Short stories from the 1940s
The six initial tales all appeared in Dev Sahitya Kutir / Sarat Sahitya Bhaban Puja Annuals.
Ghanada’s appearance undergoes drastic changes.
Protul Bandyopadhyay establishes the first exemplary graphic form.
Mosha
(Mosquito), 1945
Madcap Jap breeds murderous mosquito
First Published: 1945, ‘Alpana’, Dev Sahitya Kutir Puja annual
Illustrations: Protul Chandra Bandyopadhyay
First featured in the book: Ghanadar Galpo, 1956
Illustrations: Ajit Gupta
Mosha from the Puja annual Alpana (1945)
Artist: Protul Chandra Bandyopadhyay
- Introductory tale
- Set in the ‘mess’ at 72 Banamali Nashkar Lane.
- Four boarders became Ghanada’s fixed audience: Shishir, Sudhir [narrator], Shibu (Shibapada), Gour(anga). Only Shishir is mentioned by name in ‘Mosha’, along with Bipin who vanishes afterwards.
- Dev Sahitya Kutir Puja annuals (1931 – 1984) always bore a new title. Almost thirty Ghanada tales first featured here.
Mosha from Ghanadar Galpo (1956, 1986)
Artist: Ajit Gupta
Mosha from
Ghanada Choturmukh (1968), Aphuronto Ghanada (1976)
Artist: Ajit Gupta
From Dui Banglar Chhotoder Sreshtho Galpo (1963)
Publisher: Model Publishing House
Compiled by: Lila Majumdar, Eklasuddin Ahmed
Artist: Robin Das, Samir Biswas [?]
From Desh-Bidesher Shera Kawlpobijnan (1998)
Publisher: Indian Publishing House
Compiled by: Abhijnan Roychowdhury
Artist: Goutam Dasgupta
From Tomader Premendra Mitra by Sumita Chakraborty
Published in: Gaan
ashakti Puja annual 2003
Artist: Shibshankar Bhattacharya [Variation on Ajit Gupta]
From Premendra Mitra’s Kishore Galpo Shanchayan (2014)
Publisher: Parul Prakashani
Artist: Sujog Bandyopadhayaya
Mosha from the Puja annual Alpana (1945)
Artist: Protul Chandra Bandyopadhyay
Nuri
(Pebble), 1947
Pick a pebble. Rock an isle.
First Published: 1947, Rangarakhi, Dev Sahitya Kutir Puja annual
Illustrations: Narendra Dutta
First featured in the book: Ghanadar Galpo, 1956
Illustrations: Ajit Gupta
Mosha from the Puja annual Alpana (1945)
Artist: Protul Chandra Bandyopadhyay
Shishir, Shibu, Gour, Sudhir (anonymous narrator) are present, along with Ram. Like Bipin from Mosha, this is his sole appearance.
- Ghanada grew his first moustache in Narendra Dutta’s roly-poly rendition.
Mosha from Ghanadar Galpo (1956, 1986)
Artist: Ajit Gupta
Nuri from Ghanada Choturmukh (1968), Aphuronto Ghanada (1976)
Artist: Ajit Gupta
From
Premendra Mitrer Shera Galpo (1950)
Publisher: Chakrabarty & Chatterjee
Artist: Narendra Dutt
Premendra Mitrer Bachhai Galpo (1986)
Publisher: Sahityabihar
Artist: Bijan Karmakar
Eksho Bawchhorer Shera Hashi (2002)
Publisher: Mitra O Ghosh
Artist: Siddhartha Sengupta
From English & Hindi translations
Artist: Subir Roy, Ajit Gupta
Ghori
(Watch), 1948
Ticking Terror.
First Published: 1948, Chhayapath, Sarat Sahitya Bhaban Puja annual
Illustrations: Shailo Chakraborty
First featured in the book: Adwityo Ghanada, 1959
Illustrations: Ajit Gupta
Ghori from the Puja annual Chhayapath (1948)
Artist: Shailo Chakraborty
Ghori from Adwityo Ghanada (1959, 1988)
Artist: Ajit Gupta
Ghori from Aphuronto Ghanada (1976)
Artist: Ajit Gupta
- Sarat Sahitya Bhaban released their own set of Puja annuals. Ghanada featured in three.
- Ghanada is moustache-less and years youger.
- Boarder Shibu was inspired by Premendra’s friend, writer Shibram Chakraborty. This is perhaps reflected in the telling curl from the Chhayapath drawing.
- Also see Ghanadar Dhonurbhango.
Shailo Chakraborty’s sketches of Shibram always showed a stray strand of curly hair
Poka
(Insect), 1948
Lethal Locust Located
First Published: 1948, Abahan, Dev Sahitya Kutir Puja annual
Illustrations: Protul Chandra Bandyopadhyay
First featured in the book: Ghanadar Galpo, 1956
Illustrations: Ajit Gupta
Poka from the Puja annual Abahan (1948)
Artist: Protul Chandra Bandyopadhyay
First mention of Ghanada’s second floor room-on-the-roof.
- The Protul-prototype finally emerges. No uncertain-aged gentleman this. Suchet’s Hercule would have started at the sight of this twin, n’est-ce pas ?
Ajit Gupta removes the fourth wall of Ghanada’s rum room-on-the-roof.
Comparing compositions …
Poka from Ghanadar Galpo (1956, 1986)
Artist: Ajit Gupta
Poka from
Ghanada Choturmukh (1968), Aphuronto Ghanada (1976)
Artist: Ajit Gupta
From
Premendra Mitrer Shera Galpo (1950)
Publisher: Chakrabarty & Chatterjee
Artist: Narendra Dutt
Heere Moti Panna (1978)
Publisher: Annapurna Prakashani
Artist: Unknown
From English & Hindi translations
Artist: Subir Roy, Ajit Gupta
Machh
(Fish), 1949
Tremor Teller
First Published: 1949, Monorawth, Sarat Sahitya Bhaban Puja annual
Illustrations: Prashanta Gupta
First featured in the book: Ghanadar Galpo, 1956
Illustrations: Ajit Gupta
Machh from the Puja annual Monorawth (1949)
Artist: Prashanta Gupta
- Prashanta Gupta’s sole Ghanada venture captures both mess life and the adventure very effectively
- Rare images of Rambhuj the mess cook
- First view of the chit-chat room, our hero’s armchair, Shishir’s cigarette tin.
- This classic panorama deserves a closer look …
Machh from Ghanadar Galpo (1956, 1986)
Artist: Ajit Gupta
Machh from Ghanada Choturmukh (1968), Aphuronto Ghanada (1976)
Artist: Ajit Gupta
From Heere Moti Panna (1978)
Publisher: Annapurna Prakashani
Artist: Unknown
From English & Hindi translations
Artist: Subir Roy, Ajit Gupta
Chhori
(Walking Stick), 1949
First Published: 1949, Nawbarun, Dev Sahitya Kutir Puja annual
Illustrations: Protul Chandra Bandyopadhyay
First featured in the book: Ghanadar Galpo, 1956
Illustrations: Ajit Gupta
Chhori from the Puja annual Nawbarun (1949)
Artist: Protul Chandra Bandyopadhyay
Tent Ascent: Protul vs. Ajit
Chhori from Ghanadar Galpo (1956, 1986)
Artist: Ajit Gupta
Chhori from Ghanada Choturmukh (1968), Aphuronto Ghanada (1976)
Artist: Ajit Gupta
From
Chhotoder Omnibus (1974, 1990)
Publisher: Orient Longman
Artist: Unknown
Heere Moti Panna (1978)
Publisher: Annapurna Prakashani
Artist: Unknown
Ghanadar Bachhai Galpo (1992)
Publisher: Sarkar and Co.
Artist: Dilip Das
From English & Hindi translations
Artist: Subir Roy, Ajit Gupta
