Pandab Goenda creator Sasthipada Chattopadhyay passes away

Sasthipada Chattopadhyay, the maker of Pandab Goenda, passed away on Friday, at 11.20 am. He was admitted to a private hospital in Howrah after having a stroke. He breathed his last there, aged 82. 

The octogenarian writer was admitted on Sunday, and his condition deteriorated on Thursday night. The doctors tried their best, but they failed. The writer’s body was taken to his home in Jagacha, Howrah, after 3 pm. His last rites were performed in Shibpur Burning Ghat. 

Sasthipada fell sick previously in January. However, he gradually got better. But he had a third stroke at the end of February. 

His creation Pandab Goenda is a team of five teenagers – Bablu, Bilu, Bhombol, Bacchu, and Bicchu, who solve lots of crimes and mysteries. Bengalis are passionate about the team and their adventures. They have an indie dog, Ponchu.

Sasthipada Chattopadhyay was born in Khurut, Howrah, in 1941. He loved adventure, and he used to write in his childhood. He joined a newspaper in 1961. After a couple of decades, he gave birth to Pandab Goenda which immortalised him in Bengali households. He also penned other popular detective characters like Ambar Chatterjee and the teenage detective Tatar. 

His works were adapted to the screens also. Pandab Goenda came to Zee Bangla. Srikanta Golui made a film three years back on the detective Tatar. He was honored by the Bangla Natak Akademi in 2017 for his contribution to children's literature.