Byomkesh Bakshi: Stories by Saradindu Bandopadhyay

Translated by Monimala Dhar

This book has six good stories, but the translation is pretty pedestrian. After reading this collection, I felt like Rajit Kapur and Basu Chatterjee brought a suave finish to Byomkesh in the doordarshan series which is not palpable in the english translation.

The word Satyanveshi, the sobriquet for Byomkesh is translated as 'truth seeker'. I would have probably translated it as -'truth investigator' or 'detective of reality' - it has a better ring to it.

I did like the tour thru bengal landscape of Burdwan, Bishnupur etc, or very Bengali character names like Himangshu and Harish Chandra.

Overall, quick read. These stories deserve a better translator.