Last year saw New Town Kolkata Development Authority (NKDA) bring Professor Trilokeshwar Shonku, one of Satyajit Ray’s most beloved characters to life through a park. At the entrance stands a regal replica of the genius scientist, accompanied by his pet cat, Newton. In his hand is his invention, the Annihilin, a pistol that can obliterate any living thing
TT file pictureProfessor Shonku’s iconic lab in Giridih has also been featured, comprising some of his most popular innovations like the all-knowing robot, Bidhushekhar
Vedant KariaOpposite the lab is a wall adorned with graffiti that depicts aspects of the character most fundamental to his existence. We see multiple iterations of the physicist immersed in his experiments
Vedant KariaThe most iconic part of the park is easily the giant replica of Professor Shonku’s Omniscope. In Ray’s stories, this seemingly standard pair of spectacles tripled up to provide telescope, microscope and X-ray-scope vision
Vedant KariaThe park is not only a love letter to the character, but a trivia test for the most ardent fans. Supporting characters also get their due, as the Professor Shonku’s genius crow, Corvus finds a place here, enclosed within his bird-educating device, Ornithon
Vedant Karia