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Kohen Kobi Kalidas (Bengali: কোহেন কবি কালিদাস), translated as Thus Spoke Kalidasa, is a 1961 Bengali detective novella by Sharadindu Bandyopadhyay. It is part of the famous Byomkesh Bakshi series and follows the exploits of the detective Byomkesh Bakshi, who, along with his friend and chronicler Ajit Bandyopadhyay, solves mysteries in Kolkata and beyond. The story is notable for its setting in a coal-mining town and its exploration of crime, mystery, and complex human emotions.

Plot

Byomkesh Bakshi and Ajit Bandyopadhyay are invited by Manish Chakraborty, the owner of a coal mine, to investigate a series of mysterious accidents and disturbances in his mine. To maintain secrecy, Byomkesh assumes the alias "Gaganbabu," and Ajit becomes "Sujitbabu." They soon discover that the coal mine disturbances are tied to a much deeper and more dangerous plot involving murder and deception.

Phanish Chakraborty, Manish's son, confides in Byomkesh about his involvement in a gambling ring at the Coal Club, which eventually leads to a murder investigation involving a wealthy moneylender, Pranhari Poddar. As Byomkesh unravels the complex web of lies and deception, he discovers that the real culprit is closer than expected.

Characters

• Byomkesh Bakshi (under the alias of Gaganbabu)
• Ajit Bandyopadhyay (under the alias of Sujitbabu)
• Manish Chakraborty – The wealthy coal mine owner who hires Byomkesh
• Phanish Chakraborty – Manish's son, who becomes involved in the murder investigation
• Indira – Phanish's wife
• Pranhari Poddar – A moneylender and gambler, found murdered
• Govinda Haldar – A prominent figure in the coal industry and a suspect
• Mohini – Poddar's maid, whose role becomes crucial in solving the mystery

Publication history

"Kohen Kobi Kalidas" was first published in 1961 by P.C. Sorkar and Sons. It has since been included in various collections of Byomkesh Bakshi stories, most notably in the comprehensive "Byomkesh Samagra" published by Ananda Publishers. The story has also been made available in digital format on platforms like Bengali Book.

Translations

An English translation titled Thus Spoke Kalidasa was published as an e-book in 2020, translated by Rajat Chaudhuri. This translation has made the story accessible to a wider audience unfamiliar with Bengali.

A version by Humayun Ahmed is also available, though it's unclear if this is a translation or an adaptation.

Adaptations

Television

This story was adapted as an episode in the Byomkesh Bakshi (1993–1997) television series, starring Rajit Kapur as Byomkesh Bakshi. It aired on Doordarshan and was part of the popular series directed by Basu Chatterjee.

Another TV adaptation appeared in the Byomkesh (2014) series on ETV Bangla, where the story was re-enacted.

Film

The 2015 Bengali film Byomkesh Bakshi (2015 film), directed by Anjan Dutt, is based on the story Kohen Kobi Kalidas. This was the fourth installment in Dutt's Byomkesh Bakshi series, starring Jisshu Sengupta as Byomkesh, replacing Abir Chatterjee from the previous films. The film was released on 10 April 2015 and received critical acclaim.

See also

• Byomkesh Bakshi (2010 film)
• Abar Byomkesh
• Byomkesh Phire Elo

References

1. ^ Bandyopadhyay, Sharadindu (2014). Byomkesh Samagra (in Bengali). Kolkata: Ananda Publishers. ISBN 978-8172157895. {{cite book}}: Check |isbn= value: checksum (help)
2. Bandyopadhyay, Sharadindu (2000). Picture Imperfect and Other Byomkesh Bakshi Mysteries. Translated by Sreejata Guha. New Delhi: Penguin Books India. pp. 121–150. ISBN 978-0140287093. {{cite book}}: Check |isbn= value: checksum (help)
3. "Kohen Kobi Kalidas". Bengali Book. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
4. "Thus Spoke Kalidasa". Amazon India. Rupa Publications. 5 August 2020. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
5. "Kohen Kobi Kalidas by Humayun Ahmed". Amazon India. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
6. "Byomkesh Bakshi (TV Series 1993–1997)". IMDb. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
7. "Byomkesh Bakshi (2015)". Misplaced Pages. Retrieved 17 September 2024.

External links

• Byomkesh Bakshi Stories on Goodreads

• 1961 short stories
• Detective fiction short stories
• Indian Bengali-language novels
• Indian mystery novels
• Byomkesh Bakshi