সাংবাদিক শ্রীযুক্ত শেখর দত্তের চোখে: ‘ সাব-ইন্সপেক্টর করমচাঁদের ডায়রি ’

Philosophers have defined man as rational animal but man`s underlying animality often overpowers his rationality. Perhaps this is the reality which explains human penchant for crimes and journey into the murky underworld , apart from familiar factors such as greed and associated mental retardations. Police officers-serving and retired-endowed with high imaginative faculties and power of expression are eminently capable of exposing the underworld of crime and criminals . Marshall Frank, retired supercop in Miami , USA and Dallas state`s former senior cop Debra Knapp have illustrated the point in their masterpieces , `The upside to crime` and `Mountana the police horse`-the latter a childrens book. Tripura`s popular police officer Arindam Nath`s latest book `Sub-inspector Karamchander Diary` based on his professional experience as DSP (central) in the state capital is an authentic study on crime and criminals observed from a highly imaginative and creative angle. The backbone of the book is Sub-inspector Karamchand (Nath`s junior colleague in West Agartala police station) who used to maintain a diary of events and characters related to crimes and the dark recesses of the underworld.

Nath`s book is a veritable revelation to the extent that under a thin camouflage he has shed transparent light on crucial protagonists of the underworld and their operational style. A discerning reader would find it easy to identify the quintet who died together while manufacturing crude bombs in erstwhile Hostel No-2 of MBB college as the killers of CPI (M) activist turned Youth Congress Vice President Swapan Das. The blast had occurred in the run-up to the Loksabha polls of 1996 while Swapan Das had been slain in his home a few months earlier in December 1995. The leader who had plotted the murder had gone to Calcutta to attend an all Indian conference of his organisation after handing in the blue-print to his hired assassins. It is to Nath`s immense credit that barring experienced journalists and active players in the act nobody would be able to what or who he is hinting at in the camouflage.

The state`s most famous-possibly notorious-murderer and mafia don Amit Ghosh, currently serving long prison term, also appears in `Sub-inspector Karamchander Diary` towards the end in the pseudonym of Abhishek . Nath was the police officer who finally brought Amit alias Abhishek to justice by arresting him in connection with a murder case but ,significantly, Amit alias Abhishek had been a regular caller by telephone. Amit`s voice and manner of expression would emit signals of threat and possible danger but Nath had a most bizarre experience when one fine morning Amit alias Abhishek`s wife, a one-time cabaret dancer in Calcutta, materialised in his office to complain of threats to her and her two sons lives from her consort.

Nath has imaginatively focussed on varied human characters in his book in all their diverse traits : perennial police source Sudhir who made police station his virtual home , polygamous Kabir Bhai and his border home and a large number of burglars, dacoits and murderers and their graduation to the murky underworld of crimes. But the most startling conclusion a reader is left with from a study of Nath`s book is that the old adage-`frailty thy name is woman`-might well be replaced by a new adage : inconsistency or unpredictability thy name is woman. What illustrates the point is the life and evolution of a veiled character Tilottama Das of a bordering village. Tilottama had been violated by a criminally-motivated man , Madhav Das , allowed the violation to be an almost regular affair and finally collaborated with the violator in having her husband murdered and then turned an approver in court to have the supposed paramour land in jail with a life-term. A truly amazing crime that defies any definition.

`Sub-inspector Karamchander Diary` is Arindam Nath`s fourth book-a testimony to the man`s creative and imaginative faculty. Endowed with a flair for lucid expression, reflective of his pristinely simple nature, Nath is well on course to producing more books with eminent readability as their forte. The `Gyan Vichitra` and `Book World` publishers have made a laudable job in producing this sleek 128-page volume with a good cover photo from Sukanta Banik and Aparesh Paul.

সাংবাদিক শ্রীযুক্ত শেখর দত্তের চোখে: ‘দুই ভুবন’

Celebrated Bengali novelist and short-story writer Manik Bandyopadhaya (actual name, Prabodh Kumar Bandopadhyaya) had once been asked by a publisher keen to publish a collection of his short stories to select the stories to be included in the planned volume. Manik had expressed his dilemma over the choice to be made, citing the incontrovertible fact that his creations were like his children and it was next to impossible to select and discriminate anong children.Arindam Nath, arguably Tripura's most popular police officer, may not have confronted the dilemma as he had produced a new volume of stories or closest approximations to them in the form of diary. But his creativity, keenly observant eye and aesthetic sense unmistakably underline all the stories and facets of his daily experiences in life in his fifth published book 'Dui Bhuban. Aesthetics and police service apparently go ill together because of the very nature of police service which seems to blunt any finer sensibility in otherwise sensitive human beings . But exceptions do exist and Arindam Nath personifies this in full measure.

Thus we have the opening story 'Lokti'-an outsider who had entered the town with a silver-flute and would move around aimlessly , charming people with his flute-blowing. The author was reminded of the piper of German town Hamlin who had driven away the bristling rats of the town with his tune after being promised a reward by the Mayor. He had retaliated by piping away with tune all the children of the Hamlin town after being deprived of the promised reward. The odd man out in the Agartala town resembled the piper of Hamline but stopped short of repeating the feat.

In the course of his career as an additional superinrendent of police (ASP), Dhalai. author Nath had encountered a foxy militant leader Jacob Hrankhawal; who had always given a slip to the police and security personnel. In the story titled 'Sarva Dharma Sammelan'-believed to be factually correct-NLFT comander Jacob Hrangkhawal had put his paramour Lallum Halam in the safe custody (?) of an ex-trigamous daocoit chief Milan Sarkar who had two other wives Sujata Sarkar and Nasima Bibi. They were apparently at peace and testified to changed character of ex-dacoit Milan as a big grocery owner. Dodging the police dragnet several times Jacob had finally taken away his paramour Lallum before surrendering to security forces.

Nath's incisive eyes and alert ears to even slightest deviations from normal routine of life made an impact. Thus one morning while on morning walk he listened to a middle-aged security man on march asking a school girl 'what is your name' ? It struck Nath and his companion as upsurge of 'libido' in a man of advanced age. The author's robust sense of humour comes out in sharp relief in the episodic story 'Sarameya Charitam' (character of canines) which gives in detail the movement , activities and characteristic features of stray dogs.

The tradition of short story writing as a separate genre of literature can be traced even to the very ancient age : 'Hitopadesh', 'Panchatantra' and the ennobling stories of 'Upanishad' in classical Sanskrit illustrate the point as do Esop's tales. As the civilisation advanced story writing skirted the didactic overtones in the anecdotes and episodes of antiquity as the classical masters Guy de Moupassant, Rabindra Nath Tagore and Anton Chekov-to name a few only-took over to produce abundance of masterpieces. Author Arindam Nath's 32 stories included in the volume , so sleekly published by 'Niharika', may not be high literature but they do provide a refresing insight into human mind, action and reaction. 

Shri Sankar Sen , I.P.S. (Retd.), Former Director, National Police Academy, on : “Bridging Souls – a Journey from Mahabharata to Bharata”

The fiction “Bridging Souls – a Journey from Mahabharata to Bharata” makes fascinating reading. Written lucidly in the form of a diary, it weaves a magical tale that takes the readers’ mind back and forth to the glory and grandeur of the epic period of Indian history and present day realities. The characters in the novel are fictional but the book is grounded on the personal experience and perceptive vision of Arindam Nath, a senior officer of Tripura Police, who travelled across the country as a chairman of Tripura Rifles Recruitment Board. The author’s knowledge of the epics and his cultivated, discerning and scholarly mind come out through the pages of the book.
The story comes out of the diaries written by one medical practioner Dr. Ashamanja Bhowmik, who accompanied a recruitment team of Tripura State Rifles, an elite armed police force of Tripura all over the country. Through the pages of his diary, the author has spun a delightful tale that captivates the mind. The recruitment team traversed different regions of India, where about 5,000 years ago, some of the famous battles and events recounted in Mahabharata had taken place. Acts of heroism as well as frailties of the different ‘dramatis personae’ of Mahabharata are compellingly and evocatively recounted by one Ambujanaba Sharma, Commandant of the battalion, who headed the team. The pen portrait of the Commandant drawn by the author shows the qualities of his head and heart---a happy blending of scholarship and humanism. He narrated and interpreted in a new light and perspective, and with consummate knowledge to his accompanying colleagues the characters and events of the Mahabharata. His vivid description of the valour of the heroes as well as the deeds of princes and sages will grip the minds of the readers.
The Mahabharata is not merely “a song of victory”, it is a “Padma Samhita”, a collection of old legends, and Itivritta or traditional account of noble kings, pious sages, of dutiful wives and beautiful maids. It is also “Mokshya Shastra”---pointing ways to salvation. The Mahabharata also lays down rules of conduct for attainment of three great aims animating all human conduct--Dharma, Artha and Kama.
Some of the characters in the novel are fascinating. Dr. Bhowmik is an ideal Boswell. He has painstakingly noted down the references, comments and perceptive observations of Sharma after narration of different episodes of Mahabharata. However, some of the comments of Sharma on the nature of crimes committed by heroes of Mahabharata are somewhat trite and may not stand the glare of scrutiny. Some of the acts of the epic heroes now interpreted as crimes under the Indian Penal Code were not so in the days of yore. They were in accordance with the prevailing customs.
Against this wider backdrop of acts and transgressions of the heroes of Mahabharata, the author weaves a tender sub-plot of a love affair between the Bengali doctor Bhowmik and the Punjabi girl Dr. Harleen Bedi, a medical officer of CRPF Group Centre, Jalandhar. The pages of the diary unveil the tragic story of the death of Harleen’s fiancé, Aman who reportedly committed suicide, but actually was murdered. The untold story could be unearthed by Harleen with the help of the members of the recruitment board. Enchanting romance blossoms between the two doctors, hailing from two different parts of the country. It was indeed “omnia vincit amor”.
The book will enthral the readers and provide them with glimpses of Mahabharata as well as many other events of the past and the present. Issues like Maoism, Gorkhaland agitation, etc., figure in the narrative. Lay readers will also gather from the book interesting details of the methods of recruitment in the paramilitary forces and the pains taken to select appropriate candidates from different parts of the country. Arindam Nath deserves plaudits for writing an informative and interesting book revealing his scholarly as well as analytical mind. I am sure that the book will be widely read and well received.

SENIOR JOURNALIST MANAS PAUL, on : Bridging Souls: A Journey from Mahabharata to Bharata

Just imagine that the crimes that were committed in the epic Mahabharata are committed in modern India.. what you will see..Pitamaha Vishma  is languishing in jail for life, Mother Kunti jailed for 10 years, Pandavas were going to be hanged ...., Kauravas might also get life sentence ....Shocked ?? .. I was too. But just take examples of  Jatugriha and look at the crimes that they committed- mass murder (302 IPC), arson (436 IPC) conspiracy [120 (B)]..and, of course, one more hiding evidence 201 IPC... The Pandavs for this only would have gone to gallows following death sentence in any court of law in India. Or for that matter, just consider,  Mother Kunti deserted infant Karna. She would have invited 317 IPC and 10 years jail. For Vishma the grand, almost heavenly character in the Mahabharata, he kidnapped three women for the purpose of marriage ( for others though). Under present Indian Penal Code he committed crime under section 366 and thus might have got 10 years jail term. But story does not end here. Since of the girls, Amba, committed suicide , any good lawyer in Indian court would have been able to establish that Vishma abetted the suicide and thus should be booked under 306 IPC.. and then the  Pitamaha would have been sent to prison for life. Kauravs, however, are found to be less in comparison to the Pandavas in committing crimes. One of the most heinous was when they sought to kill Bhim..that was under 307 IPC but since they were juvenile , may be court would have taken some lenient view..and for cattle lifting, they- all the 100 brothers- would have gone to jail.

All these were told in interesting way in a novel written by my close friend Arindam Nath, Assistant Inspector General of Police in his recent book--- Bridging Souls, A journey from Mahabharta to Bharata... The book has been published by Peacock Books (Atalanta Publication) New Delhi recently....

IN SEARCH OF THE SOUL OF INDIA, THE SEVEN SISTERS POST LITERARY REVIEW on Bridging Souls: A Journey from Mahabharata to Bharata in : By RANA JODHBIR JUNG

Roma,

Now I have no qualms about your overt affection for this police officer’s literary works! The midnight oil burnt itself out quite some time back and the moon has also dimmed its own light and slowly gone to sleep, while I am looking out of the bedroom window with tired eyes. You don’t seem to let go of me so easily, do you? And that is why you have also asked for my feedback on the book –immediately!

The Gods seemed to be kind to me, for once. Coincidence you may call it, but the lights went off the moment I closed the book. And I was just reveling in the idea of how pleasant it would be to listen to Akhtari Bai’s soul-stirring ghazals at this hour when the Gods laughed again. Within a mere two minutes, our room was flooded with light. Anyway, putting aside my silly excuses, I have got hold of my pen and paper now…

I remember you telling me that Arindam Nath, the author, is a man of simplewords and speaks straight from the heart.  Although you have read his works in Bengali, let me assure you, Roma, he is equally a pro in the language of Her Majesty! The book Bridging Souls – A Journey from Mahabharata to Bharata vividly describes simple events in simple words.

While the ‘Jatu Greeha’  incident, then seen as a survival strategy, could lead to  life imprisonment of the Pandavas, the embarrassment of Draupadi at the royal court that led to the infamous Kurukshetra war, would have been considered a minor crime.

The author turns into the protagonist, Dr Asamanja Bhowmik, and narrates his long journey in search of India’s soul. With the epic Mahabharata as its backdrop, the story revolves around the greater part of India that includes Delhi, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Bihar, Orissa, Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal. Arindam, in his introduction to the book, says that he had served as chairman of the recruitment board for the Tripura State Rifles jawans (outstate quota), hence the long journey. But in his book, Aridam calls the recruitment board chairman Ambujanabha Sharma, a man of enormous knowledge – someone who has literally gulped down the Mahabharata. As a skilled narrator Arindam keeps the reader turning the pages of the book – all 258 pages of it – which narrate, in the form of a journal, the various incidents encountered by the author during his journey. Let me also tell you, Roma, that Arindam babu has used as many as 18 versions of the Mahabharata in different languages, including one that has been passed down through generations of tribals, to produce this admirable piece of work.

As a result, quite a few interesting observations have come to my notice.  For example, some incidents that took place during the age of the Mahabharata are legally punishable offences as per the Indian Penal code formulated by Mr Macaulay, the British gentleman, in 1833 and enacted in 1861. The code is still in force in India in this 21st century with very few amendments. While the ‘Jatu Greeha’  incident, then seen as a survival strategy, could lead to  life imprisonment of the Pandavas, the embarrassment of Draupadi at the royal court that led to the infamous Kurukshetra war, would have been considered a minor crime. Mr Nath effectively points out that the Pandavas were more imperialistic, crime-prone and human rights trespassers than the Kauravas. Polygamy and extra-marital relationships had added to their social status – etcetera, etcetera.

But above and beyond all this, one thing that strikes me – and will also strike you, I’m sure – is the sweet love story the author tenderly weaves into the narrative. It is the story of the growing love between the protagonist, a Bengali doctor, and Harleen, a Punjabi girl.  Though the story begins a tad mysteriously, it continues devoid of any twists and reaches a predictable ending.

I would like to tell you here that the characters in the book also move around many areas of the country that are invaded by terrorists. And the author makes best use of them to express his views. He openly states that the Gorkhaland issue will not be solved until the political unrest in Nepal ceases. Being a man of authority himself, he can put forward his views rather blatantly – be they about Gorkhaland or the Maoists – and I must appreciate this.

And finally, my dear, allow me to tell you about the cover of the book. Published by Peacock Books, Bridging Souls… has been priced at INR 250 and the cover design has been done by Dilip Paswan, rifleman of Tripura State Rifles. Kudos to Mr Paswan. Bhai wah!!

Time to finish my letter for today.

Take care. 

PS: On two points in the book, I couldn’t agree with the author. Arindam, on page 132, states that Maharaja Bir Bikram Kishore Manikya of Tripura studied in Lucknow. I cannot second this.  The Maharaja had an English tutor, Lt Col. OC Pulley, and a Bengali master, I forgot his name. But I’ll let you know soon. Also, in the same place he mentions that Maharani Kanchanprabha Devi of Tripura hails from Lucknow. Sorry, Roma, your favourite author goes absolutely wrong here. Kanchanprabha Devi was born to the king of Panna, then a princely state, now in Madhya Pradesh. Today the state is known for the Indian Government’s ‘Project Tiger’. Did you know that only 1,411 tigers remain?