Novels & Novellas

The first novel Shurjo Knadley Sona is also the longest.

Along with the two novellas, this featured the
historical exploits of Das’ ancestors.

The other novels are Ghanashyam’s own escapades.

1966 – Toshyo Toshyo Athoba Agra Jedin Talomawl
/ Agra Jakhon Talomawl [Novella]

1967/ Earlier – Das Holen Ghanada [Novella]

1967-1968 – Toshyo Toshyo Athoba Shurjo Knadley
Sona / Shurjo Knadley Sona [Novel]

1972 – Mongolgrohey Ghanada [Novel]

1978 – Tel Deben Ghanada [Novel]

1986 – Mandhatar Tope O Ghanada [Novel]

Toshyo Toshyo Athoba Agra Jedin Talomawl /

Agra Jakhon Talomawl

(When Agra Trembled), 1966

The Prisoner of Agra

First Published: 1966, Sharodiyo Amrito

Illustrations: Subodh Kumar Dasgupta

First featured in the book: Agra Jakhon Talomawl, 1968

Illustrator: Ajit Gupta

Also featured in the book: Ghanada Toshyo Toshyo Omnibus, 1983

Illustrations: None

First history based novella on Ghanshyam’s predecessor Bachanram helps the captive Shivaji escape from Agra (1666).

The 1966 ‘Amrito’ Puja annual published it as Toshyo Toshyo Athoba Agra Jedin Talomawl. Two years later, the book re-christened it Agra Jakhon Talomawl.

Ajit Gupta’s Agra motif. Bachanram naturally resembles his trademark Ghanashyam

Toshyo Toshyo Athoba Agra Jedin Talomawl

From Sharodiyo Amrito, 1966

Artist: Subodh Kumar Dasgupta

Opening page of

Agra Jakhon Talomawl

From Agra Jakhon Talomawl, 1968

Artist: Ajit Gupta

Das Holen Ghanada

(Thus the Title of ‘Das’), 1967 or Earlier

Das Far and Even Further

First Published in: Unknown

First featured in the book: Agra Jakhon Talomawl, 1968

Illustrator: Ajit Gupta

Also featured in the book: Ghanada Toshyo Toshyo
Omnibus, 1983

Illustrations: None

First history based novella of Ghnashyam’s ancestor Ghanaram invents the first tank in the 16th century Mexico.

Shurjo Knadley Sona refers to events of this story, placing Das Holen Ghanada in / before 1967. Can anyone tell us where and in which periodical it was first published ?

Some pages of Das Holen Ghanada

From Agra Jakhon Talomawl, 1968

Artist: Ajit Gupta

Toshyo Toshyo Athoba Shurjo Knadley Sona / Shurjo Knadley Sona

(Golden Tears of the Sun), 1967 – 1968

Peril in Peru

First Published: 28th July 1967 – 22nd November 1968,
as a serial novel in weekly Amrito

Illustrations: Unknown

First published in book form: Shurjo Knadley Sona, 1969

Jacket Design: Ajit Gupta ; No illustrations inside

Also featured in the book: Ghanada Toshyo Toshyo Omnibus, 1983

Illustrations: None

Toshyo Toshyo Athoba Shurjo Knadley Sona

Opening page of the First instalment Amrito, 28th July 1967

Artist: Unknown

Longest Ghanada Novel
Backdrop: 16th Century Spanish Conquest of Peru.
Ghanashyambabu relates the deeds of his ancestor Ghanaram to his lake-side audience.
Serially published as Toshyo Toshyo Athoba Shurjo Knadley Sona. The book version shortened it to Shurjo Knadley Sona.
Two excellent headpieces by an unknown artist accompanied the Amrito instalments.

Toshyo Toshyo Athoba Shurjo Knadley Sona

Opening page of the First instalment Amrito, 28th July 1967

Artist: Unknown

Mongolgrohey Ghanada

(Ghanada on Mars), 1972

Martian Marriage Marred…

First Published in: Ultorath, Kartik, 1894 Shakabda (1972)

Illustration: Unknown

First published in book form: Mongolgrohey Ghanada, 1973

Jacket Design / Illustrations: Narayan Debnath

From Ultorath, Kartik, 1894 Shakabda

Artist: Unknown

From the book Mongolgrohey Ghanada, 1973

Artist: Narayan Debnath

First juvenile Ghanada novel, relating his own exploits.
Ghanashyam had his first view of Mars in Phuto.
Versatile artist Narayan Debnath (1926 – ) had drawn our hero in profile for Bhela (1972). The Mongolgrohey Ghanada book (1973), and Berajaley Ghanada a few months later, shows his smart, clean-shaven protagonist very clearly.

Bhela Mongolgrohey Ghanada Berajaley Ghanada

From the book Brihat Ghanada Shankalan, 1993

Artist: Narayan Debnath, Ajit Gupta

This sketch, along with the artist’s signature was horizontally flipped in a later Shoibya edition of the book.

This one was rotated sidewise …and finally omitted altogether.

Changes occured in the Brihat Ghanada Shankalan (1993) version.

Following a set trend [See Ghanadar Juri Nei], all the Debnath-Ghanashyam faces were replaced with Ajit Gupta ones. Often the look direction changed in the process. Besides stock Gupta profiles were sprinkled throughout.

Further changes in the 2003 edition of Ghanada Bichitra !

This time Ghanashyam heads by Robin Basu – inspired by Ajit Gupta – were superimposed on the original Narayan Debnath ones.

(Ghanada: Oil Supplier), 1978

Oil for All

First Published in: Anandamela Puja annual, 1978

Illustrations: Aloke Dhar

First published in book form: Tel Deben Ghanada, 1979

Jacket Design / Illustrations: Ahibhushan Malik

Tel Deben Ghanada

From the Anandamela Puja annual, 1978

Artist: Aloke Dhar

Second juvenile Ghanada novel.
Stylized sketches in B/W and colour by Aloke Dhar decorated the first Ghanada novel published in ‘Anandamela’. Four short stories had already featured in this periodical’s regular issues & annuals.
A year later, the book version boasted of illustrations by Ahibhushan Malik (1924 – 1986), in his characteristic cartoonish style.
In spite of stylistic differences, both Aloke Dhar and Ahibhushan Malik seem to have modeled their hero on the Ajit Gupta prototype.

From the book Tel Deben Ghanada, 1979

Artist: Ahibhushan Malik

Mandhatar Tope O Ghanada

(Ghanada and the Prehistoric Bait), 1986

Coelacanth ? Ghana Can.

From Contents of Anandamela annual, 1986

First Published in: Anandamela Puja annual, 1986

Illustrations: Samir Sarkar

First published in book form: Mandhatar Tope O Ghanada, 1987

Jacket Design / Illustrations: Debasish Deb

Mandhatar Tope O Ghanada

From the Anandamela Puja annual, 1986

Artist: Samir Sarkar

Final Ghanada novel.
In spite of his failing vision, Premendra Mitra regularly kept tabs on the latest archaeological and scientific discoveries. An article on the Coelacanth fish from a Soviet periodical inspired him to pen his last novel, two years before his death

Samir Sarkar (1934 – 2013) & Debasish Deb (1955 – ) gifted us brightly coloured pix of the Loch Ness Monster in Anandamela and the book version respectively.
Both artists gave our hero a smart, clean-shaven look.