The past few days, I have been more restless than usual. Studying and then trying to inculcate different things and then their application. My mind did not want to grasp anything more, nor was it ready to support me to do something even remotely relating to academics. So, I decided to take a day off, take my mind to do some leisure activities so that I could begin my quest afresh. And this post is the culmination of that off-day. 

Today, I decided to try and visit my “regional book shelf”, and I took out Saradindu Bandopadhyay’s Byomkesh Bakshi (1^st part). When was the last time I read this book? Ah yes! Possibly when I was in the 10^th standard. I read Agnivan and of course my favourite Chiriyakhana. To those, who have followed Mr. Bakshi’s quest for truth in the Doordarshan Channel would find this fact extremely disappointing, that Chiriyakhana was never shown on the television. Neither were any of the stories featured in the 2^nd part of Saradindu’s omnibus. Chiriakhana was made into the film directed by Satyajit Ray. Ray described Chiriakhana (The Zoo) as his most unsatisfying film. And I have to say it was the worst film Ray has ever made in his entire life! He probably destroyed the story altogether. I guess that is why, they never enacted it for the television.

Herein I do rejoice in the fact that I am a Bengali (such occasions are few), and I have had the privilege to read the entire Byomkesh series, and to have enjoyed every instance, twist and turn through the wonderful writing skills of Saradindu Bandopadhyay. 

 Sarandindu Bandopadhyay was the first person ever to introduce new techniques of writing detective stories by following the footsteps of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. By creating Satyeneshi Byomkesh Bakshi he had brought about the birth of a hero. His first appearance comes in the story Satyenveshi. He doesn’t work for the police, and he doesn’t earn a living by being a detective. It is more of a hobby in his case. But to say that Byomkesh is quite like Sherlock Holmes would be unfair. Byomkesh is not a scientific expert, he is a young Bengali fellow, educated, vigilant, has an eye for detail. He has a characteristic graveness about him that separates him from others who are of his age. He does not suffer from addiction of any kind. He does not work as in a 9 to 5 job, neither does he take fees from clients. The Byomkesh stories are perfect if it is a lazy rainy afternoon and the grey skies overhaul your mood. Shojarur Kanta (The quills of Porcupine) is another one which is my favorite. It is engrossing and fast paced, and mind you the English translations really suck. They nowhere near provide the true essence of the stories. 

Bandyopadhyay created Byomkesh Bakshi in 1932, which makes him a forerunner by several decades of that other famous fictional Bengali sleuth, Ray’s Feluda. What sets Byomkesh apart from Feluda is that Feluda was written keeping children in mind. Byomkesh stories can be quite wickedly salacious — and come as a refreshing surprise to anyone who’s grown up on a Feluda diet.  Byomkesh is probably similar to being a polite Bengali gentleman from the outside. Whatever does set him apart, how much extraordinary is he from the rest – that is probably never apparent from his mannerisms. He talks less, but whenever someone tries sarcasm with him or tries to question his ideas, he is always ready to use his razor-sharp conversational skills and that is obviously meant for the reading pleasure.

  For so many years I have found Byomkesh’s stories so fascinating, and age has had no effect on me. The reason the stories are so endearing is because it forces you to think, to judge and to look at the story with your own perspective. You try to look for the minutest of details subconsciously while reading. Of course the style of living is what probably hits as the most unreal factor. To think Byomkesh and his friend Ajit  can spend the entire day reading newspapers and later visit a friend and enjoy afternoon tea and conversation is not easily digestible by someone who is a Non-Bengali. But we are stereotypically lazy, and the only thing we like to do is exercise our cerebral muscle rather than physically commit to any work as such.  

Saradindu’s literary contributions do not end with Byomkesh Bakshi. He has written various small short stories about supernatural activities and even very few stories with comic relief as well. That genre is simply fabulous. I did get scared when I was fairly young. So much so, that I had to keep my bedroom light on at night. Well, those were the days.

 So ends my unffocial-stay-away-from-academics day. Nice meeting you again, Mr. Bakshi. Till next time, Adieu.