Swayang Professor Shonku

The compilations contain three of Shonku's two very interesting adventures and one story of invention that takes an unpredictable turn. Compu, among other things, serves as a reminder to the tech dependent human civilization in the same way that Asimov did in numerous occasions that shows us how smart machines may evolve in the most undesirable fashions possible when the inventors' control is taken up by the intelligence that is infused. That this aspect of the computer dominated society could have been foreseen by Ray in so early a time when the processors were just inching its way in the country, once more tells us about the visionary in him. This story is sandwiched between two full fledged adventures Munroe Dwiper Rahasya and Ekshringa Abhijan where Shonku teams up with other explorers to quest for the strangest whose charm seemed to appeal to me more than when I enjoyed in my younger days. In one the voyage is to a pirate's cove for the trail of the cure-all and the other is for the search of the most beautiful monastery, the Unicorns and the art of flying. The former is primarily a tragedy where a dangerous truth is uncovered while the rationale of the other is nicely explained more by the artist in Ray than by the scientist in the protagonist. Three of Shonku's recurring associates feature here viz., Saunders, Kroll and the most unscientific Abinashbabu who balances the wit of the story. The book is also a contrast to the series in the sense that discovery has the lion's share than inventions.

Selam Professor Shonku

I had always been an ardent collector of Ray's works. But the collection, published posthumously, had quite some oddities in store. Not because it contained the incomplete Intelectron where Nakurbabu would have starred promisingly as well as Drexel Islander Ghatana but for some other facts. Infact the incomplete works will be cherished forever but for the fact that the final one conflicts with Prof. Shonku's own note in Swarnaparni about the actual date of his birth. The later and Don Cristobaldyr Bhabisyatbani had been the best of the collection where his friend Saunders played a very vital role in both. Also it's very much apparent that Ray condemned Hitler's obsession as was apparent from it as well as from Shonku o Frankestein where the discovery of the scientist of the famous classic has been given a new life. The stories also feature a philosophical Ray where afterlife, rebirth, power of mind over matter, nostalgia seems to hover very similarly as Sukumar Ray's final verses. But disappointment accompanies the starter Nefrudeter Samadhi and Dr. Danielir Aviskar, the later sharing the plot of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, both of which starts with Ray style but completes abruptly, so unlike Ray without the signature finishing twist. The illustrations are mix of Ray's orginals with that of Sameer Sarkar though marked difference of the styles being prominent but both complements the other well.

Shabash Professor Shonku

I seem to rediscover Ray as I went thru the exploits of Shonku again after a very long time. It may be a science fiction but it is more than entertaining. The simplicity of the story echoing the simplicity of the inventions that Shonku insists on makes it more and more appealing. Though his discoveries are astounding but the sincerity of the diaries makes the events more and more realistic. Infact the research into the topics also must be appreciated that makes the stories for the children enjoyable even for the mature minds. So the evolution of the Ascharya Prani, the beastly flora of Swapnadwip, the curious adventure in Marurahasya, the avian friend in Corvus and the ingenious invention of the professor in Dr. Scheringer Smaranshakti will never cease to wonder us.

Professor Shonkur Kandokarkhana

Professor Shonku has fascinated me more and more as I grew up. He had been a magical character when I read it first but slowly as I grew up I can understand the image that he represented. The honest Indian scientist revealing to the world the brilliance of his inventions and being held in highest esteem around the globe by peers is yet so humane in heart that he cherishes his home, his cat, his servant and even the company of his fussy neighbour Abinashbabu above everything else. So when Shonku sets up on his fictitious scientific exploits we revel in the wonders that he unfolds yet never do we feel distanced from him. Illustrated by the great Ray himself the collection contains

·        Professor Shonku o Robu

·        Professor Shonku o Kochabambar Guha

·        Professor Shonku o Raktamatsya Rahasya

·        Professor Shonku o Gorilla

·        Professor Shonku o Bagdader Baksho

The stories are a mixed compilation of suspense, horror, humour and thrill balanced delicately to retain the flavor years after it was first tasted. Stories of science fiction with the first story apparently reflecting Asimov’s concern for a machine dominated society so wonderfully contrasted with the fantastic experience in the final one that an unique freshness prevails that is so absent in works of many science fiction writers. The themes of the central three are again so alien to the flanking stories yet it seems so necessary for the completeness.

Professor Shonku

This book is special in many respects. In my younger days when I started relishing works of Ray starting with Feluda through his short stories and Tarinukhuro, the science fiction hero had been something quite remote to my imaginations. In this situation there came Professor Shonku’s adventures in my collection and I was not sure whether to compare him to Feluda or to enjoy the adventures. The regime of science fiction before Shonku had been not so defined in my fantasies. Also imagining a Bengali science fiction hero carrying out exploits to the bewilderment of the entire world had also been something not very realistic to someone whose entire world of science fiction resided in watching Star Trek and Johnny Soko episodes in monochrome. So Shonku had been more than a revelation to me. He allowed me in my childhood days to feel confident that a successful Bengali scientist is also a reality. True that Ray’s work is based on fictional character carrying out fictional experiments sometimes in fictional landscapes but Ray did mould Shonku as the next door neighbor who happens to be a genius. The school goers may not be always feel motivated to read narratives on Jagadish Chandra Bose, Satyendranath Bose, Bidhan Chandra Ray, Meghnad Saha or the other greats who contributed to the evolution of science, but they will surely read Shonku. So the craziness of science and its sure path towards truth will no doubt creep into their mind and also they will not fail to understand the fun side of it. This character of Ray is not unlike his famous private investigator but he seeks truth hiding beneath the depth of nature.

Coming to the significance of this compilation, this happens to be chronologically the 1^st of the Shonku adventures. But curiously enough I could not collect it but for many years as the shops that I frequented always produced other collections but not this one to my queries. So as I was losing hope of ever getting it and seriously doubted whether this collection at all existed, it suddenly came to me. It seemed to fill up the void in my collection. Another point which I then found out was that, unlike the others being published by Ananda Publishers, it was published by New Script.

Being the 1^st in the series, the stories will grip the attention from the very 1^st introduction and the interesting manner in which completed Byomyatrir Diary came to see the light of earth. A horrifying experience awaits the reader in Professor Shonku o Haar with an immediate relief in Professor Shonku o Macaw. Then is another thrilling story of an Epytian curse in Professor Shonku o Egyptio Atanka. Following up the suspense is one of my favourites, Professor Shonku o Ascharya Putul. The next is another that I admire most, an intergalactic adventure that will keep the thrill till the last in Professor Shonku o Golok Rahasya following it up with yet another fascinating, horrifying, amusing and another of my cherished memories as I think of Professor Shonku o Chee-Ching. The rest delves in the mysteries of two very different aspects, the human mind in Professor Shonku o Khoka and in Professoru Shonku o Bhoot which delves in the spectral world.