Pagla Saheber Kabar

The seemingly good-for-nothing Haribandhu was admitted much against his wish to a reformatory school at Motiganja so as to improve on his academic skills that seem to be limited to only Bengali poetry. As he started his days on the new school, from the very first day onwards, he seemed to be on the wrath of several of the older students whose ragging continued even after school hours and outside the school premises. Only one of his classmates, Gopal befriended him and protected him from the rest. Haribandhu also was offerred wisdom from Patal, apparently a common thief, but possessed wondrous martial arts' skills. Above all these was the mysterious mad Englishman - a legend - nobody knew whether he was living or dead - who appeared on his galloping white horse whenever somebody at Motiganja needed help. Infact he saved Haribandhu on several occassions. The presence of this apparition not only intrigued Haribandhu but also his legend haunted him likewise. Queer people seemed to protect the legend from sinister forces at Motiganja. Several attempts were made on the life of Haribandu and his well wishers. As Hari tried hard to cope with these along with the snags in his studies suddenly he finds himself central to everybody's attentions. Can he understand the reason for these and will he manage to do the undoable? As the plot gradually unfolds, the author presents an enjoyable adventure for both the old and the young!

K(n)aatae K(n)aatae - VI

The collection contains

·        Dress Rehearsaler K(n)aata

·        Monalisar K(n)aata

·        Ishkabon-Bibir K(n)aata

·        Haripada Keranir K(n)aata

of which the last couple are undoubtedly adapted Christie pieces, which I’ve read and so can’t give any credit to the originality. But the other two are really good though it seemed a bit complicated. But as I am continuously reading the author’s detective creations it is becoming increasingly like a school teacher’s talk rather than a narration. Also the use of quotations and references from famous literary pieces is sometimes too much for an ordinary reader like me. The main thing that is very much disheartening in these pieces is unlike Holmes, Marple, Byomkesh, Poirot, Father Brown or for that matter Feluda stories, the crux of analysis and detection seems diluted by uncalled for humour and incessant use of metaphors. The stillness of the analytical mind, unperturbed by the disquiet ambience is never felt rather forced into believing by the author, so uncharacteristic of mystery novels that I am used to.

K(n)aatae K(n)aatae - V

P.K. Basu’s four exploits are compiled in this volume starting with Bisher K(n)aata, whose naming itself is a pointer to the clue of a murder that takes place in the very heart of Calcutta. Two vengeful ladies, an irritating lover, a doctor with a revolver all seems to have a reason for murder. But who had dealt the fateful blow – it is for the detective to uncover! The next in the series Darpane Pratibimbita K(n)aata was an old one for me and so won’t bore with its summary that I’d earlier depicted. It is followed by Sakal K(n)aata Dhanya Kore, which could have been easily be said to be the best creation of the author in this collection, but for the fact that it is just a straight adaptation of a foreign novel. So, no credit for the author for the plot but for the way of adaptation with the ambience shifted from European backdrop to an Asian one without harming the mood of the story. The story actually gets its name as the Basus become granddad and grandmom when Sujata gives birth to a daughter. The next one Ch(n)aparanger Murshidabadi Sareer K(n)aata also could have been a classic but for its abrupt ending and some over simplified rationale. The father of the murdered victim seemed so less emotional and Basu’s inferences seemed bordering clairvoyance sometimes. This said, it is again very much irritating to find not only Basu but his clients and associates are also so much happy to dress like Europeans. Sanyal’s characters in his Basu novels are all so alike one another that each lacks any kind of individuality. The intelligence level of the important characters, barring Basu who can be considered no less than a living encyclopedia, is almost always the same, all are so adapt in engineering idioms, everybody loves to speak in riddles and metaphors. These may seem appealing at the beginning but the limitation is very much apparent for this style as it automatically restricts variation in the manner of storytelling. Also, a detective story, according to me, must focus mainly on the mystery and detection with only subtle touch to emotions and the rest. But Sanyal’s way of getting carried off at the emotional moments very often squeezes the very essence of suspense and intrigue. Finally a complain to the compilation as, contrary to the belief, I suddenly discovered that the compilations are not at all chronological and reference to previously unread chronicles may act spoilers and also change the otherwise fast paced tempo of the primary story.

The Complete Professor Challenger

I don’t know what attracted me most during ’97, the title that I came across for the 1^st time or the appealing price tag so much encouraging as to coax my parents easily into buying this for me. At that point of time Conan Doyle, to me, was the creator of Sherlock Holmes and a few spine chilling terrifying anecdotes. What I didn’t know was that he was equally brilliant in the realms of science fiction and when it comes to merge the limitless imagination that science offers in literature, none other than Sir Arthur will come as one of the greatest in the British literature.

Professor Challenger had been a creation of Conan Doyle whose brain matched Holmes (both Sherlock and Mycroft) and whose curiosity in the field of science seemed to match none than his own enterprising soul. On one hand his pride prevented him from mixing with the common man on the other hand a logical brain was all welcome for him. All these combined, we start with this brilliant professor as he guides an apparently odd crew of the adventurous and ever cool Lord John Roxton (very much reflecting in appearance and mannerism to Sherlock Holmes), the apprehensive professor of Comparative Anatomy, Summerlee and the young and daring Edward D. Malone of the Daily Gazette in their epic exploration of The Lost World near the perilous seclusion of the Amazon that seemed to crawl in the Jurassic Age with the pre-historic dinosaurs and the missing links abound. The plateau built on the remains of a dormant volcano offered adventure of the highest degree that gives the readers a glimpse to the age so remote that we can only imagine in our dreams. The narration was so vividly exciting and the descriptions of the flora and fauna so realistically done that one can only crave for more once the narrative ends. Mixed with the usual humour of Conan Doyle’s, the novel uses Edward Malone’s views of the adventure. This bold young man’s exploits as he discovers the new land and also his true self is most enjoyable in the sense that the readers – the new beholders in the strange land – discovers the uniqueness right with him and thus the surprises and awes that is felt by Malone transmits well to the readers. Though this had been a second read by me but still surprises blossom once more as if I was reading it anew.

The next in the series is one of the peaks of imagination in which the author so easily dwells that exposes the Earth in a shroud of The Poison Belt which pervades the world and all that is living causing apparent death to the entire living race except amoebas which though promises life in a future million year. The ingenuity of Challenger seems to delay the onset to his friends but that too for a few hours before which their living self seemed sure to perish. But the ultimate revelation of the story is sure to bring relief from a sheer tension that gradually builds to its maximum by the classic penmanship of the writer. Another important aspect of the narrative is the introduction of Mrs. Challenger in the proper sense that her personality had come to fore. Mixed with the same feeling of awe and wander the narrative once more promises an adventure of a different type that though is curious but surely enjoyable.

Following these two adventures is another most curious and more convincing in The Land of Mist where spiritualism challenges the erudite Challenger. The adventures begin with Malone as he delves as the representative of the press into the realms of various spiritual circles, both at home and abroad. Challenger, obviously is irritated at this but Malone, after being convinced of the truthfulness of the afterlife tries to persuade the professor on the path of spiritualism. Lord Roxton, a sympathizer to the cause, also joins in. Romance also is a part of the novel that goes hand in hand with the adventure. Conan Doyle has added some significant incidents in the Appendices that, along with the story itself, will no doubt, convert many a non-believer to a believer. The patient but firm way is which several of the supernatural events have been established bears the fact that the author was not only a believer but also participant in several of the rescue circles, séances and experiments concerning spiritualism. It is also noted that his wife was a medium and along with her, he had joined in several sessions of séances that helped clearing out any doubts that he may have felt. Some very remarkable experiences and evidences are being shared that will also help in establishing the truth that lies behind the misty land where the traditional scientific brain hesitates to traverse.

The fourth in the series is The Disintegration Machine, where we find Professor Challenger less as a scientist than a dutiful citizen. Requested to investigate a seemingly fantastic yet dangerous scientific invention, prudence prevails till the climax and a classic twist reflects a part of his character yet unknown to the beholders of his exploits.

But the best, at least my favourite, is When The World Screamed that at once tells us the height of fascinating imagination that the author was capable of. Truly a marvelous work of fiction this piece alters the perspective of the reader about the nature of our very own earth. The rationale seemed a little simplified and a bit less elaborate to convince the critical reader but its style of presentation is quite wonderful. Narrated from the perspective of an artesian boring expert, Peerless Jones with Malone enjoying the show as the genius’s sidekick, the adventure is aimed to find out the true nature beneath the earth’s crust. Scattered with humour the piece is a classic that I cherish fondly though I’ve read it more than once.

The entire compilation is a revelation of Conan Doyle’s versatility as several, including me before going through it, of the readers always associate him with Sherlock Holmes only. In fact, after reading Holmes I was a fan of the detective but reading this I became a fan of the author.