The First Case Of Feluda

The introduction to this post can be read here.

A Brief Intro

Feluda, as I have detailed in the introductory post, is the detective created by Satyajit Ray. Ray, as is well known, is considered the biggest influence in the history of cinema. Feluda (sleuth’s nickname) is the  most idolized fictional character in Bengali literature and his fan base cuts across all age groups. His teenage cousin, Topshe (again nickname), is his adorable sidekick and also, like Dr. Watson and Captain Hastings, is the narrator of all the adventure stories.

Feludar Goyendagiri (Feluda’s Espionage) is the first short story in the Feluda series. It was first published in the popular children’s magazine named Sandesh (started by Ray’s grandfather) in 1965 in three instalments, and became an instant hit. Readers started looking forward to Feluda’s next adventure with great expectations and curiosity. That is how the Feluda craze began.

***

Feluda, Topshe and Topshe’s father (Feluda’s paternal uncle) are vacationing in Darjeeling, a very charming and most visited hill station in the State of West Bengal. While wandering on the Mall Road, Topshe happens to be privy to an animated conversation between two elderly gentlemen, Rajen Mojumdar and Tinkori Mukherjee.

On his return, Topshe narrates to Feluda that Rajen Mojumdar is highly disturbed by the receipt of an anonymous threat letter. Curious, Feluda decides to pay him a visit. Topshe having earlier followed the gentleman and spotted his residence, accompanies Feluda.

To Topshe’s utter surprise, Feluda appears to have known Rajen Mojumdar from before. Having been a practising advocate, he happened to have helped Feluda’s father once. He is naturally very happy to meet Feluda and readily confides in him.

The threat letter has arrived by post having a postmark of Darjeeling. It is not handwritten, but printed words, cut from various books or magazines, have been pasted on paper. What is most puzzling is the content which says “Be prepared to pay for your misdeed.”  Mr. Mojumdar is simply at sea because, according to him, he has never intentionally harmed or wronged anybody in his life.

Rajen Mojumdar, having retired from practice, now lives with his trusted Nepali servant. He is a widower and estranged from his only son, Probir, for many years. At present, Tinkori Mukherjee is staying with him as a paying guest. They know each other through a mutual acquaintance. The local doctor, Phoni Mittir, pays home visits off and on if Mr. Rajen is indisposed. Mr. Rajen’s hobby of collecting curios has brought him in contact with Aboni Mohun Ghoshal who also is an antique collector.

Feluda assures that he will look into the case and help out his father’s friend. While returning, Feluda is struck by a familiar face in the Mall.

As his investigations proceed, it comes to light that Tinkori Mukherjee is none other than the very popular detective story writer who has been writing under the pen name of Guptachar (The Spy). Feluda is totally enamored by this revelation (by Tinkori himself) as he is an avid reader of his books. Tinkori, it appears, does not only have flair for writing but also for  sleuthing. In fact, he supplies many clues to Feluda regarding the mysterious letter like the source of the printed words, the glue used to paste them etc.

Feluda, in turn, tells him that Rajen Mojumdar’s son is also incidentally present in Darjeeling and both Aboni Ghoshal and Probir Mojumdar seem to be knowing each other very well.

Matter comes to peak when Rajen is startled awake by a masked intruder in the dead of the night who quickly escapes by the bedroom window. He is now sick with worry and fear and the peace of his sedentary life is completely shattered. What does this masquerador want? Who is threatening the old man? Is it Aboni Ghoshal who is after one of the antiques in Rajen’s possession? Does Rajen  know the reason why his son is in Darjeeling? Is he the culprit? Does the local doctor, Phoni Mittir, whose practice is not exactly roaring, have an axe to grind?

The famous author, Ruskin Bond, has openly admitted that he is influenced by Ray’s writing style which is remarkable in its simplicity and crispness. Like Christie, Ray does never leave a loose end. Moreover the backdrop of his stories become a character in itself be it the lost treasure of the golden fortress (Shonaar Kella) in Jaisalmer (in Rajasthan) or the theft of the precious statuette in the ancient city of Varanasi or Benaras (Joy Baba Felunath).

I had read Feludar Goyendagiri a long time ago. I was refreshed by listening to its audio version superbly presented by Radio Mirchi in its Sunday Suspense Series wherein Feluda’s voiceover is none other than that of Sabyasachi Chakroborty who has played the character in many Feluda films under the direction of Ray’s son, Sandip Ray. Without being preachy, but having a marked serio- comic tone, the story underscores how an innocent childhood prank can leave a lifelong impact on the mind.

Ray’s books and stories have been widely translated in English by prominent translator, Gopa Mazumdar, wife of British diplomat , Ian Baker and also by other translators. Many English translations of his books are also available on Amazon.