Acceptable Risk

Based on the Salem Witch trial and trying to give a rational of the events the story revolves around a mould unearthed in one of the mansions in Salem. The mould seems an apparent anti-depressants and when it promises a billion dollar future for a set of doctors and a businessman with a medical background sky seems the only limit. But things starts a bit awry with mutilated animals turning up in the neighbourhood and the researchers, playing guineapigs among themselves, find themselves dishevelled and sleep walking awakening on their rooms but with dirt and injury on their beings. A fine border that remains between medical ethics and incessant profiteering seems to become blurred by lust and Robin Cook once again proves that the world needs a balance and a rationale approach for its betterment where hurrying may lead to danger that might become uncontrolled becoming irreparable.

Gumnami Baba A Case History

The man who was one of the greatest heroes that India ever produced seemed today still the centre of a mystery spanning over decades with the haunting search still on on what happened to the man post 1945. At least three different theories have evolved, the most prominent being that of the Gumnami Baba which is explored by Adheer Som in this book. Not only the book explores the possibility of Netaji's apparent self ordained reclusion but also explores the man himself that gives a precise insight of him. Infact it will inspire the readers with the greatness that Netaji possessed even in his younger days. That a man can leave a life of the passionate revolutionary to a hermit might look a bit too odd to many. But this book actually proposes strong logic on the contrary. The book delves deeper into the information available on Bhagwanji and proposes some brave but logical conjectures that is worth probing. Summarising the reports of the Shah Nawaz Commision, the Khosla Commission, the Mukherjee Commission and the report on the handwriting analysis by B Lal, the author questions that if Gumnami Baba is not Netaji then who is he. Surely there must be some identity that can be converged upon beyond all doubts. But still we are unsure of that which seems quite confusing. With the scientific resources available, is it really very difficult to unearth the identity of somebody? Or is it that the identity is being allowed to be masked? The Baba had several articles that actually would have been more natural to be found in possession of a Bose kin which actually gives some clue to his identity. The author demands to know the truth behind the man for which he investigates from several perspectives. The book is a real eye opener to many. It is a tribute to the legend, It inspires to search for the truth. Rather it demands to know the truth! We can only hope that the author with his inspired readers actually finds the reality that the seekers of justice had been yearning for through the years.

The Great Tales of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

The versatility of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle can be felt in the pages of this book that comprises stories penned  by the creator of Holmes and Challenger some of which equals if not surpasses his more popular titles. Categorised  as the following the stories are a treasure trove of adventure, fun, terror, history and much more:

• Tales of the Ring
1. The Croxley Master
2. The Lord of Falconbridge
3. The Fall of Lord Barrymore
4. The Crime of the Brigadier
5. The King of the Foxes
6. The Bully of Brocas Court

• Tales of Pirates

7. Captain Sharkey: How the Governor of Saint Kitt's came Home
8. The Dealings of Captain Sharkey with Stephen Craddock
9. The Blighting of Sharkey
10. How Copley Banks slew Captain Sharkey
11. The “Slapping Sal”
12. A Pirate of the land (One Crowded Hour)

• Tales of Blue Water

13. The Striped Chest
14. The Captain of the “Polestar”
15. The Fiend of the Cooperage
16. Jelland’s Voyage
17. J. Habakuk Jephson’s Statement

• Tales of Terror

18. Horror of the Heights
19. The Leather Funnel
20. The New Catacomb
21. The Case of lady Shannox
22. The Terror of Blue John Gap
23. The Brazilian Cat

• Tales of Twilight and the Unseen

24. The Brown Hand
25. The usher of Lea House School
26. B.24
27. The Great Keinplatz Experiment
28. A literary Mosaic
29. Playing with Fire
30. The Ring of Thoth
31. The Los Amigos Fiasco
32. How It Happened
33. Lon No. 249
34. “De Profundis”
35. The Lift

• Tales of Long Ago

36. The Last of the Legions
37. The Last Galley
38. Through the Veils
39. The coming of the Huns
40. The Contest
41. The First Cargo
42. An Iconoclast
43. Giant Maximin
44. The Red Star
45. The Silver Mirror
46. The Home-Coming
47. A Point of Contact

The author's fascination for the pugilists and their game and his inclination towards the paranormals are expressed in the volumes in some of the most fantastic stories of the genre that sometimes mixes both with an unique blend. But this does not prevent him to tell science fictions with the similar classic touch. Again, devoid of paranormals, some of the tales of terror are so chilling that it will match a horror story based on the supernaturals. But his mastery seemed at its supreme with the anecdotes of historical fictions that depicts the cruel yet brave world of a time long ago when the earth was defined by the adventures of her heroins and heroes. The cruelty of Captain Sharkey and his downfall (a bit confusing as two different stories hints at two different ways) is depicted in the stories of the seas and other stories also fills in with adventures of sailors each stranger than the other. Humour also finds place in some of the most fun filled misadventures that makes them more refreshing.

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.

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.

India's Biggest Cover-Up

The National Best Seller got me attentive in the recent Boookfair and I bought the book in flipkart after researching a bit about the author and of course about the book itself. Clearly I was justified in the purchase as one of the most mysterious happenings in the life of the greatest Indian hero, Netaji, seemed to be at last given a public audience, thanks to this book. I would definitely defer to agree on all the views shared by the author but the evidences put forward in most of the cases defy any counter logic against the theories. The copies of several documents, the most chilling being the last photograph, proves once and for all that the predominant theory of Netaji's Taiwan air crash just don't stand much chance as an established logic. The excerpts of interviews of Netaji's INA brothers and their later movements as traced by Dhar, Barun Sengupta's investigative journalism, deliberations held in parliament, the precis of the commissions held, all give an entirely new dimension to the mystery. The views of Bose's relatives and near and (most but not all) dear ones also bear insight to the mystery that has kept several of the countrymen guessing for a solution that seemed so neglected at times. Not only the Japan angle but the Russian angle has been considered with a clear rationale that brings forth several new avenues (at least to me) that had been explored while documenting the beliefs in the book. Being an admirer of Netaji, as I don't think I have the audacity to idolize him, I find this endeavour to unmask any cover up a most welcoming one and also the citizens of a democratic country should have right to the truth.

Hemendra Kumar Roy Rachanabali Vol-XXVII

The volume contains an assortment of sorts. It begins with Hatya Ebong Tarpor, containing a Jayanta Manik case of detection, and that too a good one, in the title content and then an equally well contrasted humourous one in Private Detective which, believe me is far less serious but equally enjoyable from what the title suggests. Then is an adventure story in Ek Diner Adventure with a touch of humour in this too. Then comes the short stories categorized under Galpo beginning with an horror episode in Shaitan, continuing the horror in Gangar Bibhishika, a Bimal Kumar adventure in Guhabaasi Bibhishan, which I personally felt a bit incomplete, an enjoyable read in Nakal Shikarir Shankat and finally a ghost story, which again felt short of expectation in Badshar Samadhi. Comparing these the best comes now beginning with the dual historical stories in Tin Samrater Trahyasparsha-Yog and Mahabharater Maharath, both depicting the downfall of two most important empires of medieval India viz. that of the Mughals and of Prithviraj the great. For the more inquisitive readers it may help to know that to enjoy the first one to the fullest please go through volume XII of Hemendra Kumar Roy Rachanabali though without it the document is complete in itself. Finally is a pleasing deviation from the author, something not for the children, mixing romance with adventure in Panchasharer Keerti, which is completely regionalized without any trace of its original source. This could have been immensely enjoyable but for a single fact that needs elaboration. It seemed the author, mostly conversant in writing gripping adventure stories for the young minds, was hesitant to make up his mind while writing for the older generation. So though the adventure was enthralling the underlying concept seemed a bit loosely composed.

Chanakya's Chant

Interspersing past with the present, Ashwin Sanghi takes the reader in his quest to understand the intricacies of Arthasastra as composed by Chanakya, the shrewd Brahmin who emerged as the most famous kingmaker in the history of India. Driven by vengeance, Chanakya’s tactics to overthrow Dhanananda, unite Bharat under a single ruler and shield the country against foreign dominance will no doubt amaze the ordinary. Drawing parallel to the historic character, Sanghi develops an equally shrewd yet unassuming Gangasagar Misra as he evolves on his way to place his protégé Chandini Gupta as the PM of India. To this effect he stops at nothing and emerges as ruthless opportunist with a political cunning surpassing all the peers of the country. Though fast paced in the first quarter, the storyline clearly becomes over dramatic in the rest where Chanakya’s part remains gripping but Gangasagar becomes ordinary characterwise. At the start I thought we now have a Mario Puzo in Sanghi but my premonition was obliterated as the story progressed. One of the most important fallacies of the fiction part was that Gangasagar’s character evolution was rapid that seemed to catapult his maturity in the most convenient time rather than what would have been correct. His mentor in diplomacy, Agrawalji seemed unjustifiably to lose his cunning as the same matured in Gangasagar. Also the dramatic dialogues, more interesting for a Bollywood endeavour, became a mere repetition of style that compromised the seriousness that the plot demanded. But the most glaring problem, which I don’t know how the writer missed, was that Gangasagar did not have a clearly justified goal in his otherwise clearly defined mission. Chanakya was motivated by revenge and then came his dream of unification of the country. Puzo’s dons aspired to rule the criminal syndicates for business and security for their family. But Gangasagar seemed all of a sudden bent to make a female PM deriving inspiration from an age old rock craving allegedly attributed to Vishnugupta. For this he never wavered to kill the innocent who seemed inconvenient obstacle and placed all the evil men in his side to rule the country (of innocent?). So though a smooth reading material but the story as a whole remains a bit ordinary.