Somewhere between Chandamama and Alfred Hitchcock and the Three Investigators, I remember reading a few novels in a series about a homegrown, desi investigator duo called Rajan Iqbal.
A google search revealed that at least one of the versions (Rajan Iqbal aur Preton ka Aatank- “Rajan Iqbal and the Terror of the Spirits“) in its comic book format is available online. Also, I came to know, after all these years, the name of the author- SC Bedi- I am quite intrigued by it and wonder if it is, like the name of the heroes in the novels, fictional too.
I think the novels were published by Diamond Pocket Books or Hind Pocket Books, and those days could be found in any bookshop or newspaper kiosk in small towns in Northern India. I wonder if those are still around or they have given away to Harry Potters mutated into Hari Puttars. It is also striking that the duo has a Hindu and a Muslim name conjoined into one, much like Aligarh and so many other names in the sub- continent- that combine an Arabic and a Sanskrit word forming a new one altogether.
Nowadays, perhaps, the name of “Rajan Iqbal” would rather conjure up the image of a gangster duo. When I was a child, they were detectives out to help the world get rid of evil doers.
Between when I was a child and now, the world has turned upside down.
Technorati Tags: India, Books, Rajan Iqbal, Hindi, Detective Novels, Secularism
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14 responses so far ↓
Adnan // June 22, 2008 at 9:43 am |
The comic Rajan Iqbal was published by Diamond Comics from Daryaganj. However, the mini pocket books were published by at least, half-a-dozen different publications from Manoj to Tulsi.
Interestingly, on the last page of each of these novels, the photo of SC Bedi was different and each claimed to be the real SC Bedi.
In one of the publications, the publication cautioned ‘buy only the novel that shows SC Bedi in a shawl on the back cover.
They were interesting, no doubt. Rajan, a Hindu and Iqbal, a Muslim, along with Inspector Uncle and other characters, was quite a hit. In those days, Ram-Raheem series was also popular.
Kids who started reading comics, read these mini pocket books later on and then graduated to bulky novels of Ved Prakash Sharma etc
readerswords // June 22, 2008 at 9:44 pm |
Thanks for the information, Adnan. Seems my suspicion about SC Bedi being an actual person is justified at least to some extent! Have you come across any of these books lately?
Rajesh // June 24, 2008 at 9:27 am |
I also have fond memories of the duo (they were shown to be voracious eaters of omelette’s )….In fact over a month or so i stole a lot of these novels from a shop in Delhi where i would go with my cousin who was interested in Gulshan- Nanda kind of stuff….
readerswords // June 24, 2008 at 8:05 pm |
Quite an interesting detail about the omelets, unfortunately I have no memories at all about the duo.
Andy // September 3, 2008 at 3:39 am |
Dear friends,
I’d like to share something with u about rajan iqbal too, as those novels have been a very important part of my life. In my child hood i was crazy for them. SC Bedi, was the Author and he is presently living in my home city Lucknow.
Rajan Iqbal novels also use to have lot of comedy and love. with their girlfriends shobha and salma, novels were even more interesting. Those comics from diamond were not written by SC Bedi and those were no where near to the real Rajan Iqbal
sunnybagga // March 8, 2009 at 5:42 pm |
I am amazed and very happy to read that lots of you, just like myself do remember about Rajan Iqbal. I did not know SC Bedi was the writer. I was actually searching for new books of Rajan Iqbal and came to a website offering comics of this duo. If anyone has the pocket books I would like to borrow and if you live in the neighborhood of New Jersey, I would like to get together for a chat.
Sunny
VK // September 4, 2008 at 12:57 am |
I used to have a huge collection of the Rajan-Iqbal pocket books (not the comics, which I never found interesting). The collection was lost a couple of years ago, during a house-cleaning drive, and nothing can make up the loss.
Your post (and these comments) triggered up some nice memories of childhood summer vacations. Does anyone (Andy!) know if these pocket books are still being published?
Madhumangal Joshi // October 19, 2008 at 4:06 am |
Dear Mr.Bedi,
You are realy a very good writer.
M.J.
raza and khurram // November 4, 2008 at 2:40 am |
we are great fan of Rajan Iqbal pocket books…we think that SC.Bedi is such a good writer……we want to read more books ….is SC.Bedi is still writing…..and from where we can buy books of Rajan Iqbal……we are waiting for ur reply frnds
rw // November 4, 2008 at 10:35 am |
I am afraid I am unable to help you on this!
gaurav // December 12, 2008 at 4:56 am |
i liked the rajan iqbal novels alot , but as there is not much order in the small hindi novel industry, a lot of fakes spring up veneever awriter becomes successful,the novels were well written and there were different photos of mr sc bedi, if anyone can give an idea as to if these books r still available
Anupam Agrawal // March 19, 2009 at 1:12 pm |
I have very fond memories about these duo. I never liked there comics from Diamond, but I always loved the pocket book version.
I still have about a dozen with me, to cherish my childhood days…
Ravi // July 2, 2009 at 5:27 am |
Hi,
“Also, I came to know, after all these years, the name of the author- SC Bedi- I am quite intrigued by it and wonder if it is, like the name of the heroes in the novels, fictional too.” is not correct at all. S. C. Bedi is a geniune person and still lives in Ashiana, Lucknow. I got an opportunity to meet him in person few days back. However, he is retired now and no longer writing. He claims to have written 1500 books, which 1200 of them are Rajan Iqbal series.
Regards
Ravi
parag // July 14, 2009 at 1:53 am |
ravi,
would like to meet mr s.c. bedi to meet our childhod hero
From delhi i will go to lucknow
kindly provide us the detail
parag9818675637