আবোল তাবোল
আবোল তাবোল · Abol Tabol
নিয়মহারা হিসাবহীন — ruleless, unaccounted. The opening poem of Abol Tabol, in which Sukumar Ray summons the reader into a world without rule, tune or reason.
আবোল তাবোল · Abol Tabol
নিয়মহারা হিসাবহীন — ruleless, unaccounted. The opening poem of Abol Tabol, in which Sukumar Ray summons the reader into a world without rule, tune or reason.
খিচুড়ি · Khichuri
হাঁসজারু, বকচ্ছপ, হাতিমি — Sukumar Ray's Khichuri from Abol Tabol, in which the animals stop staying within their own species.
খিচুড়ি · Khichuri
হাঁসজারু, বকচ্ছপ, হাতিমি — Sukumar Ray's Khichuri from Abol Tabol, in which the animals stop staying within their own species.
কাঠ-বুড়ো · Kath Buro
A man who has catalogued which hole in which wood is good to eat, and why nobody understands him. Sukumar Ray's Kath Buro from Abol Tabol.
কাঠ-বুড়ো · Kath Buro
A man who has catalogued which hole in which wood is good to eat, and why nobody understands him. Sukumar Ray's Kath Buro from Abol Tabol.
গোঁফ চুরি · Gonf Churi
গোঁফের আমি গোঁফের তুমি — a head clerk reports his moustache stolen while it sits on his face. Sukumar Ray's Gonf Churi from Abol Tabol
গোঁফ চুরি · Gonf Churi
গোঁফের আমি গোঁফের তুমি — a head clerk reports his moustache stolen while it sits on his face. Sukumar Ray's Gonf Churi from Abol Tabol
সৎ পাত্র · Shot Patro
Nineteen failed matriculations, a brother in jail, and an owl-shaped face — all offered as recommendations. Sukumar Ray's Shot Patro from Abol Tabol
সৎ পাত্র · Shot Patro
Nineteen failed matriculations, a brother in jail, and an owl-shaped face — all offered as recommendations. Sukumar Ray's Shot Patro from Abol Tabol
প্যাঁচা আর প্যাঁচানি · Pyacha ar Pyachani
গলা–চেরা গমকে গাছ পালা চমকে — an owl on why his mate's screeching moves him to tears. Sukumar Ray's Pyacha ar Pyachani, from Abol Tabol
প্যাঁচা আর প্যাঁচানি · Pyacha ar Pyachani
গলা–চেরা গমকে গাছ পালা চমকে — an owl on why his mate's screeching moves him to tears. Sukumar Ray's Pyacha ar Pyachani, from Abol Tabol
কাতুকুতু বুড়ো · Katukutu Buro
Stories with no head and no meaning, told by force, with a feather. Sukumar Ray's Katukutu Buro from Abol Tabol — and the warning not to visit him.
কাতুকুতু বুড়ো · Katukutu Buro
Stories with no head and no meaning, told by force, with a feather. Sukumar Ray's Katukutu Buro from Abol Tabol — and the warning not to visit him.
গানের গুঁতো · Ganer Guto
A song that flattens everything from Delhi to Burma, stopped at last by one goat. Sukumar Ray's Ganer Guto, from Abol Tabol
গানের গুঁতো · Ganer Guto
A song that flattens everything from Delhi to Burma, stopped at last by one goat. Sukumar Ray's Ganer Guto, from Abol Tabol
খুড়োর কল · Khuror Kol
A frame on the shoulders, food dangling just ahead of the mouth, and a five-hour road covered in ninety minutes. Sukumar Ray's Khuror Kol from Abol Tabol
খুড়োর কল · Khuror Kol
A frame on the shoulders, food dangling just ahead of the mouth, and a five-hour road covered in ninety minutes. Sukumar Ray's Khuror Kol from Abol Tabol
লড়াই-ক্ষ্যাপা · Lorai Kshyapa
Seven Germans against one Jagai. He fights, he is killed by a cannonball, then he sits up and writes the report. Sukumar Ray's Lorai Khyapa from Abol Tabol
লড়াই-ক্ষ্যাপা · Lorai Kshyapa
Seven Germans against one Jagai. He fights, he is killed by a cannonball, then he sits up and writes the report. Sukumar Ray's Lorai Khyapa from Abol Tabol
ছায়াবাজি · Chhayabaji
Dew-damp shadow, fried summer shadow, moonlit papaya shadow for a cough — fourteen annas a bottle. Sukumar Ray's Chhayabaji from Abol Tabol
ছায়াবাজি · Chhayabaji
Dew-damp shadow, fried summer shadow, moonlit papaya shadow for a cough — fourteen annas a bottle. Sukumar Ray's Chhayabaji from Abol Tabol
কুম্ড়োপটাশ · Kumropotash
Five rules for five things the Kumropotash may do, and no explanation of what it is. Sukumar Ray's Kumropotash from Abol Tabol
কুম্ড়োপটাশ · Kumropotash
Five rules for five things the Kumropotash may do, and no explanation of what it is. Sukumar Ray's Kumropotash from Abol Tabol
সাবধান · Sabdhan
Do not breathe hard. Do not gape. Do not look left or right. Sukumar Ray's Sabdhan from Abol Tabol, and everyone who ignored it.
সাবধান · Sabdhan
Do not breathe hard. Do not gape. Do not look left or right. Sukumar Ray's Sabdhan from Abol Tabol, and everyone who ignored it.
বাবুরাম সাপুড়ে · Baburam Sapure
Two snakes with no eyes, no teeth and no fight in them — so they can be beaten with a stick. Sukumar Ray's Baburam Sapure from Abol Tabol
বাবুরাম সাপুড়ে · Baburam Sapure
Two snakes with no eyes, no teeth and no fight in them — so they can be beaten with a stick. Sukumar Ray's Baburam Sapure from Abol Tabol
হাতুড়ে · Hature
Severed limbs rejoined with wood glue, teeth out with tongs, and one hammer blow for any fever. Sukumar Ray's Hature from Abol Tabol
হাতুড়ে · Hature
Severed limbs rejoined with wood glue, teeth out with tongs, and one hammer blow for any fever. Sukumar Ray's Hature from Abol Tabol
চোর ধরা · Chor Dhora
Five cutlets, three dozen luchis and two mondas gone during a nap. Today he is behind a shield with a plan. Sukumar Ray's Chor Dhora from Abol Tabol.
চোর ধরা · Chor Dhora
Five cutlets, three dozen luchis and two mondas gone during a nap. Today he is behind a shield with a plan. Sukumar Ray's Chor Dhora from Abol Tabol.
অবাক কাণ্ড · Abak Kando
He hears with his ears. His feet touch the ground. His eyes close when he is sleepy. Sukumar Ray's Abak Kando from Abol Tabol— surely worth going to see.
অবাক কাণ্ড · Abak Kando
He hears with his ears. His feet touch the ground. His eyes close when he is sleepy. Sukumar Ray's Abak Kando from Abol Tabol— surely worth going to see.
ভাল রে ভাল · Bhalo re Bhalo
Everything in the world is good — summer, rain, a topknot, a bald head. But best of all, bread and molasses. Sukumar Ray's Bhalo re Bhalo from Abol Tabol.
ভাল রে ভাল · Bhalo re Bhalo
Everything in the world is good — summer, rain, a topknot, a bald head. But best of all, bread and molasses. Sukumar Ray's Bhalo re Bhalo from Abol Tabol.
কিম্ভূত · Kimbhut
It wanted the cuckoo's voice, the elephant's trunk and the kangaroo's legs. It got them all, and then had to explain what it was. Sukumar Ray's Kimbhut from Abol Tabol
কিম্ভূত · Kimbhut
It wanted the cuckoo's voice, the elephant's trunk and the kangaroo's legs. It got them all, and then had to explain what it was. Sukumar Ray's Kimbhut from Abol Tabol
ন্যাড়া বেলতলায় যায় ক’বার · Nyara Beltolay Ja...
The proverb says that ন্যাড়া goes to the বেলতলা. The king wants to know how many times. Sukumar Ray's ন্যাড়া বেলতলায় যায় ক'বার. from Abol Tabol.
ন্যাড়া বেলতলায় যায় ক’বার · Nyara Beltolay Ja...
The proverb says that ন্যাড়া goes to the বেলতলা. The king wants to know how many times. Sukumar Ray's ন্যাড়া বেলতলায় যায় ক'বার. from Abol Tabol.
বুঝিয়ে বলা · Bujhiye Bola
Sit down, it will take five minutes. Sukumar Ray's Bujhiye Bola from Abol Tabol — an explanation that never reaches what was being explained.
বুঝিয়ে বলা · Bujhiye Bola
Sit down, it will take five minutes. Sukumar Ray's Bujhiye Bola from Abol Tabol — an explanation that never reaches what was being explained.
শব্দকল্পদ্রুম · Shabdakalpadrum
Flowers open with a bang, dew falls with a clatter, and the moon goes under with a splash. Sukumar Ray's Shabdakalpadrum from Abol Tabol
শব্দকল্পদ্রুম · Shabdakalpadrum
Flowers open with a bang, dew falls with a clatter, and the moon goes under with a splash. Sukumar Ray's Shabdakalpadrum from Abol Tabol
বুড়ির বাড়ি · Burir Bari
A house held together with thorns, glue, thread and spit, and one old woman propping it up with a stick. Sukumar Ray's Burir Bari from Abol Tabol
বুড়ির বাড়ি · Burir Bari
A house held together with thorns, glue, thread and spit, and one old woman propping it up with a stick. Sukumar Ray's Burir Bari from Abol Tabol
বোম্বাগড়ের রাজা · Bombagarher Raja
Framed mango pulp, nails in the bread, stamps on bald heads, and a watch kept in ghee. Sukumar Ray's Bombagarher Raja from Abol Tabol— all questions, no answers.
বোম্বাগড়ের রাজা · Bombagarher Raja
Framed mango pulp, nails in the bread, stamps on bald heads, and a watch kept in ghee. Sukumar Ray's Bombagarher Raja from Abol Tabol— all questions, no answers.
একুশে আইন · Ekushe Ain
Twenty-one rupees for slipping over. A ticket required to sneeze. A tax on growing a moustache. Sukumar Ray's Ekushe Ain from Abol Tabol
একুশে আইন · Ekushe Ain
Twenty-one rupees for slipping over. A ticket required to sneeze. A tax on growing a moustache. Sukumar Ray's Ekushe Ain from Abol Tabol
হুঁকোমুখো হ্যাংলা · Hukomukho Hyangla
One tail for a fly on the right, one for a fly on the left — and no provision at all for the middle. Sukumar Ray's Hukomukho Hyangla from Abol...
হুঁকোমুখো হ্যাংলা · Hukomukho Hyangla
One tail for a fly on the right, one for a fly on the left — and no provision at all for the middle. Sukumar Ray's Hukomukho Hyangla from Abol...
দাঁড়ে দাঁড়ে দ্রুম · Dare Dare Drum
The traffic runs people down and the office is waiting, and the drumming does not stop. Sukumar Ray's Dare Dare Drum from Abol Tabol
দাঁড়ে দাঁড়ে দ্রুম · Dare Dare Drum
The traffic runs people down and the office is waiting, and the drumming does not stop. Sukumar Ray's Dare Dare Drum from Abol Tabol
নারদ নারদ · Narod Narod
You called white red. Your cats are toms. Come and fight. Then: very-very sorry, shake hands, good night. Sukumar Ray's Narod Narod from Abol Tabol.
নারদ নারদ · Narod Narod
You called white red. Your cats are toms. Come and fight. Then: very-very sorry, shake hands, good night. Sukumar Ray's Narod Narod from Abol Tabol.
কি মুস্কিল · Ki Muskil
The book covers chutney, tooth powder, funeral rites and every office's pecking order. It does not cover the charging bull. Sukumar Ray's Ki Muskil from Abol Tabol
কি মুস্কিল · Ki Muskil
The book covers chutney, tooth powder, funeral rites and every office's pecking order. It does not cover the charging bull. Sukumar Ray's Ki Muskil from Abol Tabol
ভূতুড়ে খেলা · Bhuture Khela
A ghost mother boxing her child's ears in the moonlight, with a string of endearments and a slap of mud. Sukumar Ray's Bhuture Khela from Abol Tabol
ভূতুড়ে খেলা · Bhuture Khela
A ghost mother boxing her child's ears in the moonlight, with a string of endearments and a slap of mud. Sukumar Ray's Bhuture Khela from Abol Tabol
ডানপিটে · Danpite
Glue on the face, bottles broken with a slate, matchboxes eaten, and a piece of bread that would have killed Uncle Tom. Sukumar Ray's Danpite from Abol Tabol.
ডানপিটে · Danpite
Glue on the face, bottles broken with a slate, matchboxes eaten, and a piece of bread that would have killed Uncle Tom. Sukumar Ray's Danpite from Abol Tabol.
রামগরুড়ের ছানা · Ramgorurer Chhana
হাসতে তাদের মানা — they avoid the woods in case the south wind tickles them into laughing. Sukumar Ray's Ramgorurer Chhana from Abol Tabol
রামগরুড়ের ছানা · Ramgorurer Chhana
হাসতে তাদের মানা — they avoid the woods in case the south wind tickles them into laughing. Sukumar Ray's Ramgorurer Chhana from Abol Tabol
আহ্লাদী · Ahladi
Three of them laughing at nothing, laughing at trying to work out why, laughing at the alphabet. Sukumar Ray's Ahladi from Abol Tabol
আহ্লাদী · Ahladi
Three of them laughing at nothing, laughing at trying to work out why, laughing at the alphabet. Sukumar Ray's Ahladi from Abol Tabol
হাত গণনা · Haat Gonona
He went to have his palm read in good health and good spirits. He came back without either. Sukumar Ray's Haat Gonona from Abol Tabol
হাত গণনা · Haat Gonona
He went to have his palm read in good health and good spirits. He came back without either. Sukumar Ray's Haat Gonona from Abol Tabol
গন্ধ বিচার · Gondho Bichar
Every man in court finds a reason not to smell the minister's coat. Then the ninety-year-old nazir names his price. Sukumar Ray's Gondho Bichar from Abol Tabol
গন্ধ বিচার · Gondho Bichar
Every man in court finds a reason not to smell the minister's coat. Then the ninety-year-old nazir names his price. Sukumar Ray's Gondho Bichar from Abol Tabol
কাঁদুনে · Kandune
Anyone can whimper for a reason. Booth Sahib's child cries for none, at any hour, and cannot be stopped. Sukumar Ray's Kandune from Abol Tabol
কাঁদুনে · Kandune
Anyone can whimper for a reason. Booth Sahib's child cries for none, at any hour, and cannot be stopped. Sukumar Ray's Kandune from Abol Tabol
হুলোর গান · Hulor Gaan
A moonlit night, a song between tomcats, and half a malpua already eaten by somebody else. Sukumar Ray's Hulor Gaan. from Abol Tabol
হুলোর গান · Hulor Gaan
A moonlit night, a song between tomcats, and half a malpua already eaten by somebody else. Sukumar Ray's Hulor Gaan. from Abol Tabol
ঠিকানা · Thikana
A family tree six relations long, and directions that return you to exactly where you started. Sukumar Ray's Thikana from Abol Tabol.
ঠিকানা · Thikana
A family tree six relations long, and directions that return you to exactly where you started. Sukumar Ray's Thikana from Abol Tabol.
গল্প বলা · Galpo Bola
Every line of the story is corrected by the listener, until the storyteller gives up and threatens him. Sukumar Ray's Galpo Bola from Abol Tabol.
গল্প বলা · Galpo Bola
Every line of the story is corrected by the listener, until the storyteller gives up and threatens him. Sukumar Ray's Galpo Bola from Abol Tabol.
নোট বই · Note Boi
A grasshopper's legs, a cockroach's diet, and why a cow fidgets when tickled — all recorded. Sukumar Ray's Note Boi from Abol Tabol.
নোট বই · Note Boi
A grasshopper's legs, a cockroach's diet, and why a cow fidgets when tickled — all recorded. Sukumar Ray's Note Boi from Abol Tabol.
ভয় পেয়ো না · Bhoy Peyo Na
There is no anger in my bones, the club is light, and if you stay frightened all nine of my children will bite you. Sukumar Ray's Bhoy Peyo Na from...
ভয় পেয়ো না · Bhoy Peyo Na
There is no anger in my bones, the club is light, and if you stay frightened all nine of my children will bite you. Sukumar Ray's Bhoy Peyo Na from...
ট্যাঁশ্ গরু · Tyansh Goru
Not a cow but a bird. Eats soap soup and candles. Screams if touched. Going cheap. Sukumar Ray's Tyansh Goru from Abol Tabol.
ট্যাঁশ্ গরু · Tyansh Goru
Not a cow but a bird. Eats soap soup and candles. Screams if touched. Going cheap. Sukumar Ray's Tyansh Goru from Abol Tabol.
ফস্কে গেল · Foske Gelo
A hunt narrated entirely in the sounds it makes, and missed. Sukumar Ray's Foske Gelo from Abol Tabol.
ফস্কে গেল · Foske Gelo
A hunt narrated entirely in the sounds it makes, and missed. Sukumar Ray's Foske Gelo from Abol Tabol.
পালোয়ান · Paloyan
A hundred jars of water, fourteen pots of curd, and ten men clubbing him to sleep. Sukumar Ray's Paloyan from Abol Tabol.
পালোয়ান · Paloyan
A hundred jars of water, fourteen pots of curd, and ten men clubbing him to sleep. Sukumar Ray's Paloyan from Abol Tabol.
বিজ্ঞান শিক্ষা · Bigyan Shiksha
A magnet on the skull, a reflection off a bamboo, and the velocity calculated with a brick. Sukumar Ray's Bigyan Shiksha from Abol Tabol
বিজ্ঞান শিক্ষা · Bigyan Shiksha
A magnet on the skull, a reflection off a bamboo, and the velocity calculated with a brick. Sukumar Ray's Bigyan Shiksha from Abol Tabol
আবোল তাবোল 2 · Abol Tabol 2
ঘনিয়ে এল ঘুমের ঘোর, গানের পালা সাঙ্গ মোর — the last poem in Abol Tabol, and the last Sukumar Ray published.
আবোল তাবোল 2 · Abol Tabol 2
ঘনিয়ে এল ঘুমের ঘোর, গানের পালা সাঙ্গ মোর — the last poem in Abol Tabol, and the last Sukumar Ray published.