Batukburoro Chashma

The story seemed Golmaal revisited but with more pace and more fun. The characters too seemed more amusing. The sudden appearance of green beings (literally and figuratively speaking), initially in village gossips and then in the real seemed to disturb the peaceful lives of many. Showing superior intelligence and strength, the sapient beings (remember Avatar by James Cameron!) seemed to condemn destruction of flora and fauna. Their technology, science, philosophy seemed to dwarf that of the globe, yet their requirements are simple. So why did they come here? What do they want? Is there an evil motive? Why are they so keen to communicate? To know all these you must go through the novel which sometimes jumps sequences but remains exciting throughout with its lovable characters, each showing a curious trait.

Doshti Kishore Upanyas

This compilation for the young contains

• Gourer Kaboch
• Harano Kakatua 
• Golmaal 
• Chakrapurer Chakkare
• Chhayamoe
• Sonar Medal
• Patalghar 
• Haripurer Harek Kando 
• Dudhsayarer Dweep
• Bipinbabur Bipod

As obvious of Shirshendu's works, the novels consists of a conglomeration of weird characters, human and others, all weaved into adventures that will bring smile to the faces. Fun and frolick galore, all the adventures underlines pleasant messages that freshens the heart and appeases the soul. I'd already commented on Gourer Kaboch in an earlier post so won't go into any detail. Infact all the novels contains the same proportion of adventure and mystery combined with laughter and humour that makes these a treasure item. Especially I must mention Patalghar that I'd watched but I'll say that the story surpasses the film version by miles. Personally I feel Harano Kakatua to be a bit stretched but all the others had been just too good. Golmaal can be considered as a sequel to Bhuture Ghori. The next Chakrapurer Chakkare is a wonderful anecdote of a young man coming to terms with his heritage while Chhayamoe complements this storyline. The next Sonar Medal reunites an estranged pair. A quest for secret treasure is the central plot is Haripurer Harek Kando and the same quest continues but culminates in the classic sacrifice in Dudhsayarer Dweep. But the best climax is of Bipinbabur Bipod that along with the preceding story seems to be ideal short story in the volume.

Bhuture Ghori

The story of an alien wristwatch that threats the existence of the world seems to be the key of the power struggle between alien forces. Shirshendu's traditional use of science fiction, ghost story and comedy are cleverly intertwined to present the young readers with a merry-go-round of adventure. A collection from my childhood days, the story is a plesant time pass as I read it now. Starting with the aged Haranchandra, a connoisseur in losing watches, the watch found its way to Jatai Tantrik, then to Haran's wife and finally to Haran's favourite grandchild Latu who seemed to decide on its rightful owner as both its creator and its master make their claim. The intense power field of the watch makes the ordinary clocks in its vicinity to go anticlockwise, helps its bearer to see in the dark, makes photography of any object except itself impossible and causes many other strange events. Puzzling the entire neighbourhood where it resides, the secret is finally revelated to Latu who seemed to understand the power of it and was left to decide on its final fate. Shirshendu's typical story telling will make this book an enjoyable read for the children and the funny side will also heighten its charm. The concept of alien technology is also another attraction but a bit more elaboration would have made it more interesting. The characters has their own peculiarity which makes most of them lovable to the readers. Ghost also is introduced in the narrative but doesn't play a prominent part but the rest is an enjoyable read no doubt.

G(n)osaibaganer Bhoot

Shirshendu Mukhopadhyay’s novel aimed for the children readers and with more or less in the same style as in Manojded Advut Bari though the theme seemed more simplified than the later.
The central character was Burun, a mediocre student of Bhataguri who suddenly seemed to gather superhuman qualities, thanks to a 200 year old ghost Nidhiram residing in the nearby G(n)osaibagan, an infamous patch of land, once the abode of Gosai gangster and his henchmen now turned to the dwelling place of the spirits of the same villains and some new ghostly recruits. But this abode of the ghosts and the whole of Bhataguri seemed on the verge of catastrophy with the coming of the Satanic Habu with his evil powers to tame both the living and the dead. Thus it was upto the wise Ram Kabiraj(grandpa to Burun)’s prudence to devise a way to shield off the terror for ever.
The story is again a nice read though I did not felt it to be so exciting as Manojder Advut Bari but the ingenious plot is surely to arouse enjoyable thrills to the young mind.