Empty tables
Sir — Any mention of iftar and Ramazan evokes images of tables laden with delectable food. However, rising food prices have meant that people have had to considerably cut back on some of their favourite iftar dishes. Essentials such as dates have seen an exponential rise in prices not only owing to climate change but also because of the Israeli invasion of Palestine, which is among the biggest exporters of dates worldwide. Fruits, too, are more expensive as are refined oils in which many iftar dishes are fried. Spartan tables around the world, though, seem full in comparison to the empty ones in Palestinian homes.
Humza Ferozie, Calcutta
Fan favourite
Sir — Although Sonar Kella is a Feluda film, Jatayu will always remain my favourite character (“F.R.I.E.N.D.S”, Mar 27). Jatayu faces dangers shoulder-to-shoulder with Felu and Topshe. Not only did he laugh in the face of ‘bipod’ while going to rescue Mukul in Sonar Kella but he also encouraged Felu to continue with his investigation in spite of his ordeal at the hands of Maganlal Meghraj in Joy Baba Felunath. Jatayu also represents a true Bengali bhadralok in his literary skills and his wanderlust.
Uddalak Mukherjee highlights Jatayu’s “flawed Hindi”, but it must be noted that the latter tries his best to master a language that was not his mother tongue. It is time Bengalis stop mocking their brethren for speaking in flawed Hindi. After all, Hindi-speakers rarely speak perfect Bengali. As far as Mukherjee’s conjecture about a subaltern Feluda is concerned, each and every fictional character is unique. A subaltern Feluda would be no more attractive than a bhadralok Tenida. Readers must enjoy the diversity in literature.
Kajal Chatterjee, Calcutta
Sir — Imagine the times when a reticent Feluda was trying to untangle the knots of a mystery in his head and Topshe would try to make sense of his cousin’s silence. In these moments, Jatayu’s arrival, usually with piping hot singaras, would be a respite for both the Mitters and the readers. The role played by the so-called ‘sidekicks’ in detective stories thus cannot be undermined. Jatayu not only added comic twists to the plot but also contributed to the resolution of cases with his seemingly innocuous moves. While the quiet and dignified Feluda was the mainstay of these adventures, the garrulous Jatayu was as important to the stories. So much so that Satyajit Ray refused to make Feluda films after Santosh Dutta passed away.
Amit Brahmo, Calcutta
Sir — Most Bengalis grow up on a steady diet of Feluda mysteries. The article, “F.R.I.E.N.D.S”, made me want to rewatch Sonar Kella especially for Jatayu’s grand entry. No one could have played Jatayu better than Santosh Dutta. Interestingly, in contrast to serious detectives like Feluda, Byomkesh and Kiriti, the character of Eken Babu combines the intellect of a detective with the comic relief provided by Jatayu.
Alok Ganguly, Nadia
Sir — It is difficult to believe that Sonar Kella has completed 50 years. When one is young, one tends to think that Lalmohanbabu is just a funny character who is often scandalously wrong about geography, science and, more horrifyingly, the pronunciation of English words. But with age, my appreciation for Lalmohanbabu has increased. Not only is this character unafraid to admit that he does not know something but he is also ever-eager to learn. Neither Topshe’s nor Feluda’s condescension deters him from ‘expanding his mind’.
Not to mention the fact that Lalmohanbabu always puts his friends above his myriads of fears. In fact, he actively saves Feluda and Topshe on many of their adventures such as “Joto Kando Kathmandu Te”, “Baksho Rahasya” and “Tintorettor Jishu”. It gives me great joy when Lalmohanbabu’s importance in the Feluverse is recognised.
Ishan Mukherjee, Calcutta
Sir — Uddalak Mukherjee names many detectives and their ‘sidekicks’ in his article. Yet, the one duo that perhaps reminds me the most of the friendship shared by Feluda and Lalmohanbabu is that of Tintin and Captain Haddock. Like Haddock had done with Tintin, Jatayu bumbles into Feluda’s life one fine day and becomes an inseparable part of it. While both Tintin and Felu were completely capable of solving mysteries on their own, Haddock and Jatayu make the fabric of their lives richer with their friendship. Tintin would have been friendless — with the exception of Chang who comes much later and is not a part of their everyday adventures — had it not been for Captain Haddock. The fact that Satyajit Ray was a self-admitted Tintin fan — Feluda stories and films are littered with references to the Belgian boy detective — makes me suspect that he might have taken inspiration from Hergé while fleshing out Feluda and Jatayu.
A.K. Sen, Calcutta
Sir — The article, “F.R.I.E.N.D.S”, by Uddalak Mukherjee was a source of solace amidst the charged atmosphere of the elections. The reference to the first appearance of Jatayu in Sonar Kella was nostalgic. Equally memorable is the sequence where he rides a camel.
Sukhendu Bhattacharjee, Hooghly
