Tenida

Tenida as depicted in the cover of the comprehensive collection "Tenida Samagra".

Tenida (Bengali টেনিদা) or Teni (see Tenida for da) is a fictional native of Potoldanga in Calcutta, who appears in a number of short stories and larger works of the Bengali author Narayan Gangopadhyay. 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 with a heart of gold, who, although not blessed with academic capabilities, was admired and respected by the rest of the three for his presence of mind, courage, honesty as well as his vociferous appetite. Descriptions of Tenida's nose also make frequent appearances in the text, being described as "a large nose resembling Mount Mainak". The narrator of the stories is Pyalaram, who seemed to share his leaders frailty in academic exertions. The other two characters who formed an integral part of the quartet were Habul Sen, who spoke with strong East Bengali accent (Dhakai) and Kyabla- the cleverest amongst the four.

The stories of Tenida and his gang were usually one of comedy-adventure where the gang goes through a lot of pain- and humiliation- to solve a mystery which were mostly of comical solutions. The short stories were extensively based in Calcutta and it's suburbs, while some of the larger stories took the group to the Bengal countryside, and at times further away.

It is said that Narayan Gangopadhyay created the character of Tenida on his landlord (who had the same name)- with whom he was a very good friend.

Main Characters in the Tenida Universe

File:Tenida and gang.jpg

Tenida and the usual suspects from a single-panel illustration in 'Tenida ar Sindhughotok'

Tenida

The suffix da used after his actual nickname Teni is short for dada (elder brother) which is used to initiate conversations with a elderly male stranger in colloquial Bengali. The short hand, used after a person's name is a mark of respect and acknowledgment of seniority. Tenida's real name is Bhojohori Mukherji. He is an indigent Bengali Brahmin.

Pyalaram

Pyalaram, the narrator of the stories, wrote from the point of view of the writer himself. He was a timid member and suffered from a chronic stomach ailment. His unfavorite food items appear to be potol diye singhi maacher jhol (fish curry) and bashok patar rosh (coriander juice). Pyalaram followed in his Tenida's footsteps, having repeated his final year in school for two years before passing matriculation with the rest of the gang. Pyala's real name is Kamalesh Banerji. These names are listed, among other stories in the short novella in "Tenidar Abhijan" entitled "Charmurtir Abhijan". Like Tenida, he is also a Bengali Brahmin.

Kyabla

Kushal Mitra- aka Kyabla. 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. Ironically and laced with a touch of humor, the word Kyabla in bengali literally means stupid. He is a Bengali Kayastha by caste.

Habul Sen

Habul Sen's family hailed from East Bengal, a fact that is blatantly obvious by his strong Bangal accent characteristic of people from Eastern Bengal. Habul's parents probably lived in Bikrampur in what is now Bangladesh before moving to Calcutta. Habul Sen stands out in having an independent character - he is timid but not as much as Pyalaram. He is also a very odd student unlike Tenida and Pyalaram. Habul's real name is Swarnendu.

Works in which Tenida makes an appearance

File:Chaarmurti.jpg

DVD cover of a popular film based on a Tenida novel

Novels

1. Charmurti
2. Charmurtir abhijan
3. Kombol niruddesh
4. Tenida aar sindhughotok
5. Jhau-bungalor rahasyo
6. Tenida

Short stories

1. Ekti football match
2. Dadhichi, poka, o bishwakarma
3. Khottango o polanno
4. Matsyo-Puran
5. Peshawar ki amir
6. Kaak kahini
7. Cricket maane jhijhi
8. Porer upokaar koreo na
9. Chengiz aar Hamlin-er banshiwala
10. Dhaus
11. Nidarun protishodh
12. Tottwabodhan maane jeebe prem
13. Doshanoncharit
14. The Great Chhantai
15. Camouflage
16. Kuttimamar haater kaaj
17. Shanghatik
18. Bon-bhojoner byapar
19. Kuttimamar dontokahini
20. Probhatshongeet
21. Bhajahari Film Corporation
22. Chamchike aar ticket checker
23. Bhahmobikasher dontobikash
24. Tiktikir lyaj
25. Bearing chaant
26. Kankrabiche
27. Honolulu-r Makuda
28. Haalkhaataar khaowadaowa
29. Ghunteparar shei match
30. Tenida aar Yeti
31. Ekadoshir Ranchi jaowa
32. Nyangcha-dar hahakar
33. Bhajagourango katha

One-act play

1. Porer upokaar koreo na

Essays about Tenida

1. Kichu katha: boi niye, Tenidake niye
2. Potoldangar shei Tenidar boyosh ekhon ponchattor

Anthologies

1. Shomogro Kishore Sahitya
2. Tenida Samagra

Films

1. Charmurti

This story is about the adventures of Tenida and Co. when they go for an outing near Ranchi and happens to encounter a gang involved in making counterfeit bank-notes.