Professor Shanku

Professor Shanku { _bn. প্রোফেসর শঙ্কু, pronounced and spelt as Professor Shonku) is a fictional scientist created by Satyajit Ray in a series of Bangla science fiction books. His full name is Trilokeshwar Shanku, and by occupation, he is an inventor. He is the son of Dr. Tripureshwar Shanku. The family name Shanku is caste-less and class-less, as seen by the norms of Bengali Hindu society.

According to the Calcutta based English newspaper, The Statesman (dated January 11, 2002), Professor Shanku's father Tripureshwar was a physician. Professor Shanku was born on June 16. His nickname is Tilu. Professor Shanku passed matriculation examination of the University of Calcutta at the age of 15. At the age of 16, Professor Shanku received his BSc degree with honours in two subjects, Physics and Chemistry. At the age of 20, he joined the Scottish Church College in Calcutta as a professor of Physics.

Professor Shanku is a polyglot who knows 69 languages. His pet cat 'Newton' is 24 years old.

Professor Shanku books

Professor Shonku. New Script, Calcutta 1965.

Containing :
* Byomjatrir Diary (Sandesh September November 1961),
* Professor Shonku o Har (Sandesh, Jan. 1964),
* Professor Shonku o Macao (Sandesh, Autumn 1964),
* Professor Shonku o Egyptio Aatonko (Sandesh, April 1963),
* Professor Shonku o Ashcharya Putul (Sandesh, March 1965),
* Professor Shonku o Golok Rahasya (Sandesh, May 1965),
* Professor Shonku o Chi Ching (Sandesh, Autumn 1965). Later editions have two more stories:
* Professor Shonku o Khoka (Sandesh, July 1967),
* Professor Shonku o Bhoot (Ashcharya, Autumn 1966)

Professor Shonkur Kandokarkhana (Professor Shonku's Deeds). Ananda Publishers, Calcutta 1970.

Containing;
* Professor Shonku o Robo (Sandesh, February and March 1968),
* Professor Shonku o Kochabambar Guha (Sandesh, May 1969),
* Professor Shonku o Raktamatsya Rahashya (Sandesh, May and June 1968),
* Professor Shanku o Gorilla (Sandesh, Autumn 1969),
* Professor Shonku o Baghdad-er Baksa (Sandesh, March and April 1970)

Shabash Professor Sbonku (Bravo Professor Shonku). Ananda Publishers, Calcutta 1974.

Containing:
* Ashcharya Pranee (Sandesh, Autumn 1971),
* Swapnadweep (Sandesb, May and June 1971),
* Moru Rahasya (Sandesh, May and June 1972),
* Corvus (Anandamela, Autumn 1972),
* Dr. Sering er Smaramsakti (Anandamela, Autumn 1974)

Mahasankatey Shonku (Shonku in Deep Peril). Ananda Publishers, Calcutta 1977.

Containing:
* Shonkur Shanir Dasha (Anandamela, Autumn 1976),
* Shankur Subarna Sujog (Sandesh, April, May and June 1977),
* Hipnogen (Sandesh, April, May and June 1976)

Swayang Professor Shonku (None other than Professor Shonku). Ananda Publishers, Calcutta 1980.

Containing:
* Monror Dweeper Rahasya (Aanandamela, Autumn 1977),
* Kampu (Anandamela, Autumn 1978),
* Ek Shringa Abhijan, (Sandesh, December 1973 April 1974)

Shonku Ekai Aksho (Shonku, Worth a Hundred of them by himself). Ananda Publishers, Calcutta 1983.

Containing:
* Mahakasher Doot (Anandamela, Autumn 1979),
* Shonku'r Congo Abhijan. (Anandamela, Autumn 198 1),
* Nakurbabu o El Dorado (Anandamela, Autmnn 1980),
* Professor Shonku o UFO (Anandamela, Autumn, 1982)

Punashcha Shonku (Shonku once again). Ananda Publishers, Calcutta1993.

Containing:
* Ashcharjantu (Anandamela, Autumn 1983),
* Shonku o Adim Manush (Anandamela, Autumn 1986),
* Shonkur Paralok Charcha (Anandamela, Autumn 1987),
* Professor Randy-r Time Machine (Anandamela, Autumn 1985)

Selam Professor Shonku (Hats off, Professor Shonku). Ananda Publishers, Calcutta, 1995.

Containing:
* Nefrudet er Samadhi (Sandesh, Autumn, 1986),
* Dr. Daniel er Abishkar (Sandesh, Autumn 1988),
* Shonku o Frankenstein (Anandamela, Autumn 1988),
* Don Christobaldir Bhabishyadbani (Anandamela, Autumn 1989),
* Swarnaparnee (Anandamela, Autumn 1990),
* Intelectron (Anandamela, Autumn 1992),
* Deksel Island er Ghatana (Anandamela, Autumn 1992)

The character

The real name of Professor Shanku is Trilokeshwar Shanku. He lives in Giridih beside the river Usri. He has a male-servant named Prahllad and a cat named Newton living in the house.In his story "The Astronaut's Diary" (Byomjatrir diary) Ray introduced Professor Shonku, the protagonist of his science-fiction stories.

Other frequent characters

* Abinash Chatterjee/Majumdar (Abinash babu) - the completely non-scientific neighbor and friend who never understands the magnitude of Shonku's scientific breakthroughs and often finds them humiliating or amusing or insignificant.
* Nakur Chandra Biswas - the man with super natural power of predicting the future which he had from a Ball Lightning incident.
* Jeremy Saunders - the British scientist residing in London (as mentioned in Shornoporni).
* Wilhelm Krol - German scientist with interests on paranormal activities - quite unmindful (as described in Ekshringo Abhijan).
* Prohlad - Shonku's trusted servant and housekeeper for a long time.
* Newton- Shonku's long time pet cat

The inventions

He has his own laboratory there in his house in Giridi where he researches for loads of new and fantastic inventions.

Some of his extra-ordinary inventions are:

* "Miracurall" - A drug capsule that cures any ailment except common cold, the name is a short form of Miracle Cure for All Ailments.
* "Annihillin" - A pistol capable of annihilating (vanishing or vapourizing) anything that is living.... invented because Shonku does not like bloodshed It does not work on non living things (according to Shonku'r Congo Abhijan).
* "Shankoplane" - A small hovercraft created using anti-gravity technology, capable of vertical take-off and landing and magnificent mileage.
* "Shankovite" - The anti-gravity alloy by which Shankoplane was made.
* "Omniscope " - A combination of telescope and microscope, which looks like and can be worn as spectacles.
* "Air-conditioning pill" - A capsule to be kept in shirt pocket, that keeps the body temperature normal in extremes of climate.
* "Somnolin" - A sleeping pill that will work in any condition.
* "Evolutin" - A drug that makes people evolve 10 thousand years in 5 minutes.
* "Compudium" - Short for Computerized Medium, a device to contact departed souls.
* "Remembrane"- A device that makes people remember the things he forgot.
* "Robu" - A robot built with very cheap materials, programmed to answer any question asked to it.
* "Linguagraph" - A device that translates any earth language to any other. The translation capability is supposed to include animal languages, and works on cats, plants, ants and even viruses too. However, it does not work to translate speech of aliens.
* "Compu" - A computer brain designed by Shanku and other scientists, which later develops AI via an accident.
* "Intellectron" - A device to measure intelligence.
* "Ornithon" - A device to educate birds. Professor Shanku was able to "educate" a crow named Corvus using this device.
* "Snuff Gun" - A gun that causes snuffing for thirty three hours.
* "Pill for Nightmare" - Causes sleep and makes the taker have terrible nightmares.

The adventures

Professor Shanku had many adventures, in both real and fantastical places, some with historical leanings and some with great revelations connected to human civilisation.

Excerpts of some interesting adventures follow:

*"Professor Shonku o Khoka":A child who otherwise used to be normal, has "changed" after he fell and hurt his head. Once happy and gay, this child has become melancholy and speaks things which the parents do not follow and term as gibberish. The parents desperately seek help to get their boy back. A doctor finally suggests to see Shanku. Although initially Shanku was reluctant to see this boy as practicing medicines is not his profession - after he sees the boy it soon becomes obvious that this is indeed an extraordinary case worthy of his attention. What appeared as "gibberish" to his parents were actually meaningful facts which should normally be well beyond his or many other peoples reach, spoken in many different languages which the child had no way to learn. He also demonstrates psychic ability, where the flash of a camera stops working after he declares he doesn't want to be pictured but the reporter insists. Although the child seems to be omniscient, he appears sad and detached from the material world. The story ends when the child concocts a potion by mixing several very dangerous chemicals and acids, some of which were Shanku's own inventions, and gulps it down before Shanku had a chance to stop him. A short period of unconsciousness follows, after which the child wakes up as his normal old self. He then makes friends with Shanku, states he has no memory of things which happened in the last few days, and even asks for chocolates.

*"Professpr Shonku o Har":

Professor Shanku meets a fakir who has this ability to re-animate a living thing from its bones. Shonku tries to investigate, which enrages the fakir and the causes him to curse Shanku. Later in his life, Shanku discovers the remains of a dinosaur in a cave along with an assistant. The curse starts to take effect and the dinosaur comes back to life.

*"Professor Shonku o Golok Rahasya":

Shanku gets hold of a mysterious sphere which changes its color spontaneously and emanates various sounds. In fact, the sphere is a planet from another solar system and it has brought extraterrestrial life along.

*"Swapnadwip":

The Professor is haunted by a repeating dream where he along, with his friends, are stranded on a beautiful exotic island without any inhabitants. His friends also experience the same dream. It is as if the mysterious island is beckoning great scientists of the world to it.

*"Ek Shringo Avijan":

Shanku goes to Tibet, to find out about a Unicorn which is reported to be seen there. In the adventure, Shanku discovers a place where everybody's dreams come true... a Utopia.

*"Mahakasher doot":

Shanku tries to prove that human civilization has prospered thanks to the help of some alien civilisation that comes to Earth every 5000 years and teaches them something extraordinary. What are they going to reveal this time?

*"Nakurbabau o El Dorado":

Nokurbabu has the ability to make others see what he is thinking. He and Shanku are caught in a chain of events that lead them to the deep jungles of South America where El Dorado has always eluded discovery.

*"Professor Shonku o UFO":

Several sightings of UFOs makes headlines worldwide. However, this news is outdone by the news of the demolition of some of the greatest monuments of mankind. The Eiffel Tower and the Angkor Wat are destroyed, and the aliens are blamed. Nokurbabu joins Shanku and other scientists who discover that the UFO has its base in the Gobi desert. They find the UFO and go aboard. They are captured immediately, not by the aliens, but by a mad scientist who is the present owner of the UFO and who is in fact the destroyer of the monuments, driven because he was denied his due honour in the scientific community. His next target is the Taj Mahal.

*"Swarnaparnee":

This is the story of a young Shanku when he visited Germany on the eve of World War II. A fascinating story about how Shanku went on to meet Herman Goering and finally evaded the Nazis.

External links

* [http://www.satyajitray.com/content/books/fictions.htm List of Professor Shonku books]