The Burmese Box : Two Novellas

by Leela Majumdar, Subhadra Sen Gupta (Translator)

Im going to find that box, the box thats been missing for a hundred years Do you know, there are precious gems in it, worth a kings ransom? Emeralds the size of a roosters egg, rubies as big as pigeons eggs, pearls the size of a ducks egg! Aunt Podis treasured Burmese box was a part of family history. When Panchu Mama narrates the hair-raising story of how it was acquired and the mysterious circumstances in which it got lost, Goopy decides to find the fabled box and its precious contents. The Burmese Box is an action-packed story of a family on a treasure hunt, as they grapple with devious plans and nasty crooks, a highly suspicious detective and eccentric relatives. In Goopys Secret Diary, con men, hidden treasures, a stolen necklace and the secret of an old mansion make for a fascinating read as we follow Goopys rollicking adventures in a forest. Featuring two novellas, The Burmese Box is beloved childrens author Lila Majumdar at her best. Her impeccable style and trademark humour will keep generations of readers in thrall.

Genres: Childrens

176 pages, Paperback

Published November 1, 2010

About the author

Leela Majumdar (Bengali: লীলা মজুমদার Lila Mojumdar) was a Bengali writer. Her first story, Lakkhi chhele, was published in Sandesh in 1922. It was also illustrated by her. The children's magazine in Bengali was founded by her uncle, Upendrakishore Ray Chaudhuri in 1913 and was later edited by her cousin Sukumar Ray for sometime after the death of Upendrakishore in 1915. Together with her nephew Satyajit Ray and her cousin Nalini Das, she edited and wrote for Sandesh throughout her active writing life. Until 1994 she played an active role in the publication of the magazine.

Creative efforts :
An incomplete bibliography lists 125 books including a collection of short stories, five books under joint authorship, 9 translated books and 19 edited books.
Her first published book was Boddi Nather Bari (1939) but her second compilation Din Dupure (1948) brought her considerable fame From the 1950s, her incomparable children's classics followed. Although humour was her forte, she also wrote detective stories, ghost stories and fantasies.

Her autobiographical sketch 'Pakdandi' provides an insight into her childhood days in Shillong and also her early years at Santiniketan and with All India Radio.
Apart from her glittering array of children's literature, she wrote a cookbook, novels for adults (Sreemoti, Cheena Lanthan), and a biography of Rabindranath Tagore. She lectured on Abanindranath Tagore and translated his writings on art into English. She translated Jonathan Swift's Gulliver's Travels and Ernest Hemingway's The Old Man and the Sea into Bengali.
Satyajit Ray had thought of filming Podi Pishir Bormi Baksho. Arundhati Devi made it into a film in 1972. Chhaya Devi played the role of the young hero, Khoka's famed aunt Podipishi.

Awards :
Holde Pakhir Palok won the state award for children's literature, Bak Badh Pala the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, Aar Konokhane Rabindra Puraskar. She had also won the Suresh Smriti Puraskar, Vidyasagar Puraskar, Bhubaneswari Medal for lifetime achievement, and Ananda Puraskar.
She has been awarded the Deshikottama by Visva Bharati, and honorary D.Litt. by Burdwan, North Bengal and Calcutta Universities.

Reviews

[Nivedita · Rating 4 out of 5]

'The Burmese Box: Two Novellas' is a delightful collection of two of Lila Mujumdar's novellas - 'The Burmese Box' and 'Goopy's Secret Diary'. Filled with mystery, humour and unforgettable characters; reading this book is an enchanting experience. This is my second time reading this book; but it has been so long since my first read that my memory of it was completely wiped out. So it feels like I've read this book for the first time.

In the first novella, we follow our protagonist and his uncle Panchu who are on a visit to their ancestral home. On the way, as Panchu Mama narrates the mystery of Podi-Pishi and her Burmese Box, our protagonist is determined to unearth the box and the treasures within, which have become a family legend. A treasure hunt, a suspicious detective, dubious plans and an ensemble of distinctive characters are what this tale has in store for us.

In 'Goopy's Secret Diary', one early morning, Goopy finds his paternal grandmother sneaking out of the house. Turns out that she is leaving home along with his uncle and his neighbour. While Goopy isn't sure why they are running away, he tags along for the cutlets and chops. Goopy gets sucked into a vortex of mishaps which involve a missing diamond necklace, a crumbling mansion in the middle of a forest and a weird cast of characters.

I preferred the second novella to the first, mainly because I felt that it was well-developed in comparison to the first, which was a lot shorter. While treasure hunts, on the course of which the main characters uncover mysteries and stories from their family's past, are one of my favourite things to see in fiction, 'The Burmese Box' didn't work as much for me. Lila Mujumdar's rib-tickling humour makes this book a delight to read. The young protagonists' overactive imaginations, their annoyance with the adults around them and their funny and amusing observations ensure a marvellous reading experience. The descriptions of places and people pull you into the settings of the tales. I have to admit, the description of food did make my mouth water a bit. Overall it was a wonderful reading experience and a book I would recommend to everyone.

Overall rating: 4.25/5 stars

[Harshada · Rating 3 out of 5]

A sweet, fun book. The author has a lovely way of viewing the world with the eyes of a young kid who only looks for adventures in life, and food of course. The section at the end of the book evokes some nice questions and nudges children to write themselves.
The author truly lived up to her family's reputation in the world of literature.

[Shreela Sen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a slightly biased review. I am extremely fond of Lila Majumdar, she's my no. 1 favourite author, & I enjoy almost all that she wrote. This edition has 2 novellas, "The Burmese Box" ( Podipishir Bormi baaksho) & Goopy's Secret Diary (Gupir gupto khata).
The Burmese Box : Srilata Banerjee's translation is beautiful. It is easy & smooth to read, & she has managed to retain the "quirkiness" of the original, which really sets the mood in most Lila Majumdar's fiction. I do feel that the uniquely Bengali words (relations & foods & the like) could have been either explained in a simple line, or the hindi word been used instead, for better "connect" of the all-Indian reader, as it is after all the purpose of the book. I also feel that despite the awesome translation, the story would be mostly lost on a child from another country, owing to it's uniquely Indian "summer vacation at Mama's house" flavour being quite impossible to convey to a cultural outsider. Overall, immensely enjoyable. It is a treat for those who have read the original too.
Goopy's secret diary : The translation is more jerky here, more is lost. Esp., The toungue-in-cheek nature of "Gupir gupto khata"does not come across. "Gupir gupto khata" is more enjoyable because of the quirky characters bordering on bizzare, & for its "smart-ass"ness ... it is less of an adventure in its own right. When that brilliance is lost, the "Goopy's secret diary" comes accress as rather drab & flat.