While Raj Comics paid more attention to superheroes, Manoj Chitrakatha gave a character in the form of ‘Hawaldar Bahadur’ who looked exactly like us. He was not a Superman, but an ordinary cop whose real strength was his sense of humor, his mustache, and his witty style. ‘Hawaldar Bahadur and the Hunchback Ghost(Hawaldar Bahadur aur Kubada Pret)’ is such a wonderful link in this series that it takes readers from the everyday world to a fantasy-filled world. Ansar Akhtar’s story and Bedi’s sketches together make this comic memorable. This comic is not just for children, but for every reader who wants to enjoy adventure, humor, and magic together.
A supernatural and mysterious journey starts from the junk shop
The story begins in a very simple but interesting way. Havildar Bahadur, along with his team, raids the shop of ‘Chuk-Chuk Kabadi’. Here comes the first humorous moment when the junkman says ‘chuk-chuk’ at the end of every sentence, which irritates Bahadur. During the raid, Bahadur finds a very old and mysterious book. Being a police officer, he should have submitted that book to the police station, but his curiosity makes him take it home. In that book, the ‘mantra to take the soul out of the body’ is written.
This is where the story takes a sudden turn, and a simple cop action turns into a supernatural adventure. As soon as Bahadur recites that mantra, his soul leaves his body and comes out, and this is where the game of him becoming invisible begins.
When the constable’s soul left his body and created chaos
After becoming invisible, the mischief of Hawaldar Bahadurmakes the readers laugh a lot. He uses his new strength to harass his senior officers, Inspector Dhartipakad and Commissioner Saheb. Here, the author has shown the tension inside the department and the fear of the officers in a very funny manner. Bahadur not only jokes, but by becoming invisible, he reaches the gambling den of a notorious criminal like ‘Tatenda’ and single-handedly teaches everyone a lesson. People don’t understand who is beating them, and they start considering it a ‘police dog’ or a ‘ghost’. This part is not only amusing but also shows that if an honest cop gets such power, criminals can be dealt with even more effectively.
Disgusting conspiracy of criminals and ‘living corpse’ locked in the fridge
The story takes a serious turn when Kallu Kaiyan, the notorious criminal of the city, and his accomplices arrive at his house to take revenge on Havildar Bahadur. There, they find Bahadur’s unconscious body. They first get scared, thinking he is dead, but later plan to dispose of him. Here, a scary and strange scene unfolds when they wrap Bahadur’s body in a sheet and lock it inside the fridge. On the other side, Bahadur’s spirit, which was wandering outside, is terrified to find his body missing.
The scary scene of the ghost city and the unique bond with the beautiful woman
While wandering, the soul of Hawaldar Bahadurunknowingly reaches the limits of ‘Pret Nagari’. Artist Bedi has depicted this place in a very beautiful yet scary style. The spirits hanging in the trees, the strange faces, and the mysterious creatures create a slight sense of fear within the reader. During this time, Bahadur encounters the ‘Hunger Ghost’, who is a powerful part of this city.
However, here Bahadur also finds a friend — a ghost named ‘Sundari’. Sundari is impressed by Bahadur’s fearless nature and helps him overcome the troubles of the ghost city. This sub-story adds a light emotional touch to the story and shows that Hawaldar Bahadurhas such an interesting personality that he becomes popular even in the ghost world.
A wonderful journey to the sixteenth century by crossing the boundaries of time
The most exciting twist of the story comes when ‘Jholmjhol’, a magician with magical powers, appears. He is capturing souls with the help of his magic wand. Jholmjhol and Bahadur clash, and Bahadur follows him through a ‘time portal’ to the 16th-century ‘Achhutapur’ empire. Here, the story takes the form of a historical adventure. Bahadur encounters Subedar Zorawar Khan, who mistakes him for an enemy spy.
But when Bahadur responds in a 20th-century police style, the scene becomes extremely funny. Bahadur proves through his wisdom that he can adapt himself to any time and situation. He exposes the conspiracy of Zorawar Khan’s brother Topar Khan and magician Jholmjhol, which was hatched to capture the entire empire.
The end of the magician’s mess and the miracle of the magic wand
The final showdown between Jholmjhol and Bahadur in Achhutapur is full of magical scenes. Jholmjhol turns people into animals with his magic wand, but Bahadur takes possession of his wand with his wisdom. This wand becomes another important part of the story. With the help of this wand, Bahadur not only defeats Jholmjhol but also helps Zorawar Khan. This part is reminiscent of classic stories where the hero finds a special or divine weapon during his journey.
Bahadur’s style of talking to the people of that time, especially staring at his mustache and saying “I will shake,” creates a fun ‘cultural clash’ in the 16th-century environment that readers love.
The struggle to return to the present and regain the body
With the help of the magic wand, Bahadur reaches back to the present time, but his biggest trouble is not over yet. Now he has to find his body. He learns that Kallu Kaiyan has taken his body to the crematorium for cremation so that all the evidence can be destroyed. The scene at the crematorium becomes quite exciting, where on one side the pyre is being prepared and on the other side Bahadur’s soul is roaming in the air carrying a magical wand.
Here both humor and thrill reach their peak when Bahadur puts his soul back into his body, and the ‘dead body’ lying on the pyre suddenly comes alive and sits up. At that time, the condition of the criminals is worth seeing, and the readers cannot stop laughing. Bahadur not only saves himself but also teaches the criminals a good lesson with the magic wand.
The magic of the paintbrush: Artist Bedi’s lively and detailed sketches
If the work of artist Bedi is not discussed in this review, it will remain incomplete. Bedi’s artwork has a huge contribution to the success of Manoj Chitrakatha. He has given a distinct identity to Havildar Bahadur—bulging eyes, big mustache, and khaki uniform make him instantly recognizable. The shading and colors he has used in the ghost town scenes seem scary as well as extremely artistic.
He has created the palaces, armor, and carvings of the soldiers of the 16th century so closely that the reader begins to feel like a part of that time. Also special is his style of creating a sense of movement in action scenes, which enlivens every panel.
The edge of dialogues and Ansar Akhtar’s unique writing style
Ansar Akhtar has kept the dialogues of this comic very simple but effective. Havildar Bahadur’s catchphrases like “Hila Dunga” and “Satte Ki Batti Gul Kar Dunga” became very popular among children at that time. There is a desi flavor in the dialogues which keeps the reader connected to the story. Whether it is the threats of the magician Jholmjhol or the emotional words of Sundari, the author has put every emotion into words in the right way.
The pace of the story does not slow down anywhere. Every page takes a new turn, which forces the reader to turn the next page. Humor is present throughout the story, making even serious scenes not seem overwhelming.
A complete recreational package: final evaluation
Overall, ‘Hawaldar Bahadur and the Hunchback Phantom’ is a comic that still looks just as fun today. It has mystery, adventure, fantasy, history, humor, and a strong hero—everything. This story teaches that no matter how strange the circumstances are, if patience and understanding are maintained, every problem can be solved.
Havildar Bahadur’s recovery of his soul and punishment of the criminals gives a satisfactory ending to the story. This review is an attempt to remember the magical journey that still resides in the hearts of comic lovers. If you have not read this comic yet, then you are missing a great creation of Indian comics. This comic will make you laugh and take you to a world where imagination and adventure go hand in hand.
This journey of Hawaldar Bahadurwill be equally exciting for the coming generations.
