This book is a selection of the best of stories by Upendrakishore Roychoudhuri, and the most fascinating of his characters: Goopy and Bagha, dedicated but unsuccessful musicians who are cast out of their homes because their music drives their families and neighbours crazy; Tuntuni, the little bird; the clever fox; Majantali Sarkar, the cat; the intrepid Granny Hunchback; and many others. Swagata Deb's vibrant translation brings Upendrakishore's unique magic to a wider audience, giving a new lease of life to these evergreen tales.
This book is a selection of the best of stories by Upendrakishore Roychoudhuri, and the most fascinating of his characters: Goopy and Bagha, dedicated but unsuccessful musicians who are cast out of their homes because their music drives their families and neighbours crazy; Tuntuni, the little bird; the clever fox; Majantali Sarkar, the cat; the intrepid Granny Hunchback; and many others. Swagata Deb’s vibrant translation brings Upendrakishore’s unique magic to a wider audience, giving a new lease of life to these evergreen tales.
It all began with the fall of a meteorite and the crater it made. In its centre was a red notebook, sticking out of the ground—the first (or was it really the last?) of Professor Shonku’s diaries. Professor Trilokeshwar Shonku, eccentric genius and scientist, disappeared without a trace after he shot off into space in a rocket from his backyard in Giridih, accompanied by his loyal but not-toointelligent servant Prahlad, his cat Newton, and Bidhushekhar, his robot with an attitude. What has become of the professor? Has he decided to stay on in Mars, his original destination? Or has he found his way to some other planet and is living there with strange companions? His last diary tells an incredible story . . . Other diaries unearthed from his abandoned laboratory reveal stranger and even more exciting adventures involving a ferocious sadhu, a revengeful mummy and a mad scientist in Norway who turns famous men into six-inch statues. Exciting, imaginative and funny, the stories in this collection capture the sheer magic of Ray’s lucid language, elegant style, graphic descriptions and absurd humour. The indomitable Professor Shonku has returned, to win himself over a whole new band of followers!
'3 Rays is like exploring the Mother Earth, and finding the rare treasures'-Gulzar, poet, lyricist and film-maker 'Satyajit Ray's work is like a beautiful scene from nature, and that's the reason we get lost in his beautiful art' -Shoojit Sircar, film-maker 'Ray's magic, the simple poetry of his images and their emotional impact, will always stay with me'-Martin Scorsese, film director, producer, screenwriter and actor 'Satyajit Ray's artifice and honesty set him apart from other film directors'-The Guardian 'Satyajit Ray's world of restless watchfulness and nuance'-The New York Times 'The quiet but deep observation ... have impressed me greatly'-Akira Kurosawa, film-maker The most anticipated book on the centenary birth anniversary of Satyajit Ray An amazingly brilliant collection of Satyajit Ray's previously unpublished autobiographical writings, illustrations, fictions and non-fictions A collector's item, 3 Rays is a source of delight for every reader Satyajit Ray (1921-1992), through his life, philosophy and works offered a unique aesthetic sensibility, which took Indian cinema, art and literature to a new height. An ace designer, music composer, illustrator and a gifted writer, Ray gave us the awe-inspiring sleuth Feluda, and the maverick scientist, Professor Shonku-two iconic characters loved and revered by millions of readers. On the occasion of his centenary birth anniversary, 3 Rays: Stories from Satyajit Ray, the first book in The Penguin Ray Library series, opens a window to the brilliance of this Renaissance man. With more than forty stories and poems along with many unpublished works, autobiographical writings and illustrations by Ray, this volume offers a unique glimpse into Ray's creative genius.
Frank and funny, these stories written originally for the Bengali children's magazine Sandesh, are an essential read for all Ray enthusiasts as well as those who want to know Ray, the writer and film-maker, better. In this volume, Ray also shares some of his experiences while shooting Pather Panchali—his epic debut, and subsequent films, particularly for children. He describes how an entire field of kaash flowers was eaten up by cows before he could shoot his famous scene with the train in Pather Panchali; and how a circus tiger let loose in a bamboo grove chased away a group of curious onlookers in the blink of an eye.
An incident near the desolate Chhinnamasta temple on the rocky riverbank of Rajrappa leads to the death of Mahesh Chowdhury, the head of a Hazaribagh family. Adding to the mystery are a set of coded diaries, a valuable stamp collection that is missing and a tiger that is roaming the streets of Hazaribagh. One of Feluda’s most intriguing adventures, this shows the master sleuth at his best.
This book delves into the unconventional perspectives of writers and artists from Twentieth Century Bengal, exploring their roles as 'plant thinkers.' By examining the works of figures such as Rabindranath Tagore, Bibhutibhushan Bandyopadhyay, Jibanananda Das, Shakti Chattopadhyay, Satyajit Ray, and others, the narrative delves into how their stories, songs, art, and films, deeply influenced Bengali life and thought. Embracing themes of forest and garden, grass and root, weeds and magical plants, these thinkers, including Jagadish Chandra Bose with his scientific experiments, derived their worldviews, poetics, and politics from the intricate world of plants. The work not only explores Bose's scientific research and philosophy but also delves into religious rituals that fostered a profound connection with the natural world. Through a nuanced examination of the affective relationship between individuals and the plant world, the narrative uncovers a subterranean invocation of plant philosophy in both actions and words. Moreover, it highlights the political possibilities beyond the confines of the nation state that emanated from such profound thinking. As the book unfolds, it weaves a rich tapestry of living practices and artistic expressions rooted in plant philosophy. By contemplating the sap and flow of these influences, it prompts readers to reflect on what contemporary consciousness can glean from these thinkers.
‘If you hear this, you will find your heads are getting muddled. Some of you will fathom fully, some will stay befuddled’ The Bengali language has never been quite such a living, breathing creature of whimsy as in Sukumar Ray’s hands. His creations—wild and wicked, dreamy and delirious—have thrilled children and adults alike. This selection offers you the best of his world—pun-riddled, fun-fiddled poetry from Abol Tabol and Khai-Khai, stories of schoolboy pranks from Pagla Dashu, of madcap explorers from Heshoram Hushiyarer Diary and the unforgettable harum-scarum classic Haw-Jaw-Baw-Raw-Law—for the first time in its entirety. All the stories and poems are accompanied by Sukumar Ray’s inimitable illustrations. Sampurna Chattarji’s vibrant translation captures the freewheeling play of sound and sense we associate with Ray’s writings, and promises to win him a whole new generation of admirers.
Evergreen animal fables, now in this classic keepsake edition Composed in Sanskrit in around 300 ce, the Panchatantra is one of the oldest collections of fables in the world. Devised for the purposes of teaching three dull-witted sons of a king, it strives to convey the principles of kingship and some valuable life lessons. Relive the joy of this enduring classic through this magnificent translation from the original that illuminates the wise, pithy and unexpectedly witty tales like never before.
