for space vehicles and the likes will astound the audience.

There are authors who write biographies of personalities, but Gamow sketched the biography of a subject! Physics had never seemed to be honoured more than what Gamow bestowed in “The Great Physicists from Galileo to Einstein”, which might only be categorised as a biography, but not of the people mentioned in the cover title and the contents, but of the subject itself! A fascinating journey of the evolution of physics from the primitive to the modern as the subject ages through stages of refinement forms the basis of the narrative. The breakthroughs of science that shaped physics could never be enjoyed more as the scientific minds of the readers will be stimulated while the funny bones continue to tickle.

Another difficult subject of stellar evolution is simplified for the ordinary readers with basics introduced in the opening chapters in “The Birth & Death of the Sun”, which discusses the formation of stars and planetary bodies that make up the universe. Written in the signature style of Gamow but a bit serious according to his standard, stellar science had never been so philosophically yet critically orated. The enchanting journey of the stellar universe has a high chance to bewitch the readers with the marvel that the vast expanse has in store for all. Personally, these chapters have philosophically humbled me and I think now of myself as a being residing in a speck of dust called Earth formed in a split second interval in galactic scale and is presented with a chance to savour the wonders that makes up the universe with apparently a femtosecond interval of his life which is generally wasted with petty trivialities and unnecessary conflicts that never save a single fraction of the lifetime  that is offered. This is how Gamow appals you just by his writings!

Gamow was born Russian but defected as the political weather was growing too stifling for him[3]. He and his first wife, Lyubov Vokhmintseva, tried twice to flee, once trying to paddle a kayak across the Black Sea to Turkey and another time kayak across from Murmansk to Norway. The former, being a 250 km stretch as well as the later efforts failed due to weather, which just like the political one, turned unfavourable, but the funny part was, both times, the authorities were completely evaded. Incidentally, the wife of Gamow was given the nickname of Rho by her husband, which again indicates that either Gamow was fascinated to the extent of obsession with Greek letters or the name of his wife was really difficult to pronounce regularly, no disrespect to the lady and her name. Gamow could finally sneak out of Russia with his wife under the pretext of joining a scientific conference in Brussels, thanks to his brave persistence, that officials relented in allowing the couple to travel together.

Gamow was a first in the sense that under the guidance of Lev Mysovskii, Igor Kurchatov and him, started thr first design of a European cyclotron in 1932, just a couple of years after it was conceived and patented in America[2]. Previously, he was elected as a corresponding member of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR as one of the youngest members in its history at the age of 28. While in America, he was thankfully not involved in the Manhattan project, though he had enough knowledge on the subject[2], which might be due to his Ukrainian lineage[3].

Thrice nominated for the Nobel prize in physics and recipient of the Kalinga award by UNESCO in 1956 for popularising science, I reiterate my query that whether this polymath was ever considered for the Nobel prize in literature?

George of Russia settled finally in USA in the institute named after the George of America and thus play of words might have bestowed on him salvation in the form of George Washington University (GWU) in a way that he could only appreciate.

In a world where humour seems vanishing, humility forgotten and scientific essence boils down to information piling, Gamow and his works reflect what science is all about and how the subject can be served with humility and humour. Science reading had never been more pleasing. The books that were mentioned earlier are only a few of the gems that Gamow penned. But these were enough for me to get a glimpse of the man within. Surfing the net helped that also highlighted the giant of a mind with a humour filled heart. I already scribbled my views on some of his books in my blog[4] at times that I wanted to advertise on his birthday. While trying to draft an atomic introduction for the purpose, the matter went way too macroscopic. So, hoping you enjoy, uploading the same as a separate blog article while wishing Prof Gamow happiness in the way he likes!

[1].  http://physicsbuzz.physicscentral.com/2009/05/easy-as.html?m=1

[2]. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Gamow

[3]. https://www.atomicheritage.org/profile/george-gamow#:~:text=After%20returning%20to%20Russia%2C%20Gamow,for%20physicists%20in%20Brussels%2C%20Belgium.

[4]. http://anirband.blogspot.com/search/label/written%20by%20George%20Gamow?m=0

Deep Focus Reflections on Cinema

Deep Focus is the way Ray viewed cinema in the international arena, arranged in the form of essays written by Ray in several publications. His view on cinema, how the artform evolved, how it is analysed by audiences in various countries, is portrayed in the chapters. Glimpses of his own works have also found obvious references in the articles. Some chapters are also on notable cinema personalities whose works had a marked influence in defining the course of cinema worldwide. His lament on the national cinema arena is also quite applicable today when the talkies seems less mature than their foreign counterparts.
The book is introduced by Shyam Benegal who was influenced by the work of Ray in his early years so as to watch Pather Panchali twice in succession in the same day when Ray was not a familiar name in movie directions. The book also contains the entire filmography of the master which is equally a prized possession along with the other contents of the book. The preface is by Society for the Preservation of Satyajit Ray Films where it makes an appeal for preserving the work of the legend in the city of his birth.

Hemendrakumar Roy Rachanabali Vol-XXVIII

With a collection of short adaptations for the young, non-fictions, humourous accounts, eerie tales and detective short stories, the main attractions are the article and historical anecdote sections. Mining from old ‘Mouchak’ volumes, several collaborators have put forward their sincere efforts in the making of this compilation who are acknowledged by Gita Dutta, the editor at the very beginning. Most of the articles contains references to the original publications of the pieces. The collection is categorized as

·        Galpo

§  Ati-Chalaker Kahini

§  Rip Van Winkle

§  Chobir Guptadhan

§  A(n)dhar Raater Atihi

§  Batabi Lebur Kirti

§  Jujur Bhoe

§  Parvat-Dahan

§  Surya Devatar Purohit

§  Bagher Chokh

§  Buno Galpo

§  Jayatu Jayanta

§  Bahadurer NIrbasan

§  The Outcasts of Poker-Flat

§  Kistimat

§  Dulur Bulu

§  Raktapanja

§  Kaler Kabale

§  Agantuk

§  Romanchika

§  Bajle B(n)ashi Kache Ashi

§  Bank Dakati

§  Agantuk

§  Jagrata Hritpinda

§  Jesa Deoge Tesa Paoge

§  Chelebelar Ekdin

·        Prabandha

§  Amar ‘Mouchak’

§  Natun Banglar Natun Kobi

§  Jagannathdever Guptakatha

§  Hollywoode Takar Pahar

§  Kalo Ghushir Bahaduri

·        Aitihasik Upakhyan

§  Rakta Patharer S(n)ataru

§  Mriganayan Mahishmardini

Another very interesting aspect that can be seen is that Hemendra had narrated tragedies in such a way that children can accept it without compromising on the seriousness of the events. He conveys his intense abhorrence to historical wrongs but these seem incomplete as basically being anecdotes for the young readers, the author has kept the references at a bare minimum.

Samagra Kishore-Sahitya Vol. III

Probably the best of the rest, at least my personal best among the rest of the series, this contains an assortment of sorts that ranges from the hilarious to the melancholy, all narrated in the style just right for the young minds.

The collection is categorized as stories, novels, articles, drama and chronicle. Based mainly on humour it contains some memorable ones like Chele Dharar Itihas, Nidarun Pratisodh, Duryodhaner Pratihinsa, Taliyat, Tin Aanar Aamer Janya, Jayadrath Bodh, Nangchadar 'Hahakar', Ekadoshir Ranchijatra, Prabhat Sangeet that guarantees peels and peels of laughter without a trace of malice. Again humour with an underlying moral is present in Jagannather Thenga, Alu-Kabli and an uncommon narrative - a true mystery revealed in Ekti Khuner Ghatana. Others that will bring smile in the face includes Guruprapti, Bhuture Kamra, Bhut Maane Bhut, Tutuner Pratigya, Purush, Chul Katar Bhoe - the later three being more nostalgic to the young teens stepping on the verge of adulthood. Another moving story titled Dupur Belar Lokta is as touching as it is haunting.

The four novels seem to offer multiple dimensions to the collection, 'charmurti' returning in the fun filled adventure Kambol Niruddesh that starts with a missing prankster whose return seems to be nobody's business but the four and his uncle assuring the quad that he has surely reached the moon. This is followed by a mystery in Jayadhyajer Joyrath that culminates not only with the solution but a promise of trust between generations. The next one is an adaptation, Abyartha Lakhshyaved that is as hilarious as the original. The last but surely not the least is an adventure that blossoms in the most exciting way in Raghaber Joyyatra.

A chronicle bordering legend titled Kamala Sagarer Upakhyan is a moving narrative of a sacrifice of the nobility for the common people.

There is a dramatization of a Tenida story in the comic Porer Upakar Korio Na but though Pyala, Habul and Kyabla retains their names but Tenida's is replaced by his good name Bhajahari. Another short yet compact drama is Bheem Bodh that apparently deviates a serious climax of the epic.

The article contains a short memoir dedicated to Rabindranath and the vacuum that his absence had created. But the best of the collection, maybe due to my age, is the article on Rammohan which is a tribute to the life of the premiere modern man of India and his works that freed the mind of the people long before freeing the country.

Samagra Kishore-Sahitya Vol. I

The content runs as

• Aamar Katha
• Stories

• Matsya-Puran
• Atha Nimantran Bhojan
• Dadheechi, Poka o Viswakarma
• Sabhapati
• Khattanga o Pallanna
• Bhuture
• Camouflage
• Policer Karbari Alaada
• Dhaus
• Romanchakar Banduk
• Kuttimamar Dantya-Kahini
• Thale Rahasya
• Daitya-Sangeet
• Sanghatik
• Peshawar ki Aameer
• Bhaloe-Bhaloe
• Banbhojoner Bepar
• Py(n)acha o Pa(n)chugopal
• Parer Upakar Korio Na
• Sei Boiti
• Charanamrita
• Ekti Football Match
• Duranta Nouka-Bhraman
• Durdharsha Motor-Cycle
• Kuttimamar Haater Kaaj
• Upanyas
• Andhakarer Agantuk
• Charmurti
• Charmurtir Abhijaan
• Kabita, Chora o Prabandha

"Di-La-Grandi Mefistofilis", on hearing this, a vast majortiy of Bengali readers will at once respond with the apt cry of "Yaak Yaak!" Yes I'm talking about Charmurti: the adorable quad comprising of Habul, Kyabla, Pyala the narrator and last but certainly not the least Tenida. The volume contains hilarious episodes centering them and several other characters that have come alive by the able penmanship of Narayan Gangopadhyay.The volume starts with the author narrating about his entry into the Bengali literary world - of his childhood passion for writing stories - of his enthusiastic fan who prompted him into writing novels based on the fantastic and romantic imaginations of the youth - all woven so beatifully that the reader will immediately be captivated by the enchanting storytelling of Shri Gangopadhyay.The comic sequences, the enjoyable embarrassments, the memorable misunderstandings and above all the fantastic adventures all combined will produce peals and peals of laughter from the readers. Nostalgic events, some serious articles and a thrilling novel comprises a part of the book but above all comedy prevails in its most extravagant way without a trace of malice that had made it a classic of all times. The hilarious adventures had at once made it a favourite and a cherished collection from my early childhood and even now when I go through, it ups the mood immensely. Spontaneous comedy of this sort had been so long absent from Bengali literature that its charm has been ever increasing and I always recommend this to any person who loves to smile. I'm certain this will make them laugh and those who loves to laugh let them find the true stimulant. The only parallel being Jerome K. Jerome and P.G. Wodehouse, the author, in my opinion will always remain a king of comedy stories. Even the little verses that has ornamented the book hints at the comic genius in the author.

Badal Sircar ....... evang Third Theatre

http://calcuttatube.com/badal-sircar-evang-third-theatre/154251/

Hemendrakumar Roy Rachanabali Vol – I

As Khagendranath Mitra correctly summarises in his introduction, Hemen Roy was the pioneer in the Bengali adventure classic domain for the young and the writer's works generally concentrated on celebration of the powerful masculine with the supernaturals too playing some important roles owing to him being a staunch believer in the same. Thus we are yet again presented with some of his memorable classics in this volume whose content runs as

1. Jokher Dhan
2. Sandhyar Pore Sabdhan
3. Himachaler Swapna
4. Ekhon J(n)ader Dekhchi
5. Meghdooteer Martye Agaman
6. Chora
7. Chithi

Starting with the young Bimal-Kumar's 1st adventure in Jokher Dhon, we have a collection of short horror stories to follow up in Sandhyar Pore Sabdhan. Most of the stories of the later collection have one thing in common: each of the tale narrates happenings during the dark hours after sunset. Some of these have been based on foreign stories which the able penmanship of Roy has transformed to suit our familiar surroundings. Though targetted for an young audience, older readers can derive much amusement from quite a few of them. Infact the 3rd story is really meant for the li'l ones and here the style can be compared to Lila Majumdar's, where the misadventures of an escaped Himalayan Bear from Alipore zoo in quest for his motherland have been narrated with the best possible humour to attract the young minds. Infact, just analysing the humour part, I found it to be very similar to that applied to the Tenida stories by Narayan Gangopadhyay. That this versatile writer, mainly remebered for his perilous adventure stories, can also be a master of humourous pieces is proved by this wonderful anecdote. Ekhon J(n)ader Dekhchi starts with an essay on the cultural abode of Jorasako Thalurbari and continues with tributes to the Bengali genius of Abanindranath Tagore, historian Sir Jadunath Sarkar, and culminates with fond reminiscences of Sourindra Mohan Mukhopadhyay and Kazi Nazrul Islam. Meghdooteer Martye Agaman is a science fiction thriller and I'd read this earlier and could never forget the thrilling concept till date. The collection of poems in Chora begins with a delightful nonsense verse while the rest a mainly mean for young uns. In Chithi, how a simple letter to his nieces can have a significant literary value will be appreciated and is worth going thru.

Rani Hoa

It was not until the 10th chapter that I understood the real justification to the name of this novel penned By Narayan Sanyal. In the same book he has followed the novel with the short story, "Loukik Na Aloukik?" and an revealing article, "Ekti Bichitra Abhijnyata".
The main novel is a social drama featuring a materialistic corporate manager Mr. Muralidhar Patel whose doesn't bear any nonsense or emotion in his path to success and money. Also he easily gives in to his lust for pleasure and thus faces a serious challenge when a long lost collegemate suddenly brings him to a crucial juncture in life and forces some embarrassing moments for him to tackle. Added to this is his increasing doubt to his wife's faithfullness and the events following his daughter's accident that leaves a deep impact on his mind.
Following this up is the nice short story, "Loukik Na Aloukik?" where Providence helps the just with events that defies logic and the article, "Ekti Bichitra Abhijnyata" where the author narrates his revelations as he addresses a blind association depicting the cave arts of the Ajanta caves.

Medical Murders

When the masters of their trade try their hands on heinous crimes the evillness surpass the ordinary sins and we witness horrible misdeeds taking place on helpless victims. Jonathan Goodman has portrayed some such incidences in this book where all the criminals have background of medical education.

The content is as:
1. The Jigsaw Murder Case by Jonathan Goodman
Here we find Dr. Buck Ruxton who killed his wife and her nursemaid (assumed to be the witness to the murder) and cut up both their bodies to pieces and bundled them away from home. It was probably the first time that an anatomist was brought in the murder case whose ingenious method of superimposing the X-ray images of the deadbody parts on a lifelike image of an actual photograph of the supposed victim identified the corpses.
2. The Wives of Dr. Bowers by Edward H. Smith
Dr. J. Milton Bowers poisoned his wives for the sake of money though some curious happenings forced the law to release him after more than three years of legal battle.
3. Poison of One Kind or Another by Harold Eaton
Dr. George Henry Lamson administered aconitine to get rid of his immediate crippled in-law to pave his way to his wife’s fortune but could not escape justice and was dragged to the gallows after being caught.
4. The Murder of Marilyn by Joan Lock
Dr. Sam Sheppard was held responsible for the murder of his wife who was battered to death by thirty-five blows to the head. Though it could not be proved but the various indirect evidences that had been put forward shows his participation in the crime. He got a release after serving ten years and died a natural death. The mystery still remains unsolved as to who was the actual perpetrator of the crime.
5. The Fatal Gambles of William Palmer by The Reverend Evelyn Burnaby
William Palmer was brought to trial for the murder of John Parsons Cook, a racehorse owner. Though the court verdict in his case was murder by administration of strychnine but the murderer, just before his execution, on his reply to the Governor, denied that he used strychnine and never revealed the actual truth. As a background it may be noted that in his early life Palmer had forged his mother’s signature to get hold of her money in the bank.
6. The Smethurst Case by Richard D. Altick
Dr. Thomas Smethurst, a retired medical man and a beneficiar to his late wife’s newly made will, was charged with the willful murder of his wife by poisoning. Though his trial was full of obstacles including the fall from grace of a renowned medical expert, but ultimately he was proven guilty of the grave crime.
7. Dentist in the Chair by Richard Whittington-Egan
The story of a psychopath, Arthur William Waite, a dentist by profession and a charmer by every other inches who poisoned his parents-in-law and cleverly managed to convince his wife of her mother’s apparent last wishes to be cremated instead of being buried. But he was not so successful after he murdered her father and was arrested and was directed to the electric chair at the age of 29.
8. Murder for Lust of Killing by F. Tennyson Jesse
The author here describes a typical class of murderers, those who loves to kill like Neil Cream who chose his victims among prostitutes and was caught due to his clumsy blabbering and his nature of sending letters to people at random accusing them of the murders he committed. In these letters he usually chose some random names and never followed them up. He was found guilty and was executed though he never confessed.
9. Doctor Satan by Rayne Heppenstall
Dr. Marcel Petiot was charged for the murder of 27 persons most of which he concurred by saying that he and his acquaintances, whose name he never mentioned, executed them in the name of the Resistance. He was found guilty and also he never could prove his alleged involvement to the Resistance.
10. The Polite Dr. Pritchard by H.M. Walbrook
Once again the case of poisoning, this time it was Dr. Edward William Pritchard who poisoned his mother-in-law and his wife to get hold of the former’s possessions. But he too was caught and hanged to death in the last public hanging at Glasgow. The author adds that even though Palmer was a murderer but his public image that he showed in court and during his execution was that of a philanthropist.
11. Mr. Jekyll and Dr. Hyde by Thomas M. Mcdade
Dr. Bennet Clark Hyde got the benefit of doubt after series of mistrials following the charge against him of killing two of the family members on his wife’s side and planning to take over three million dollar estate by inoculating the whole family with germs of the typhoid. But he was set free and was stricken with cerebral haemorrhage and died in 1934.
12. Suddenly at a Nursing Home… by Fenton Bresler
Nurse Dorothea Waddingham and her lover Ronald Sullivan killed an aged lady and her spinster daughter who were kept under their care in their apparent ‘nursing home for the aged’ after the victims were manipulated to leave their property to them in their will. Waddingham got the death sentence but Sullivan was acquitted. He shared the property with the victims’ next-of-kin.
13. The Janitor’s Story by Albert Borowitz
Dr. John White Webster was charged with the willful murder of Dr. George Parkman over the issue of a loan that the latter had advanced to the former and was found guilty mainly on the evidences brought to light by the discovery of the body by the college janitor Ephraim Littlefield. Controversies still rage at large of the correctness of the verdict and the janitor's story but now they seem pointless as the convict got a death sentence though he never confessed of the crime.

Hemendrakumar Roy Rachanabali Vol – VII

Again another treasure trove of excitement as Hemendra Kumar Roy presents two of his thrilling novels, an adaptation and some of his finest chronicles of history.

The volume contains:

1. Abar Jokher Dhon

2. Nrimunda Shikari

3. King Kong

4. Aalo Die Gelo J(n)ara

In ‘Abar Jokher Dhon’ Bimal-Kumar are on a treasure hunt and again their exploits take them to combat the forces of nature and the evils of mankind in the jungles of Africa. ‘Nrimunda Shikari’ starts with Jayanta-Manik’s hunt for the murderer who severs and takes the head of the victim from the streets of Calcutta. Here we again come across the comic character of SundarBabu and his equally comic associates but the main surprise of the story is in the final chapters when the detective duo gets help from the adventurous pair of Bimal-Kumar.

‘King Kong’ is the adaptation of the classic tale of the legendary ape and here the climax is at Calcutta. Nowhere throughout the story has it appeared to be an adaptation and the masterly style of the writing again takes the breath away at times.

But the best are the chapters of ‘Aalo Die Gelo J(n)ara’ where the author has narrated and glorified India’s past by quoting the exploits of history’s unsung heroes and heroines. On occasions he had touched upon world history too. He has recounted tales from the days of Alexander’s invasion of India, the tragic history of Hasan-Husein, chronicles of the courageous Rajputs against the wrath of Allauddin Khilji and many more.

Hemendrakumar Roy Rachanabali Vol – II

From the days that I had started savouring Bengali fictions till a few days back, I had read only a few of the stories of Hemendra Kumar Roy. Somehow his writings had always passed unnoticed by me. So when I found a catalogue of the Asia Publishing House and discovered that they treasure the whole collection of Hemendra Kumar’s proses for the young, I was quite excited. I found that the catalogue also advertised the index to each book and a glance at them brought back cherished memories of school days when the mere mention of ‘Jokher Dhon’ and the names of the adventurous duo Bimal-Kumar accompanied a thrill down the spine. Added to these were the exploits of the detective pair Jayata-Manik and their fights against crimes. So at the first chance that presented itself in the way of the Book Bazar at Rabindra Sadan, I purchased two volumes of the series.

The index to the 2^nd Vol runs as:

1. Amabasyar Raat

2. Manush Pishach

3. Ekhon J(n)ader Dekhchi

4. Shani-Mangaler Rahasya

5. Chora O Kobita (yet 2 b read)

6. Adrishya Manush

7. Chithi

The fictions (1, 2, 4) feature Bimal-Kumar & Jayanta-Manik and in this volume their ventures carries them to fight against the evil forces of nature that includes supernatural forces too. Normally meant for the primary school goers, but these narrations bring nostalgic feelings of the childhood past when the mind doesn’t understand logic and can smoothly drift to the lands of the unknown. The skilled way with which the author relates the events adds to the pleasure of an enjoyable reading.
There is also the Bengali adaptation (6) of H.G. Wells' "The Invisible Man" with a Bengali semi-urban setting as the backdrop of the events. The original characters have been cleverly camouflaged to suite the settings for a Bengali fiction. So nowehere it has been felt as a mere translation work rather it has unfolded the classic story for the Bengali speaking mass. This seems to be the author's tribute to the original writer.
But the writer's passion emanates in the tributes (3) to some unsung and some renowned personalities of Bengal and India. The first few chapters are dedicated to famed wrestlers of the time Gama, Chotogama, Hasanbaksh and finally Jatindra Guha who was more popular as Goborbabu. He goes through Goborbabu's journey to fame not only in the country but in foreign soils as well and the romance of his character blossoms beautifully in the pen of Hemendranath. He is passionate while describing Gobarbabu's rise to fame and is equally exasperating while narrating the dirty foul against him in the USA. I was even surprised to know that this great wrester was also an appreciator of music. Hemendrakumar also writes on the prominence of Jamini Ray and his paintings and while speaking of music, he offers his praise to the blind songster Krishnachandra Dey's lyrical musicals who lent his voice in Shishirkumar Bhaduri's plays after much persuasion and immediately earned praise there. The author also praises the works of poet Kalidas Ray and singer Dileepkumar Ray.
In ‘Chithi’ the author has paid tribute to Kabiguru Rabindranath Tagore and his works including his work for the children and also laments at his loss. The author had always acknowledged the great poet as his Guru in the literary world and says how Rabindranath had been the best portrayer of the Mother Nature. He also admires the poet’s work for the children and marvels at the volumes he had written for the children. He goes even further in saying that no author before Rabindranath had given more time or had shown more interest in composing delightful literature for the young minds.

The Evolution of Physics

This is a book on the advancement of physics written by the master, Albert Einstein and Leopold Infeld. It begins with the early mechanical notion of the material world, how it gets transformed by the relativistic views and concludes with the understanding of the quantum nature of the universe. But quite surprisingly this physics book is completely devoid of any mathematics and is based purely on logic. Thus while on one hand it is quite appealing to en masse, on the other the philosophical flavour of the articles can be immensely appreciated by readers who are more tuned to traditional scientific articles. Only certain experimental results are quoted and based on these the book offers explanation to the fundamental theories governing the physical world. It explains the old laws, their successes and limitations, introduction of new laws and how they get modified with time. Starting from the laws of absolute motion and theory of corpuscular nature of light and ending with relativity and wave-particle duality of electrons and light, it doesn’t leave any corner of science unexplored. True, these articles do not reflect the actual models through equations and it doesn’t mean that reading these one can immediately start unraveling the apparently complex domains of the modern science but these help us to think in an unconventional way of the universe and prepare a philosophical background for the inquisitive minds.

As a whole this is a really enjoyable read and once more we are left mesmerized by the simplicity of the explanations that once had seemed much more complex, though personally I feel a bit of mathematics could have been incorporated for an even easier read.