Short stories from the 1950s

Tall tale. Tiny title. Ghanada's USP lay in two-syllabic names. 'Robinson Crusoe Meye Chhilen' breaks this trend.

Ajit Gupta re-defines our hero's look in the first published book.

'Knaach' ('Glass'), 1950

Lens Defence

. From 'Knaach' onwards, Protul Bandyopadhyay's Ghanashyam appeared equally old in the

present & flashback sequences.

. A rare expresson of surprise on Gupta-Ghanada's wooden visage.

'Knaach' from the Puja annual 'Udayan' (1950)

Artist : Protul Chandra Bandyopadhyay

'Knaach' from 'Ghanadar Gawlpo' (1956, 1986)

Artist : Ajit Gupta

'Knaach' from

'Ghanada Choturmukh' (1968), 'Awphuronto Ghanada' (1976)

Artist : Ajit Gupta

From a Hindi translation

Artist : Ajit Gupta

First Published : 1950, 'Udayan', Dev Sahitya Kutir Puja annual

Illustrations : Protul Chandra Bandyopadhyay

First featured in the book : 'Ghanadar Gawlpo', 1956

Illustrations : Ajit Gupta

From

'Premendra Mitrer Sheraa Gawlpo' (1950)

Publisher : Chakrabarty & Chatterjee

Artist : Narendra Dutt

'Heere Moti Paanna' (1978)

Publisher : Annapurna Prakashan

Artist : Unknown

. Narendra Dutt's Ghanashyam resembles Oliver Hardy !

[From 'Premendra Mitrer Sheraa Gawlpo, 1950']

'Robinson Crusoe Meye Chhilen' ('Crusoe Was a Girl'), 1952 or Earlier

Defying Defoe

A tale with many firsts...

. First to feature Ghanashyam's alternate audience of elderly evening strollers :

Ramsharan, Shibapada, Harisadhan and Bhabataran.

In the1952 book version, Bhabataran is called Chintaharan.

​

. First one placed outside the 72 Banamali Nashkar Lane mess. Backdrop : South Kolkata Lake.

​

. First and only story where our hero or his predecessors have no role to play.

​

. First with a prominent female character.

​

. First Ghanada aimed at mature readers.

. First instance (of several) where we'll beg you to help us with info, pix etc.

'Robinson Crusoe Meye Chhilen'-s first appearance is unknown.

Obviously it was before being added to the anthology 'Premendra Mitrer Sreshtho Gawlpo' in 1952. Can anyone give us a clue ?

Headpiece for 'Robinson Crusoe Meye Chhilen'

From 'Premendra Mitrer Sreshtho Gawlpo', 1952

Publisher : Navana

Artist : Unknown

First Published in : Unknown

First incorporated in the book : 'Premendra Mitrer Sreshtho Gawlpo', 1952

Publisher : Navana

Illustrator : Unknown

(Annada Munshi, Indra Dugar, Kalikinkar Ghosh Dastidar were the four illustrators of this book)

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

Illustrations : None

. Treated more often as a neutral short story, than part of the Ghanada oeuvre, this amazing tale slipped between the covers of several Premendra anthologies.

None illustrated unfortunately.

Premendra Mitra's 'Shaptapadi', 1956

Publisher : Indian Associated Publishing Co. Private Ltd.

Cover : Ajit Gupta

'Tupi' ('Hat'), 1952

Never-rest on Everest

. The mess' address was first mentioned in 'Tupi' : 72 Banamali Nashkar Lane

. Fun to compare the two off-beat Abominable Snowmen who meet our adorable showman,

six years before Tintin does.

'Tupi' from the Puja annual 'Parashmani' (1952)

Artist : Protul Chandra Bandyopadhyay

'Tupi' from 'Ghanadar Gawlpo' (1956, 1986)

Artist : Ajit Gupta

'Tupi' from

'Ghanada Choturmukh' (1968), 'Awphuronto Ghanada' (1976)

Artist : Ajit Gupta

From English & Hindi translations

Artist : Subir Roy, Ajit Gupta

First Published : 1952, 'Parashmani', Dev Sahitya Kutir Puja annual

Illustrations : Protul Chandra Bandyopadhyay

First featured in the book : 'Ghanadar Gawlpo', 1956

Illustrations : Ajit Gupta

From

'Ek Jaahaaj Gawlpo - Moyurponkhi' (1968)

Publisher : Vidyoday Library

Artist : Surya Roy

'Ghanadar Baachhaai Gawlpo' (1992)

Publisher : Sarkar and Co.

Artist : Dilip Das

'Laattu' ('Top'), 1952

Top-notch travel

. Headpiece by an unknown artist is the only graphic from the final Ghanada story featured in a Sarat Sahitya Bhaban annual

'Laattu' from the Puja annual 'Tapoban' (1952)

Artist : Unknown

'Tupi' from 'Ghanadar Gawlpo' (1956, 1986)

Artist : Ajit Gupta

'Laattu' from

'Ghanada Choturmukh' (1968), 'Awphuronto Ghanada' (1976)

Artist : Ajit Gupta

From English & Hindi translations

Artist : Subir Roy, Ajit Gupta

First Published : 1952, 'Tapoban', Sarat Sahitya Bhaban Puja annual

Illustrations : Unknown

First featured in the book : 'Ghanadar Gawlpo', 1956

Illustrations : Ajit Gupta

From

'Heere Moti Paanna' (1978)

Publisher : Annapurna Prakashani

Artist : Unknown

'Ghanadar Baachhaai Gawlpo' (1992)

Publisher : Sarkar and Co.

Artist : Dilip Das

'Dada' ('Elder Brother'), 1953

Oh Brother !

. Protul Chandra & Ajit Gupta's

representation of our hero's so-called elder brother,

who occupies the roof-top room in his absence.

'Dada' from the Puja annual 'Bashudhaara' (1953)

Artist : Protul Chandra Bandyopadhyay

'Dada' from 'Adwitiyo Ghanada' (1959, 1988)

Artist : Ajit Gupta

'Dada' from 'Awphuronto Ghanada' (1976)

Artist : Ajit Gupta

First Published : 1953, 'Bashudhaara', Dev Sahitya Kutir Puja annual

Illustrations : Protul Chandra Bandyopadhyay

First featured in the book : 'Adwitiyo Ghanada', 1959

Illustrations : Ajit Gupta

'Phuto' ('Hole'), 1954

A Hole New Dimension

. A partial view of Ghanada's room.

'Phuto' from the Puja annual 'Indradhanu' (1954)

Artist : Protul Chandra Bandyopadhyay

From English translation

Artist : Subir Roy

First Published : 1954, 'Indradhanu', Dev Sahitya Kutir Puja annual

Illustrations : Protul Chandra Bandyopadhyay

First featured in the book : 'Adwitiyo Ghanada', 1959

Illustrations : Ajit Gupta

From

'Ghanadar Baachhaai Gawlpo' (1992)

Publisher : Sarkar and Co.

Artist : Dilip Das

'Phuto' from 'Adwitiyo Ghanada' (1959, 1988)

Artist : Ajit Gupta

'Phuto' from 'Awphuronto Ghanada' (1976)

Artist : Ajit Gupta

'Dnaat' ('Teeth'), 1955

Teeth That Clicked

'Dnaat' from the Puja annual 'Debaalay' (1955)

Artist : Protul Chandra Bandyopadhyay

'Dnaat' from 'Adwitiyo Ghanada' (1959, 1988)

Artist : Ajit Gupta

'Dnaat' from 'Awphuronto Ghanada' (1976)

Artist : Ajit Gupta

First Published : 1955, 'Debaalay', Dev Sahitya Kutir Puja annual

Illustrations : Protul Chandra Bandyopadhyay

First featured in the book : 'Adwitiyo Ghanada', 1959

Illustrations : Ajit Gupta

[Also see 'Shuto', 1958]

. The Dev Sahitya Kutir Puja annual of 1956 carried the poem 'Ghanaar Bawchon', instead of a story.

. In both 'Phuto' & 'Dnaat' Protul Chandra's adventurer Ghanashyam wore specs even in the flashback sequences.

'Hnaash' ('Duck'), 1957

A Wild Duck Chase

. A new listener joins the gang of four.

Bapi Dutta also crops up in 'Shuto'.

'Hnaash' from the Puja annual

'Nawbopotrikaa' (1957)

Artist : Protul Chandra Bandyopadhyay

From an English translation

Artist : Subir Roy

First Published : 1957, 'Nawbopotrikaa', Dev Sahitya Kutir Puja annual

Illustrations : Protul Chandra Bandyopadhyay

First featured in the book : 'Adwitiyo Ghanada', 1959

Illustrations : Ajit Gupta

'Hnaash' from

'Adwitiyo Ghanada' (1959, 1988)

Artist : Ajit Gupta

'Hnaash' from 'Awphuronto Ghanada' (1976)

Artist : Ajit Gupta

. Our hero disguised as a 'Dokpa' or Tibetan herdsman.

From

'Ek Jaahaaj Gawlpo - Mawkormukhi' (1969)

Publisher : Vidyoday Library

Artist : Surya Roy

'Ghanadar Baachhaai Gawlpo' (1992)

Publisher : Sarkar and Co.

Artist : Dilip Das

'Bhanumatir Baagh' (2002)

Publisher : Nirmal Book Agency

Artist : Dilip Das

. Same situation. Same artist. Different sketches.

Illustrator : Dilip Das

[Click to Enlarge]

[Click to Enlarge]

Ad for

'Ek Jaahaaj Gawlpo'

'Shuto' ('Thread'), 1958

Coded Cord

. This illustration from 'Dnaat'

['Adwitiyo Ghanada'] seems more relevant to 'Shuto'.

Here the famous four peek into Ghanada's room, where he's enjoying a solitary lunch.

In 'Dnaat' they visit him in the morning

with a plate of croquette.

'Shuto' from the Puja annual 'Aparaajitaa' (1958)

Artist : Protul Chandra Bandyopadhyay

First Published : 1958, 'Aparaajitaa',

Dev Sahitya Kutir Puja annual

Illustrations : Protul Chandra Bandyopadhyay

First featured in the book :

'Adwitiyo Ghanada', 1959

Illustrations : Ajit Gupta

'Shuto' from 'Adwitiyo Ghanada' (1959, 1988)

Artist : Ajit Gupta

'Shuto' from 'Awphuronto Ghanada' (1976)

Artist : Ajit Gupta

From

'Ghanada Kishore Omnibus' (1990)

Publisher : Kamini Prakashalay

Artist : Amal Chattopadhyay

'Aparaajitaa', Deb Sahitya Kutir Puja annual. Cover : Protul Chandra Bandyopadhyay

'Shishi' ('Phial'), 1959

Phial Full of Fungus

. In  his two ventures, Balaibandhu Roy followed the Protul-pattern of realistic illustrations, probably to maintain the Dev Sahitya Kutir Ghanada tradition of the last decade.

. Ghanashyam caught between a revolver and a double-barrel.

'Shishi' from the annual 'Deb Deul' (1959)

Artist : Balaibandhu Roy

First Published : 1959, Dol Yaatra, 'Deb Deul', Dev Sahitya Kutir annual

Illustrations : Balaibandhu Roy

First featured in the book : 'Aabaar Ghanada', 1963

Illustrations : Ajit Gupta

'Shishi' from 'Aabaar Ghanada' (1963, 2003)

Artist : Ajit Gupta

'Shishi' from 'Awphuronto Ghanada' (1976)

Artist : Ajit Gupta

From English & Hindi translations

Artist : Subir Roy, Ajit Gupta

[Click to Enlarge]

From 'Chhotoder Omnibus' (1974) by Premendra Mitra

Artist : Unknown