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.

1945 – Mosha

1947 – Nuri

1948 – Ghori

1948 – Poka

1949 – Machh

1949 – Chhori

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