Chetan (चेतन) by Narayan Dharap

"Chetan (चेतन)" a Marathi book by Narayan Dharap. This book is published by Samanvay Prakashan. This edition wad published in 2013 and has 168 pages.

The book contains two stories of protagonist Chetan Shastri. In the first story titled 'Chakravarti Chetan (चक्रवर्ती चेतन)', he happens to be at an autopsy of a beggar and deducts that the person is not really a beggar. The mystery does not allow him to rest and a tangle emerges. Who really is this beggar? Why was he masquerading as a beggar? What is the mystery?

In second story titled 'Kardankal Chetan (कर्दनकाळ चेतन)' an honest Police Inspector indirectly requests his help in finding three beautiful girls that went missing separately. Chetan looks into the clues and unearths a ghastly mystery. What is the mystery? Are the three cases related? What does Chetan find?

Chetan Shastri has a philosophy in life. Good with good and bad with bad. Chetan does not mind being on the other side of the law. End result justifies the means for him. However, he is a good man at heart. He is ready to help the good guys and those in need. He is intelligent, good at fighting, is a ventriloquist, has contacts in all the right and wrong places, is curious of mystery that comes his way and does not mind making a neat profit on the side lines.

Both the stories are interesting. Narration is good. Chetan' s character is instantly likable. A man who fights for the right cause, does not mind using wrong means to get the things right & one who is not encumbered by law is someone that everyone would like to be. Every society wants a hero with these characteristics. 

The story is set in a time period without mobile phones. Letters and news paper advertisements were still the primary mode of communication. At that time these stories would have had all the glamour, suspense and razmataz. The stories have these qualities even while reading today.

Character of Chetan has similarities with Suhas Shirvalkar's protagonist Firoz Irani. Or may be it is the other way round. I could not help comparing the two and finding similarities.

I have not read many books of Narayan Dharap. He wrote much before my time. Hence when the opportunity presented, I pounced on the opportunity to read it.

Why did I read this book? To explore Narayan Dharap.

What I didn't like?  The luck factor that accelerates the story. 

What did I like?  Character of Chetan. 

Read if you like thrillers.