Prof Shonku to make school syllabus exciting

KOLKATA: Professor Trilokeshwar Shonku, the eccentric inventor created by Satyajit Ray, is ready to make an entry into the Class IX syllabus.
To make studies more interesting for students, the state government has decided to
make the inventor of Shankoplane and Omniscope a part of school lessons. Education minister Partha Chatterjee has already met Sandip Ray, son of Satyajit Ray, to seek permission for introducing six books of Professor Shonku in the curriculum.
“We have already taken books of contemporary authors like Moti Nandi, Amarendra Chakraborty and Ajay Roy. Poets like Shankha Ghosh and Shakti Chattopadhyay, Pranabendu Dasgupta, Subhash Mukhopadhyay, Nirendranath Chakraborty and essayists like Binay Ghosh and Hirendranath Dutta have already been included. Now we have got permission to introduce Professor Shonku as well,” said Chatterjee.
“If we want to incorporate sci-fi stories for the youth, then there could be no better choice than Professor Shonku. Thus we have decided to include stories written by Ray in our syllabi. It will keep them enthralled and anything that is interesting is bound to attract students’ attention,” he added.
Among the books which have been chosen by Chatterjee and Sandip Ray for inclusion from 2015-2016 academic sessions are ‘Byomjatrir Diary’, ‘Professor Shonku O Aschorjo Putul’, ‘Corvus’, ‘Professor Shonku O Dr Sheringer Smaronshakti’, ‘Professor Shonku O Mahakasher Doot’ and ‘Swarnaparni’.
Ray has requested Chatterjee to use the illustrations done by Satyajit Ray in text books. “I have liked the initiative and the books that are being taught in schools now are very interesting. They contain a lot of pictures, illustrations and have a nice layout. All these things make studies interesting. During my school days, the syllabus was tough and dry. Now it is more contemporary and exciting,” Ray said.
Another of Satyajit Ray’s gem — ‘Fotik Chand’ — has been translated in French and is a part of the syllabus in France. ‘Class Friend’ by Ray is the only other story that was earlier selected for studying in schools in Bengal.
“I have also asked Sandip Ray to decide on the graphic cover of the book and even decide a name. A senior artist has been approached to do the graphics,” the education minister added.