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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 - Mawshaa

1947 - Nuri

1948 - Ghori

1948 - Pokaa

1949 - Maachh

1949 - Chhori

'Mawshaa' ('Mosquito'), 1945

Madcap Jap breeds murderous mosquito

First Published : 1945, 'Alpanaa', Dev Sahitya Kutir Puja annual

Illustrations : Protul Chandra Bandyopadhyay

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

Illustrations : Ajit Gupta

 

. 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 'Mawshaa', 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.

 

From 'Ghanada Gallery' Website

'Mawshaa' from the Puja annual 'Alpanaa' (1945)

Artist : Protul Chandra Bandyopadhyay

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

Artist : Ajit Gupta

'Mawshaa' from

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

Artist : Ajit Gupta

From 'Dui Banglar Chhotoder Sreshtho Gawlpo' (1963)
Publisher : Model Publishing House
Compiled by : Lila Majumdar, Eklasuddin Ahmed
Artist : Robin Das, Samir Biswas [?]

From 'Desh-Bidesher Sheraa Kawlpobijnan' (1998)

Publisher : Indian Publishing House

Compiled by : Abhijnan Roychowdhury

Artist : Goutam Dasgupta

From 'Tomaader Premendra Mitra' by Sumita Chakraborty
Published in : 'Ganashakti' Puja annual 2003
Artist : Shibshankar Bhattacharya [Variation on Ajit Gupta]

From Premendra Mitra's 'Kishore Gawlpo Shanchayan' (2014)

Publisher : Parul Prakashani

Artist : Sujog Bandyopadhayaya

From English & Hindi translations

Artist : Subir Roy, Ajit Gupta

'Nuri' ('Pebble'), 1947

Pick a pebble. Rock an isle.

First Published : 1947, 'Raangaraakhi', Dev Sahitya Kutir Puja annual

Illustrations : Narendra Dutta

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

Illustrations : Ajit Gupta

. Shishir, Shibu, Gour, Sudhir (anonymous narrator) are present, along with Ram. Like Bipin from 'Mawshaa', this is his sole appearance.

 

. Ghanada grew his first moustache in Narendra Dutta's roly-poly rendition.

'Nuri' from the Puja annual 'Raangaraakhi' (1947)

Artist : Narendra Dutta

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

Artist : Ajit Gupta

'Nuri' from

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

Artist : Ajit Gupta

From

'Premendra Mitrer Sheraa Gawlpo' (1950)

Publisher : Chakrabarty & Chatterjee

Artist : Narendra Dutt

'Premendra Mitrer Baachhai Gawlpo' (1986)

Publisher : Sahityabihar

Artist : Bijan Karmakar

'Eksho Bawchhorer Sheraa Haashi' (2002)

Publisher : Mitra O Ghosh

Artist : Siddhartha Sengupta

From English & Hindi translations

Artist : Subir Roy, Ajit Gupta

'Mawshaa', 1945
'Nuri', 1947

'Ghori' ('Watch'), 1948

Ticking Terror.

First Published : 1948, 'Chhaayapath', Sarat Sahitya Bhaban Puja annual

Illustrations : Shailo Chakraborty

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

Illustrations : 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 'Chhaayapath' drawing.

 

. Also see 'Ghanadar Dhonurbhawngo'.

'Ghori' from the Puja annual 'Chhaayapath' (1948)

Artist : Shailo Chakraborty

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

Artist : Ajit Gupta

'Ghori' from 'Awphuronto Ghanada' (1976)

Artist : Ajit Gupta

From 'Ghanada Gallery' Website
From 'Ghanada Gallery' Website
From 'Ghanada Gallery' Website

Shailo Chakraborty's sketches of Shibram always showed a stray strand of curly hair

'Ghori', 1948

'Pokaa' ('Insect'), 1948

Lethal Locust Located

First Published : 1948, 'Aabahan', Dev Sahitya Kutir Puja annual

Illustrations : Protul Chandra Bandyopadhyay

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

Illustrations : Ajit Gupta

 

 

. First mention of Ghanada's second floor room-on-the-roof.

 

. The Protul-prototype finally emerges.

No uncertain-aged gentleman this.

'Pokaa' from the Puja annual 'Aabaahan' (1948)

Artist : Protul Chandra Bandyopadhyay

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

Artist : Ajit Gupta

'Pokaa' from

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

Artist : Ajit Gupta

From English & Hindi translations

Artist : Subir Roy, Ajit Gupta

From 'Ghanada Gallery' Website

. 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.

[Click to Enlarge]

From 'Ghanada Gallery' Website

. Comparing compositions ... [Click to Enlarge]

From 'Ghanada Gallery' Website

From

'Premendra Mitrer Sheraa Gawlpo' (1950)

Publisher : Chakrabarty & Chatterjee

Artist : Narendra Dutt

'Heere Moti Paanna' (1978)

Publisher : Annapurna Prakashani
Artist : Unknown

'Pokaa', 1948

'Maachh' ('Fish'), 1949

Tremor Teller

First Published : 1949, 'Monorawth',

Sarat Sahitya Bhaban Puja annual

Illustrations : Prashanta Gupta

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

Illustrations : Ajit Gupta

 

 

 

. Prashanta Gupta's sole Ghanada venture captures both mess life and the adventure very effectively

'Maachh' from the Puja annual 'Monorawth' (1949)

Artist : Prashanta Gupta

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

Artist : Ajit Gupta

'Maachh' from

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

Artist : Ajit Gupta

From English & Hindi translations

Artist : Subir Roy, Ajit Gupta

From 'Ghanada Gallery' Website

. Rare images of Rambhuj the mess cook

[Click to Enlarge]

. First view of the chit-chat room,

our hero's armchair, Shishir's cigarette tin

[Click to Enlarge]

From 'Ghanada Gallery' Website

. This classic panorama deserves a closer look ...

[Click to Enlarge]

From 'Ghanada Gallery' Website
From 'Ghanada Gallery' website

Advertisement for 'Monorawth'

[Click to Enlarge]

From

'Heere Moti Paanna' (1978)

Publisher : Annapurna Prakashani
Artist : Unknown

'Maachh', 1949

'Chhori' ('Walking Stick'), 1949

A Stick in Time

First Published : 1949, 'Nawbaarun', Dev Sahitya Kutir Puja annual

Illustrations : Protul Chandra Bandyopadhyay

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

Illustrations : Ajit Gupta

'Chhori' from the Puja annual 'Nawbaarun' (1949)

Artist : Protul Chandra Bandyopadhyay

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

Artist : Ajit Gupta

'Chhori' from

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

Artist : Ajit Gupta

From English & Hindi translations

Artist : Subir Roy, Ajit Gupta

Tent Ascent :

Protul vs. Ajit

From 'Ghanada Gallery' Website

From

'Chhotoder Omnibus' (1974, 1990)

Publisher : Orient Longman

Artist : Unknown

'Heere Moti Paanna' (1978)

Publisher : Annapurna Prakashani
Artist : Unknown

'Ghanadar Baachhaai Gawlpo' (1992)

Publisher : Sarkar and Co.

Artist : Dilip Das

'Chhori', 1949
'Ghanada Gallery' Website
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