Bhajahari Mukhujjee (Bengali: ভজহরি মুখার্জী), commonly known as Tenida (

Bengali Bengali or Bengalee, or Bengalese may refer to: *something of, from, or related to Bengal, a large region in South Asia * Bengalis, an ethnic and linguistic group of the region * Bengali language, the language they speak ** Bengali alphabet, the w ...

: টেনিদা) or Teni (see

Tenida Bhajahari Mukhujjee (Bengali: ভজহরি মুখার্জী), commonly known as Tenida (Bengali: টেনিদা) or Teni (see Tenida for ''da''), is a fictional native of Potoldanga in Calcutta, who appears in a number of short ...

for ''da''), is a fictional native of Potoldanga in

Calcutta Kolkata (, or , ; also known as Calcutta , List of renamed places in India#West Bengal, the official name until 2001) is the Capital city, capital of the Indian States and union territories of India, state of West Bengal, on the eastern ba ...

, who appears in a number of short stories and larger works of the

author

Narayan Gangopadhyay Narayan Gangopadhyay (4 February 1918 – 8 November 1970), also known as Narayan Ganguly, was an Indian novelist, poet, essayist, and short story writer, and one of the leading writers of modern Bengali literature. He introduced the endearing ...

. The leader of a group of four young lads who lived in the neighbourhood of Potoldanga, Tenida was depicted as the local big-mouthed airhead, who, although not blessed with academic capabilities, was admired and respected by the other three for his presence of mind, courage, and honesty as well as his vociferous

appetite Appetite is the desire to eat food items, usually due to hunger. Appealing foods can stimulate appetite even when hunger is absent, although appetite can be greatly reduced by satiety. Appetite exists in all higher life-forms, and serves to regu ...

. Descriptions of Tenida's

nose A nose is a protuberance in vertebrates that houses the nostrils, or nares, which receive and expel air for respiration alongside the mouth. Behind the nose are the olfactory mucosa and the sinuses. Behind the nasal cavity, air next passes th ...

also make frequent appearances in the text, being described as "''a large nose resembling

Mount Mainak Mainaka () or Mainaka Parvata, is a mountain from the Hindu epic Ramayana, the son of Himavan. He is the brother of the goddess Parvati. Mainaka is an ally of Hanuman, having helped the deity on his journey to Lanka. Legend According to the B ...

''". The narrator of the stories is Pyalaram, who seemed to share his leader's frailty in academic exertions. The other two characters who formed an integral part of the quartet were Habul Sen, who speaks with strong East Bengali accent (Dhakai) and Kyabla, the cleverest among the four. The stories of Tenida are basically two types. (i) Tenida narrates fabricated stories of his so-called heroism (ii)Tenida & Pyala or all the four are involved in hilarious

adventures An adventure is an exciting experience or undertaking that is typically bold, sometimes risky. Adventures may be activities with danger such as traveling, exploring, skydiving, mountain climbing, scuba diving, river rafting, or other extreme sp ...

where the gang goes through interesting situations but solves the mystery at the end. The short stories were extensively based in

and its

suburbs A suburb (more broadly suburban area) is an area within a metropolitan area, which may include commercial and mixed-use, that is primarily a residential area. A suburb can exist either as part of a larger city/urban area or as a separate ...

, but the Charmurti traveled to Hajaribag, Duars,

Darjeeling Darjeeling (, , ) is a town and municipality in the northernmost region of the Indian state of West Bengal. Located in the Eastern Himalayas, it has an average elevation of . To the west of Darjeeling lies the easternmost province of Nepal, ...

where their pleasure trip turned into a series of mysterious incidents. The suffix ''da'' used after his actual nickname ''Teni'' is short for ''dada''(elder brother) which is used to initiate conversations with an elderly male stranger in colloquial Bengali. The shorthand, used after a person's name, is a mark of respect and acknowledgment of seniority. He is the leader of the gang. He is an indigent

Bengali Brahmin The Bengali Brahmins are Hindu Brahmins who traditionally reside in the Bengal region of the Indian subcontinent, currently comprising the Indian state of West Bengal and the country of Bangladesh. The Bengali Brahmins, along with Baidyas and ...

. In the story entitled as "Kombol Niruddesh" (Bengali: কম্বল নিরুদ্দেশ ), it is mentioned that he knows

Boxing Boxing (also known as "Western boxing" or "pugilism") is a combat sport in which two people, usually wearing protective gloves and other protective equipment such as hand wraps and mouthguards, throw punches at each other for a predetermined ...

and

Judo is an unarmed gendai budō, modern Japanese martial art, Olympic sport (since 1964), and the most prominent form of jacket wrestling competed internationally.『日本大百科全書』電子版【柔道】(CD-ROM version of Encyclopedia Nipponi ...

.In the same story,Tenida knocked down a man of 112 kg weight with a single swirl.

History

In March of 1946 Narayan Gangopadhyay, shifted to a rented house at Patoldanga,Kolkata, where his Landlord was Shri.Probhat Mukherjee (Tenida). Narayan Gangopadyay had a good relation with his landlord, to the extent where the two families were almost family friends. When Bishu Mukherjee approached him for stories for 'Mouchak". Tenida was created initially to mock his landlord in two stories "Matsya-Puran" & "Khattango O Pallanno". Other two characters Kybla & Habul were added subsequently and profile of Tenida also evolved.

Other main characters

Pyalaram

Pyalaram (Bengali: প্যালারাম), the narrator of the stories, wrote from the point of view of the

writer A writer is a person who uses written words in different writing styles and techniques to communicate ideas. Writers produce different forms of literary art and creative writing such as novels, short stories, books, poetry, travelogues, p ...

himself. He was a timid member and suffered from a chronic stomach ailment. His unfavourite food items appear to be ''potol diye singhi maacher jhol'' (a type of fish curry with Pointed gourd) and ''bashok patar rosh'' (the juice of the malabar nut leaf). Pyalaram followed in his Tenida's footsteps, having repeated his final year in school for two years before passing

matriculation Matriculation is the formal process of entering a university, or of becoming eligible to enter by fulfilling certain academic requirements such as a matriculation examination. Australia In Australia, the term "matriculation" is seldom used now ...

with the rest of the gang. Pyala's real name is Kamalesh Banerjee (Bengali: কমলেশ ব্যানার্জী). These names are listed, among other stories in the short

novella A novella is a narrative prose fiction whose length is shorter than most novels, but longer than most short stories. The English word ''novella'' derives from the Italian ''novella'' meaning a short story related to true (or apparently so) facts ...

in "Tenidar Abhijan" entitled "Charmurtir Abhijan". Like Tenida, he is also a

Kyabla

Kushal Mitra (Bengali: কুশল মিত্র) also known as Kyabla (Bengali: ক্যাবলা). Kyabla is supposedly the most intelligent, smart and brave among them. Clever and the top among his classmates, this handsome and dapper young man is the backbone of this group. Tenida always looks up to Kyabla for finding solutions to tricky situations. Kyabla has solved all the mysteries in all the adventures that they have been to. He is the integral part of Tenida's gang. The word ''Kyabla'' in

means ''stupid''. He is a Bengali

Kayastha Kayastha (also referred to as Kayasth) denotes a cluster of disparate Indian communities broadly categorised by the regions of the Indian subcontinent in which they were traditionally locatedthe Chitraguptavanshi Kayasthas of North India, the C ...

by caste.

Habul

Habul's (Bengali: হাবুল) family hailed from

East Bengal ur, , common_name = East Bengal , status = Province of the Dominion of Pakistan , p1 = Bengal Presidency , flag_p1 = Flag of British Bengal.svg , s1 = East ...

, a fact that is blatantly obvious by his strong ''Bangal'' accent characteristic of people from Eastern Bengal. Habul's parents probably lived in

Bikrampur Bikrampur ("City of Courage") was a pargana situated south of Dhaka, the modern capital city of Bangladesh. In the present day, it is known as Munshiganj District of Bangladesh. It is a historic region in Bengal and was a part of the Bhawal Est ...

in what is now

Bangladesh Bangladesh (}, ), officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh, is a country in South Asia. It is the eighth-most populous country in the world, with a population exceeding 165 million people in an area of . Bangladesh is among the mos ...

before moving to

. Habul Sen stands out in having an independent character — he is timid but not as much as Pyalaram. He is also a very good student unlike Tenida and Pyalaram. Habul's real name is Swarnendu Sen (Bengali: স্বর্ণেন্দু সেন). In some novels, we come to know that he knows

boxing Boxing (also known as "Western boxing" or "pugilism") is a combat sport in which two people, usually wearing protective gloves and other protective equipment such as hand wraps and mouthguards, throw punches at each other for a predetermined ...

Books of Tenida

Novels

#Charmurti (Bengali: চারমূর্তি) #Char Murtir Obhijan (Bengali: চারমূর্তির অভিযান) #Kombol Niruddesh (Bengali: কম্বল নিরুদ্দেশ) #Tenida Aar Sindhughotok (Bengali: টেনিদা আর সিন্ধুঘোটক) #Jhau-banglor Rahasyo (Bengali: ঝাউবাংলোর রহস্য)

Short stories

# Dadhichi, Poka, O Bishwakarma (Bengali: দধীচি, পোকা ও বিশ্বকর্মা) # Khottango O Polanno (Bengali: খট্টাঙ্গ ও পলান্ন) # Matsyo-Puran (Bengali: মৎস্য-পুরাণ) # Peshawar Ki Aamir (Bengali: পেশোয়ার কী আমীর) # Kaak Kahini (Bengali: কাক কাহিনী) # Cricket Maane Jhijhi (Bengali: ক্রিকেট মানে ঝিঁঝিঁ) # Porer Upokaar Korio Na (Bengali: পরের উপকার করিও না) # Chengiz Aar Hamlin-Er Banshiwala (Bengali: চেঙ্গিস আর হ্যামলিনের বাঁশিওয়ালা) # Dhaus (Bengali: ঢাউস) # Nidarun Protishodh (Bengali: নিদারুণ প্রতিশোধ) # Tottwabodhan Maane-Jeebe Prem (Bengali: তত্বাবধান মানে-জীবে প্রেম) # Doshanoncharit (Bengali: দশাননচরিত) # The Great Chhantai (Bengali: দি গ্রেট ছাঁটাই) # Camouflage (Bengali: ক্যামোফ্লেজ) # Kuttimamar Haater Kaaj (Bengali: কুট্টিমামার হাতের কাজ) # Shanghatik (Bengali: সাংঘাতিক) # Bon-Bhojoner Byapar (Bengali: বন-ভোজনের ব্যাপার) # Kuttimamar Donto-Kahini (Bengali: কুট্টিমামার দন্ত-কাহিনী) # Probhatshongeet (Bengali: প্রভাতসঙ্গীত) # Bhojohari Film Corporation (Bengali: ভজহরি ফিল্ম কর্পোরেশন) # Chamchike Aar Ticket Checker (Bengali: চামচিকে আর টিকিট চেকার) # Brahmhobikasher Dontobikash (Bengali: ব্রহ্মবিকাশের দন্তবিকাশ) # Tiktikir Lyaj (Bengali: টিকটিকির ল্যাজ) # Bearing Chhaant (Bengali: বেয়ারিং ছাঁট) # Kankrabichhe (Bengali: কাঁকড়াবিছে) # Honolulur Makuda (Bengali: হনলুলুর মাকুদা) # Haalkhaataar Khaowadaowa (Bengali: হালখাতার খাওয়াদাওয়া) # Ghunteparar Shei Match (Bengali: ঘুঁটেপাড়ার সেই ম্যাচ) # Tenida Aar Yeti (Bengali: টেনিদা আর ইয়েতি) # Ekadoshir Ranchi Yatra (Bengali: একাদশীর রাঁচি যাত্রা) # Nyangchadar Hahakar (Bengali: ন্যাংচাদার হাহাকার) # Bhajagourango Katha (Bengali: ভজগৌরাঙ্গ কথা) # Ekti Football Match (Bengali: একটি ফুটবল ম্যাচ)

One-act play

# Porer Upokar Korio Na (Bengali: পরের উপকার করিও না)

Essays about Tenida

# Kichu Kotha: Boi Niye, Tenidake Niye (Bengali: কিছু কথা: ব‌ই নিয়ে, টেনিদাকে নিয়ে) # Potoldangar Shei Tenidar Boyosh Ekhon Ponchattor (Bengali: পটলডাঙার সেই টেনিদার বয়স এখন পঁচাত্তর)

Anthologies

# Shomogro Kishore Sahitya (Bengali: সমগ্ৰ কিশোর সাহিত্য) # Tenida Samagra (Bengali: টেনিদা সমগ্র)

In other media

Films

*''

Charmurti ''Charmurti'' (The Four Heroes) is a Bengali comedy adventure film directed by Umanath Bhattacharya based on a Tenida novel of Narayan Gangopadhyay in the same name. This movie was released in 1978 in the banner of ''Mokshada Films''. Plot Aft ...

'' (1978) Based on the eponymous novel, this story is about the adventures of Tenida and Co. when they go for an outing near Ramgarh and happens to encounter a gang involved in making counterfeit bank-notes. The film was directed by Umanath Bhattacharya. In the film

Chinmoy Roy Chinmoy Roy (1940–2019) was an Indian Bengali male actor. He was famous for his comic roles in Bengali movies, though his versatility has allowed him to play a variety of roles. Though he was known for portraying various character roles, Ro ...

played the role of Tenida. *''

Tenida (film) ''Tenida'' is a Bengali comedy adventure film directed by Chinmoy Roy and produced by Tower Solar System loosely based on a Tenida novel ''Charmurtir Abhijan'' by Narayan Gangopadhyay. This film was released in 2011. Director Roy himself played ...

'' (2011) This film was loosely adapted from ''Charmurtir Abhijaan''. It was directed by Chinmoy Roy and

Subhasish Mukhopadhyay Subhasish Mukherjee ( bn, শুভাশীষ মুখার্জি) is an Indian Bengali actor. He is a well-known actor in Bengali cinema. He generally appears in comedy and in supporting roles. Some of his well-known films where he acted ...

acted as Tenida in this film. *'' Tenida And Co. (film) (T.B.A.) An upcoming film, adapted from "Jhau-bunglor Rahasyo", directed by

Sayantan Ghosal Sayantan Ghosal is an Indian film director and editor in Bengali cinema. He has directed several movies, including ''Jawker Dhan'', ''Sagardwipey Jawker Dhan', and Satyanweshi Byomkesh.'' He directed ''Byomkesh Season 1-Season 3'' for the ...

Kanchan Mullick Kanchan Mullick is an Indian Bengali film and television actor and politician. In addition to the television show ''Janata Express'', Kanchan has also acted in movies like ''Mahakaal'' and ''Ranjana Ami Ar Ashbona''. He is also a Bengali theatr ...

will portray Tenida.

Animated TV series

animated series An animated series is a set of animated works with a common series title, usually related to one another. These episodes should typically share the same main characters, some different secondary characters and a basic theme. Series can have either ...

featuring Tenida started airing on ''

Zee Bangla Zee Bangla is an Indian general entertainment pay television channel broadcasting in the Bengali language. It is owned by the Zee Entertainment Enterprises. It is the first Bengali-language satellite television channel in India, officially com ...

''. Tenida was voiced by

Sabyasachi Chakrabarty Sabyasachi Chakrabarty is an Indian actor of theatre, films and television Television, sometimes shortened to TV, is a telecommunication medium for transmitting moving images and sound. The term can refer to a television set, or the ...

, who is famous for playing

Feluda Feluda, or Prodosh Chandra Mitra itter'', is a fictional detective, Private investigator created by famous Indian director and writer Satyajit Ray. Feluda resides at 21 Rajani Sen Road, Ballygunge, Calcutta, West Bengal. Feluda first made his ap ...

in the recent

film A film also called a movie, motion picture, moving picture, picture, photoplay or (slang) flick is a work of visual art that simulates experiences and otherwise communicates ideas, stories, perceptions, feelings, beauty, or atmosphere ...

s.Kyabla was voiced by Debasish Ghosh, who also wrote the script.Habul was voiced by Tapan Chakroborty. He was also the drama director. Pyalaa was voiced by Abhijit Biswas. Although, none of the character's description of hair colour is given in the books, but in the comics, they all have black hair, but in this series, Tenida has red hair, Pyalaa has brown hair, Habul has Violet and Kyabla has black hair.

Comics

The first comics was published in Anondomela Pujabarshiki in 80s — ''Crickter Tenida'' adapted from the story ''Cricket Maane Jhijhi''. The later comic adaptations were published through

Anandamela ''Anandamela'', ''Anondamela'', or ''Anondomela'' (Bengali: আনন্দমেলা) is a children's periodical in the Bengali language published by the ABP Group from Kolkata, India. History and profile The first issue of ''Anandamela'' ...

. Arijit Dutta Chaudhuri illustrated these comics. Chronologically these comics are: # ''Jhau-bunglor Rahasyo'' # ''Tenida Aar Sindhughotok'' # ''Tenida Aar Yeti'' # ''Dadhichi, Poka, O Bishwakarma'' # ''Matsyo-Puran'' First 3 of them are also available as comic books viz. ''Jhau-bunglor Rahasyo'' and ''Tenida: Sindhughotok Aar

Yeti The Yeti ()"Yeti"
''Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary''. is an ape-like creature purported t ...

'' from Ananda Publishers .This comics are illustrated by Arijit Dutta Chaudhuri. Recently, in 2009 ''Pujabarshiki Sandesh'', edited by Sandip Ray, Harshomohan Chattoraj illustrated a comics on Tenida Story: ''Bhajagorango Katha''.Tenida Treasury blog : http://tenida-treasury.blogspot.in/p/tenida-artists.html

References

External links

* Tenida Treasury Blog
Tenida-treasury
{{Kolkata topics Culture of Kolkata Fictional Bengali people Fictional Indian people