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the Thinker

Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Shh...they are here!
They are smart, they are suave and can reach places where people like us can hardly think of. Before you people start guessing, I am not talking about sting operations, video cameras and super computers. But yes, they do come close except for the difference that I am talking about humans; really intelligent at that with an IQ of around 140 or maybe more than that. From time to time, they have appeared in all ages, sizes and packages. You must have understood by now and if not, then I am talking about crime detectives, spies or secret agents, whatever you choose to call them.

In real life, private investigation is not such a glossy occupation and hardly does anyone reach the stature of the men and women I am going to mention somewhere ahead in the post. But as reel life entities or literary characters, they manage to arrest our attention through their superior intelligence, investigation techniques and deduction methods.

So without further delay, I begin my anthology of some such men and women about whom many of us have read some time in our lives and perhaps desired similar wits, guts and also looks in some cases.

Sherlock Holmes

Creator: Arthur Conan Doyle

Appeared in: Books and later on in teleseries and movies

Nationality: British

Sidekick: Dr.Watson

Physical attributes: Tall, lean with keen, sharp eyes and a famous hook nose.

IQ Factor: What makes reading Sherlock Holmes so enjoyable are his methods, techniques and of course his extraordinary power to deduct possible conclusions in each of the cases he handled. Holmes investigative craft always appears to be following the scientific law of 'Every action has an equal and opposite reaction.' For instance, people who have read the chapter where Dr. Watson is for the first time introduced to Holmes, would remember how Homes ended up telling where Dr. Watson had arrived from and how he had suffered from ill health without any exchange of words with the latter. At the very introductory chapter, we get a glimpse of Holmes' extraordinary observation and deduction power. He explains the reasons that could have lead him to guess Dr.Watson's physical condition and past just by observing the colour of his skin. Infact, what makes the character even more endearing is the fact that Holmes follows very bleak and apparently incomprehensible clues to solve the mystery. And at the end of it all, when he explains his theory part by part, it appears to the readers that they could have easily pieced the whole story together by themselves, had they payed a little more attention.

Negative aspects: smoking and occasional use of narcotic drugs. Also, his temperament could be too clinical at times and make him appear a bit devoid of human emotions.

Tools he used: Mostly disguise and spy glasses. During those days, there were no computers or other sophisticated devices to track criminals. But Holmes it appeared, had a brain that could surpass all these gimmicks.

Hercule Poirot

Creator: Agatha Christie

Appeared in: Books and much like Holmes in many television series

Nationality: Belgian

Sidekicks: Miss Lemon, Captain Arthur Hastings

Physical attributes: He was not a eye candy for sure. Viewed from the eyes of other characters, he appears to have an egg shaped head, short in height, a funny moustache and is also known to suffer from a limp in one of his legs. However, it is seldom being mentioned. The only attribute that might evoke some interest are his bright, green eyes; flashing with ideas and questions.

IQ Factor: Hercule Poirot methods are fairly simpler. In most of his stories, the focus in on the train of clues and connecting them together logically to get to the clue. In a way, somewhat similar to Holmes' method of investigation. However, what sets Hercule Poirot apart is his manner of psychological probing into the nature of the crime and that of the criminal. Of course, the psychological factor is relevant to Holmes' manner of investigation too. But the way Poirot chose to investigate was less clinical and the stress was more on behaving like a sympathiser or some kind of a counsellor; to whom the concerned suspect or person found easy to confess. What adds the charm to Poirot's character is this very quality of his, i.e, to make people speak without use of any pressure or contraints.

Negative aspects: I do not remember any vices as such, however, the only aspect in Poirot's techniques that might irk the reader is his habit to conceal facts till the very end of the story.

Tools: His conversational skills proved to be his most priced asset as far as solving mysteries was concerned in many of his novels. Other than that much like Holmes, he too depended on clues and possible logical deduction.

Inspector Jacques Clouseau

Creator: Blake Edwards, Maurice Richlin

Appeared in: All the Pink Panther films, (latest one I watched was played by Steve Martin)

Nationality: French

Sidekicks: Tucker

Physical attributes: Well, in my opinion there are no as such set parameters for Inspector Jacques Clouseau on grounds of physical characteristics. He has been played by actors like Peter Sellers (in most of the Pink Panther Films), Alan Arkin, Roger Moore and recently Steve Martin; and each one of them have added their own style to the character. However, two things that continue to remain constant in the character are his moustache and his insufferable French accent. Other than that, Clouseau as we all know, is marked by his buffoonery and wrong trail of investigations. But that's more to the emotional build up of the character.

IQ Factor: He is perhaps the only one in the league who lacks this factor (not completely though). Clouseau's antics and manner of pursuing crime evokes hillarity rather than suspense; and that continues to remain the main motive behind the creation of Inspector Clouseau as a character. As mentioned earlier, most of the cases he handles are far removed from any kind of logical thinking or for that matter, sanity. Clouseau should be nicknamed 'chaos' for coming up with ludicrous criminal theories and for the series of accidents he brings upon himself every time he is on a case. Moreover, he clearly comes across as the most stupid and idiotic of his league in his acts of clumsiness. Nevertheless, he is lovable and the exaggeration that governs most of his characteristics continue to remain the main source of enjoyment for the audiences. And what more, even though it is mostly due to sheer chance and luck, the case does get solved in the end. Also, he has a whole animated version to himself, which is really popular. Now, how many buffoo...I mean detectives can boast of that.

Negative aspects: This would be a kind of repetition, but everyone knows he does not have the brains to be a detective.

Tools: Excuse me?

Feluda (Pradosh Chandra Mitter)

Creator: Satyajit Ray

Appeared in: Books, teleseries and films

Nationality: Indian (Ah! at last...)

Sidekicks: Topshe (cousin) and Lalmohan Ganguly (also known as Jatayu, a famous fiction writer)

Physical attributes: Feluda represents the quintessential Bengali middle class culture and attitude. His appearance fits that part well. He is introduced by Ray as a young Detective, with sharp eyes, an intelligent face and a tall lean frame.

IQ Factor: He is Ray's answer to Sherlock Holmes as far as brains are concerned. Most of Feluda's investigative methods and techniques are based on logic, clues and inference and all these qualities are governed by a razor sharp observation power. However, unlike Holmes, he is not completely clinical in his observation. There is this element of righteousness that compliments Feluda's sharp intellect. Feluda's knowledge reserve mostly comes from books and that is manner in which Ray likes to potray his sleuth-an educated psyche with a middle class upbringing and a distinct adherence to Bengali culture. At times of course, he does seek assistance from Topshe and under rare circumstances from Jatayu. There is also this interesting quality of Feluda's, to pose questions to his cousin in the form of puzzles and riddles; that percolates down to the readers and audiences too (For reference, watch 'Joy Baba Felunath; incase you do not understand Bengali, these movies come with sub-titles)

Negative aspects: smoking again

Tools: Books, logical thinking and yes, an occasional use of a revolver or a disguise.

James Bond 007

Creator: Ian Fleming

Appeared in: Novels, anthologies and of course there are infamous movies to his credit

Nationality: British

Sidekicks: Felix Leiter (assistant to Bond in most of the early works), and of course, seductive women.

Physical attributes: There is no need to explicate on this part. James Bond has a reputation of being a lady killer and he is quite artfull at that too. Most of the females in the movies or stories are enamoured by his attractive personality and of course his looks. Infact, Bond makes use of this to his best advantage. Well, nicely backbrushed hair, a well-built and toned masculine physique and intense blue eyes are some of his physical attributes that makes the ladies in his movies go omph.

IQ Factor: I believe Bond is definitely one of the most successfully created fictional secret agents of all times; and his creators have kept in mind everything that is necessary to make a popular and commercially viable hero. What makes Bond stand apart is the fact that not only he uses conventional methods to reach at the bottom of a mystery, but he also uses a lot of required gimmicks that appeal to the modern audiences. However, at times Bond episodes appear to be rather predictable and filmy..but then, they are meant to be so and are a success at that. Also, what is unique about Bond's method of investigation is his flamboyance and stylish way of carrying himself. Also, the cases he handles are huge scale blockbuster cases just like his movies, abundant with all types of international smugglers, drug peddlers, diamond thieves and other big shots. There is hardly anything that can be termed as 'common' is Bond films.

Negative aspects: In my opinion, womanising.

Tools: Once again, he is perhaps the only one in this list so far, who has got an enviable array of spy devices to his use. Dagger shoes, Bug detectors, watches with wires to strangle villians, tape recording cameras, shooting cigarettes, Minox B 8*11 Camera, pocket snap trap, fake finger prints, voice changer, Submarine car, Special leather belts, digital binoculars..phew! There are more of them, but I guess you all got the picture..so he is the whizkid among spies.

Nancy Drew

Creator: Edward Stratemeyer (you may see the name of Carolyn Keene on the books but Nancy as a character was first created and outlined in detail in 1930s, by Stratemeyer)

Appeared in: Novels and recently I believe on the big screen too.

Nationality: American

Sidekicks: George Fayne, Bess Marvin and Ned Nickerson (Nancy's boyfriend).

Physical attributes: Nancy has the looks that essentially defines a young American teenage heroine. Blonde hair, blue eyes, slim and a medium height.

IQ Factor: She is the only female detective in this whole list and she is quite good at her job. In most cases, she is successful. Many of you may frown upon including her in this list; but then none of us can deny that almost all of us have read Nancy Drew Mysteries sometime during the teenage years of our lives. Most of her cases revolve around Riverdale and the crimes committed include buglary, theft, haunted mansions, murders etc. But so far, most of the cases revolve around circumstantial evidence and old conventional investigation methods. Nancy might not appeal to the more matured readers and it is not meant to as well. Infact, some of the situations might appear predictable and the most of the chapters in a book are mostly ended with a element of sudden suspense or rather should I say 'forced suspense.' Nancy Drew Mysteries are mostly cherished upon by teenagers or the like. But nevertheless, she is one of the most popular detectives of all times and famous at that too. Being the only female in this batch, she did deserve a mention.

Negative aspects: I don't remember any as of now.

Tools: Mostly interrogation and following people. Following clues like others. No hi-fi tools for her.
Monday, August 20, 2007
The Left Wing
"Go ahead junior, you cannot take that long. Your time starts now," barked one of them.

Amay looked behind him and saw the frown on Dishant's face, one of the senior students of the lot. He dared not oppose or express hesitation. Two most immediate consequences to such an act which floated before his eyes were that either they would bash him up on refusing, or they will laugh on him and go on telling people what a wimp he was.

He had been warned by his cousin who too was in a boarding school.

"You cannot avoid being ragged in a hostel in most cases. You can simply pray that your seniors do not come up with rather adventurous ideas to rag you," He said.

"But is it not punishable in most places nowadays?" asked Amay, trying to hide his trepidation.

"Who cares about that? Everyone wants their bit of fun, don't they? If you complain then they will mark you as their prime target and I also suggest you keep that temptation at bay because finally, you don't want to be picked at for the rest of your school days, do you?" asked Amay's cousin.

Amay started moving forward slowly as he heard his seniors jeering and shouting at him behind his back. One of them cried out, " Remember, you have to climb up to the left wing and go straight to room number 2A and knock on the door three times. Now move on, fast and do not try to run away because we will find you out!"

Amay started walking slowly towards the left wing. The day he entered the hostel, his roommates warned him about it. Bhavesh told him, "I think they will send you to the left wing tonight. That's their favorite trick."

"What's there in the left wing?" Amay asked.

"It's the forbidden part of the hostel. No one is allowed to go there and if the need arises you need special permission for that," replied Bhavesh.

"Why is it forbidden?"

"Well, years back it was not. All the rooms in that wing were occupied by students. But one day, a boy jumped from the balcony and committed suicide. He was in room 2A. Two weeks after that incident, a guy woke up at night to go to the bathroom and there, he saw something strange. He was almost paralysed with fear. Few days after that, someone fainted at night seeing something in the balcony. Soon their parents complained to the administration and so; the left wing was evacuated and now, no one is allowed to go there alone. It is supposed to be haunted," said Bhavesh.

"But, then they cannot send me there can they? Because if they get caught...," Amay tried to find some way to reassure himself.

"They won't. They are too smart for that. For your information, they already manage to send two freshers to the left wing two months back. One came back unconscious; he was hushed up by them. The other one left the hostel a few weeks later," replied Bhavesh.

Amay had already freaked out on hearing the story and now, he was walking towards the very same, infamous left wing. As the forbidden corridor came closer to his view, his heart skipped a beat. He started moving up the staircase and felt his sweat dripping down gradually from his forehead to his chin. They gave him a torch, but a tiny one. 'Are ghosts scared of torches?' he wondered.

The very air around the place made his hair stand up. It was a December night. Besides, this part of the hostel building appeared to be colder than the rest of it. There was darkness all around. Amay could feel sweat in his palms. Now he was approaching the famous balcony from where the boy had jumped. On this side of the balcony were the rooms. His raised up his torch, his fingers were almost cold and numb. Room 1C, Room 2 and there it was-Room 2A.

Amay suddenly felt that his feet had become so heavy that he could not move. What if the ghost was hiding somewhere near, waiting him to come forward and then attack him. He felt like running away from there as fast as he could. But he knew he will not be spared for that. He closed his eyes for a moment and thought, "I have to do this. I have no option. If I manage this today, they will not trouble for the rest of the term. There is nothing like ghosts, I have to do it."

He opened his eyes and looked in front. Slowly, he moved closer to Room 2A. He raised his fingers to knock on the door and found that they were shaking badly. He gave a soft knock on the door, hoping that if there was a ghost inside, it would not be able to hear it. No one answered. Amay gave two more knocks on the door and stood there for a second. He let out his breath with a little relief, turned his back and was about to move when he heard it.

"You are their new victim or what?" a voice spoke from behind.

Amay froze where he was standing. He felt a cold rush of wind all over his body and yet he was sweating profusely. His throat went dry.

"Look at me dear," spoke the voice again.

Amay wanted to run off without looking what was standing behind him. He did not know what madness caused him to turn around and face the person. Still cold with fear, he looked up to face him. He was a boy, 15 or 16 years old. His face was not too clear due to the darkness and Amay did not dare raise his light up to see the stranger's face. Mustering all the courage that was left in his tiny heart, he asked in a half choked voice, "Wh..Who ar are you?"

"I am Sushil, Sushil Nair. What's your name?" He asked.

"I..I a..am Am..Amay," replied Amay.

"What are you doing here so late at night? You are their new target for ragging, are you?" He asked.

Amay nodded his head and then the question occured to him too. "Wh..what are you doing here?" he asked the stranger.

Maybe, Amay saw it wrong. Anyways, it was too dark to see; but something told him that there was a smile on the other boy's face.

"Come, I will take you out of here and leave you at the entrance to your dorm," He said.

Amay suddenly felt a comforting warmth when he heard those words. Suddenly he felt a little less scared. Both of them started walking back together side by side through the corridor.

"So, you are a localite or you hail from somewhere else?" asked the boy.

"I am from Himachal," replied Amay.

"Oh. So you are from outside. That's why they are so harsh on you. Gits! they always send the outsiders in the hostel to this place first," said the boy.

Amay did not reply back.

"So, who all are there in your family?" The boy asked again.

"My father, mother and an elder brother," replied Amay. He had started to feel quite at ease with this stranger. "Who all are there in yours?" Amay asked back.

The boy was quiet for sometime as they continued walking.

"It was me and my parents earlier. But then, my parents divorced a few years back," he replied in a low voice.

"Oh! I am sorry," said Amay.

"That's okay. There, that's the entrance to the right wing. Go ahead, you can go back to your room safely from here," said the boy.

Amay looked in front and saw the entrance. He then moved his hand up to thank the boy. But he was already far from him, walking back towards the forbidden corridor. He then remembered, the boy never told him what he was doing there? Was he being ragged too? Was he asked to spend the whole night there? But he appeared too old for that.

"So, you did what you were asked to do?" a coarse voice interrupted Amay's thoughts. It was Dishant.

"Yes, I did," replied Amay.

"Good for you, now hurry back to your dorm and do not breath a word about this to anyone, understand?" said Dishant.

Amay nodded as he walked back to his room.

Next morning, Bhavesh caught up with him in the assembly hall.

"You have sort of become a hero in the class. Everyone heard what happened last night. You did not faint or cry, that's really brave of you," said Bhavesh, with a smile on his face.

"No actually, he made it easier for me," replied Amay.

"He who? Someone else was there?" asked Bhavesh.

"Yes, a senior guy. He told me his name...Sus...," before he could finish the bell rang and they rushed off to their class.

That day during the library period, Amay sat down with some old newspapers to get information for a social science assignment. He was getting bugged. 'No relevant material at all,' he thought. Suddenly, an article in one of the papers caught his attention. He picked it up and started to read-"An elite public school hostel of the city witnessed a tragedy on tuesday night. One of its students committed suicide by jumping off the third floor balcony of the hostel building. The name of the student was Sushil Nair, aged...," nothing else that was written in the article registered in Amay's mind after he read that name.