Tarini Khuro

Tarini khuro is an aged bachelor living Beniatolla Lane, at College Street in Kolkata (or what was then Calcutta). He first lived in Dhaka from there he was known to the father of the story-teller (Paltu). His full name is Tarini Charan Banerjee (Bengali: তারিণীচরণ ব্যানার্জী). He is a very efficient story-teller. He tells stories supposedly based on his long professional life. The audience is a bunch of 5 young guys.

The range of the stories are varied — from ghost stories (many of which are not horror stories though) to comedy stories. Most of the stories portray the quick wit of Tarini khuro in the face of imminent problems/dangers whereas some stories depict how Tarini khuro had some close shaves by the stroke of luck. Tarini khuro has worked fifty six different trades, both business and service trades, in thirty-three cities all over India. This has resulted in his unending stock of stories full of strange incidents which can easily surpass two volumes of The Arabian Nights. There is a little exaggeration in his storytelling for the sake of art. He has not stayed in the same job for more than a period of one year. At the age of 64 he has settled down in a flat in Beniatola Lane in Kolkata.

It may be observed here that like Premendra Mitra's GhanaDa, Tarini khuro likes to tell tall tales, although unlike GhanaDa, there is no way of ascertaining the veracity of these stories. He has had an adventurous life and has (like his creator Ray) largely steered clear from the tremendous political (and social) upheavals that were so much visible in twentieth century India. Although Tarini is apparently born in a Bengali middle class family and is well-to-do in terms of inheritance and social networks, he seeks out occupations all over India (in other words, he does not limit himself to Bengal) for the sheer joy of doing so. And although it is clear that he does not enjoy the benefits of a pensionable service or an annuity or insurance policy, he has to tell tales to get his afternoon tea and snacks. His audience consists of five school children in a middle class dual income Bengali family, who do not have time to spend with their children during the afternoons or evening.

Tarinikhuror Kirtikolap (Meaning The Feats of Tarini Khuro) is a book written by Satyajit Ray which is the compilation of eight Tarini khuro stories. The book was first published in September, 1985 by Ananda Publishers. Later all the stories of "Tarini Khuro" were included in "Golpo 101" (Meaning One Hundred and One Stories), a book by Satyajit Ray. And there is a book, Tarini Khuror Abhijan (Meaning "The Adventure of Tarini Khuro") contains some stories of Tarinikhuro.

Paltu is a teenage boy who is the storyteller. Tarini khuro is not Paltu's uncle, but from Paltu's childhood he has seen Tarini khuro visit their place quite frequently. Before Paltu was born, Tarinkhuro and his family were neighbours in Dhaka. Hence, he was called khuro or uncle by Paltu's father. He has remained khuro or uncle for Paltu and his five friends as well. Napla, one of the five friends of Paltu once called him grandpa only to be scolded by Tarini khuro. He asked him to call him uncle or khuro since he was fitter than a lot of young men.

Tarini khuro visits Paltu's place and at once the news goes out to the other five friends. They all gather to hear the amazing stories from khuro. Tarinikhuro tells his amazing stories while enjoying the tea without milk and sugar as preferred by him, which is delivered by Paltu's servant Lakshman. He also smokes his favourite brand of export quality bidi.

Below are excerpts from a few of Tarini khuro's adventures.

• Sheth Gangaram-er Dhan Daulat

Tarini khuro goes to Ajmer to work as a secretary of Seth Gangaram who is a patient of his uncle and very wealthy. Gangaram was a trader of jewels and has wealthy items like the locket of Jahangir. Gangaram appointed Khuro as the teacher of his notorious youngest son Mahabir. Mahabir did not like him at first and went on to throw scorpions at him but Khuro with his courage won his heart. Later on dacoit Tota Singh robbed Sethji and incidentally looked exactly like Khuro as Khuro had a Rajasthani style moustache at that point in time. The police were tipped of about Khuro being the dacoit and came to arrest him. But Mahabir saved Khuro by giving him sleeping pills in his drink and shaving his moustache and head as he was asleep.

• Kheloyar Tarini khuro

Tarini khuro is appointed as the secretary of Virendrapratap Singh, king of Martandapur in Uttar Pradesh. Virendrapratap's father Rajendrapratap used to be a skilled cricketer in his day and had gone to England to watch the great Ranjitsinhji play. Ranjitsinhji had presented him a bat of his with which he had scored 202 runs for Sussex against Middlesex. Khuro has to play in a match against the British Planters' team for the Martandapur Cricket Club at the king's special request. Ranjitsinhji's amazing bat does the trick as khuro feels Ranjitsinhji himself has come inside him to play and eventually they win the match despite having a weaker team.

• Doomnigar-er Manuskheko (The Man-eater of Doomnigarh)
• Conway castle-er Pretatma (The Phantom of Conway Castle)
• Khelowaar Tarini Khuro (Tarini Khuro as a Sportsman)
• Tarini Khuro O Betaal (Uncle Tarini and Betal)
• Tollywood-e Tarini Khuro (Tarini Khuro in Tollywood)
• Lucknow-er Duel (A Duel in Lucknow)
• Dhumalgar-er Hunting Lodge (The Hunting Lodge of Dhumalgarh)
• Juti (The Two Comedians)
• Seth Gongaram-er Dhanodoulot (The treasure of Seth Gangaram)
• Galpoboliye Tarini Khuro (The Storyteller Tarini Khuro)
• Maharajah Tarini khuro (Uncle Tarini, the Maharaja)
• Tarini khuro o Oindrojalik (Tarini khuro & The Magician)
• Norris Saheb-er Bungalow (The Bungalow of Mr. Norris)
• Mohim Sannal-er Ghotona (The Affair of Mohim Sannal)
• Gonotkar Tarini khuro (Fortune Teller Tarini khuro)

• Paltu - Khuro comes to Paltu's house in Ballygunge to tell his stories.
• Napla - Paltu's friend and listener of Khuro's stories. He is the smartest of the lot and the only one who questions and taunts khuro when he goes on exaggerating the facts.
• Bhulu - Paltu's friend and listener of Khuro's stories.
• Chatpati - Paltu's friend and listener of Khuro's stories.
• Sunanda - Paltu's friend and listener of Khuro's stories.
• Lakshman - Paltu's servant.

In Sunday Suspense series of 98.3 Radio Mirchi (Kolkata), many Tarini Khuro stories has been performed by Paran Bandopadhyay, Mir Afsar Ali, Deep (RJ), Richard (DJ) and various other artists.

• Satyajit Ray
• Feluda
• Feluda in other media
• Literary works of Satyajit Ray
• Professor Shonku
• Tarini Khuro in other media
• Kolkata culture
• Culture of Bengal
• Culture of West Bengal
• Bengali literature
• History of Bengali literature
• List of Bengali-language authors (chronological)

• Satyajit Ray Bibliography