Editor’s Note: From the golden pages of Bengali literature and pulp fiction emerge seven icons who have shaped generations of readers across the Indian subcontinent. Here stands Bantul the Great, whose iron chest deflects bullets and whose fists turn villainous skulls to dust—no jest intended. Beside him, the desi Bond himself, Dipak Chatterjee, a lethal name to whisper in criminal circles, his game as sharp as his aim. Ghanada spins tales so outrageous that every pie hides his finger, yet the whole gang somehow finds no trace, no alibi to pin him down. The rotund Gopal Bhar, the king’s bestie and court jester rolled into one, proves that wit needs no escape when you can outwit them all. Professor Shanku, accompanied by his loyal robot Robu, flicks a switch and problems cease—science fiction at its finest, a masterpiece of invention and imagination. And finally, Taranath Tantrik, the mystic who wields love as his weapon against tantric darkness, his Passing Show a glimpse into realms where the supernatural surrenders to higher wisdom. Together, these legends form Bengal’s literary pantheon—a roster where brawn meets brain, humor dances with horror, and every adventure carries the unmistakable flavor of Bengali storytelling at its most inventive.
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