লোকবিশ্বাস, মিথ ও রহস্য নির্মাণ : প্রসঙ্গ নীহাররঞ্জন গুপ্তের গোয়েন্দা সাহিত্য/ Lokobiswas, myth O rahosso Nirman : prasango Niharranjan Guptar goyenda sahitya

Abstract

Folk beliefs encompass a wide range of elements, including malevolent forces, ghosts and spirits, supernatural phenomena, incantations, curses, and various omens. To craft mysteries or add narrative variety, Niharranjan Gupta often intertwined supernatural beliefs with settings like old aristocratic mansions and secluded locales, or with local legends, thereby evoking fear and curiosity in both his characters and his readers. The criminals in his stories exploited these common beliefs to serve their own ends. He utilized myths as vehicles for ancient beliefs, linking legends to specific places, people, objects, or events. In the conflict between belief and reason, the author consistently allowed reason to triumph, while simultaneously revealing human psychology and social realities lurking behind the supernatural facade. Niharranjan demonstrated this approach in stories such as ‘Bouranir Bil’, ‘Manikundal’, ‘Bottrish Singhasan’, ‘Sarpil’, ‘Ratri Jokhon Gobhir Hoy’ etc.

         A physician by profession, Niharranjan incorporated folk beliefs and myths as narrative elements to lend a multidimensional quality to the atmosphere of mystery, yet he also exposed their limitations rather than indulging in them. His private detective, Kiriti Roy— a student of science— is a sharp-eyed, rational, and analytical sleuth with great foresight. Criminals could never prevail against him by weaponizing fear or blind superstition. Across numerous stories, the author pitted folk belief against rationality, ultimately ensuring the victory of logic, intellect, and science.

         Humans are social beings, and crime does not occur in a vacuum outside of society. Religious superstitions, legends, notions of the supernatural, and myths often become deeply ingrained in the human psyche. A defining characteristic of myth is its oral nature and transmission through generations; myths serve as bearers of a culture's heritage. Often, they instill a sense of mystery, fear, and darkness in the human mind. These elements, too, vastly heighten the appeal of mystery stories. Criminals exploit people's vulnerabilities and fears to commit their crimes. Through logic and intellect, the detective transforms the mystery into a case substantiated by evidence; the criminal is then apprehended and punished. Niharranjan has portrayed precisely this process.