Ajit Bandyopadhyay (character) - Character Development

Character Development

Ajit may be regarded as the archetype sidekick. He accompanies Byomkesh in all his escapades; in fact he is the narrator of all but three stories. He is heavily addicted to cigarettes, just like Byomkesh. He narrates the mysteries from a layman's point of view, which enables the readers to identify with him. Often he is seen perplexed by a mystery seemingly impossible to solve until Byomkesh solves it, and he realizes how easy it really was. He is often invited by Byomkesh to give his opinions about the case. Sometimes he gives intelligent opinions, for example in Pother kanta he suggests that the assassin might be using an airgun, which would enable him to carry it anywhere and use it even in the middle of the road without being conspicuous. In Durgo Rohosshyo too, he delivers some startling insights into the mystery, which astonishes Byomkesh. But sometimes his naïveté compels hearty amusement from Byomkesh, like in Makorshar Rosh he decides that the only plausible explanation of Nandadulalbabu repeatedly intoxicating himself with Tarantula extract is that he devours those that stroll on the walls of his room. In Shaila Rohosshyo, even after the entire chain of events had taken place, he was yet to fathom that the servant was Vijay Biswas himself. In Sheemonto Heera, he unwittingly discloses the guise in which they had come to the mansion of Sir Digindranarayan Roy, though admittedly their guise had already been seen through by a manservant of Digindranarayan while they were en route by train. In Makorshar Rosh, Byomkesh asks him to try to solve the case on his behalf, citing that his involvement in another case will not give him time to do so. This leaves Ajit's friend (who came to solicit Byomkesh's help) visibly dejected. This acts as a catalyst for him, for he reasons that being with Byomkesh for quite some time, he surely has learnt a few nuggets of investigation, and thereby resolves to solve it all by himself. However after some time it becomes clear that the case is not as simple as it seems, and he concludes that he is not equal to this task, it will take the sharp faculties and uncanny detection skills of Byomkesh to solve it.
Occasionally he disagrees with Byomkesh over some issue, though most of the times he is unable to substantiate his opinion, not because he is overtly wrong, but because, as he himself unequivocally admits, his intellect is no match for his friend's. For example in Pother Kanta he refuses to accept the fact that detection banks more often on logical premises than on facts. However Byomkesh does prove his point, and he grudgingly acquiesces. But his skepticism still sustains itself in many instances, when Byomkesh relies heavily on premise. He is frequently nettled when Byomkesh withholds information from him until the opportune moment, which inevitably comes after the culprit had been caught. This feeling he shares with Byomkesh's wife Satyabati too, who calls him tortoise, alluding to his not speaking out easily. Ajit notes that Byomkesh does not like being called a tortoise, which gives him considerable pleasure. He maintains a somewhat mocking attitude towards marriage; when Byomkesh and Satyabati quarrel and then reconcile, he cannot fathom as to why they quarrel in the first place, or even more, why they patch up later. Married life according to him, is a farce.