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Mahbub Ali
Hurree Chunder Mookerjee, often referred to as Hurree Babu, is a Bengali spy for the British government (codename R17). A master in the arts of disguise, he ranks among the world’s best chainmen, and proves himself to be an indispensable mentor and teacher to Kim. Together, he and Kim take down the two foreign spies—the Frenchman and the Russian—in the northern mountains of India. Despite his nervous and bumbling demeanor, Hurree Babu is an absolute professional when it comes to espionage, effortlessly outmaneuvering less skilled agents like the Russian and Frenchman. Kim, witnessing Hurree Babu, learns what it means to be a true master of the Great Game. In addition to his espionage prowess, Hurree is also responsible for initiating Kim into the “Son of the Charm,” a secret society of fellow Asiatic spies. Hurree’s inclusion of Kim into the society reveals not only his deep trust and admiration for him, but also a subtle acknowledgement of Kim’s native qualities; Colonel Creighton, by contrast, is not included in the society, nor is he aware of it. This highlights Hurree’s complex, divided loyalties: though an agent for the British government, he is not entirely forthright with his superiors when it comes to things he considers the rightful provenance of people native to India.
Hurree Babu Quotes in Kim
The Kim quotes below are all either spoken by Hurree Babu or refer to Hurree Babu. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
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Chapter 7 Quotes
It was absurd that a man of his position should take an interest in a little country-bred vagabond; but the Colonel remembered the conversation in the train, and often in the past few months had caught himself thinking of the queer, silent, self-possessed boy. His evasion, of course, was the height of insolence, but it argued some resource and nerve.
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Explanation and Analysis:
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Hurree Babu Character Timeline in Kim
The timeline below shows where the character Hurree Babu appears in Kim. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 9
Kim proves particularly adept at disguises, and Lurgan invites a Babu to witness one of his performances. The Babu expresses his admiration for Kim, inquiring how...
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Chapter 10
...and Mahbub recommends he travel with the lama instead. All three discuss the lama, recounting Hurree Babu’s and their own positive experiences with the man. This turns to gossip about Babu's...
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...darken his skin, summoning devils and putting Kim into a trance in the process. The Babu, witnessing the ordeal, expresses nervousness at the woman’s methods, but Mahbub reassures him. Kim wakes...
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Hurree Babu speaks of his encounters with the lama, noting their shared agnosticism. Leaving the Huneefa’s,...
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Chapter 11
...Kim shows him his own amulet and, using the test phrases given to him by Hurree, confirms him to be a son of the charm.
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Chapter 12
...of riddle-like insults. The widow retires, and to Kim’s surprise the Bengali reveals himself as Hurree Babu.
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Hurree Babu congratulates Kim on his performance in Delhi. Kim swells with pride, but does not...
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The next day, Kim and Hurree manipulate the lama into traveling to the mountains. Kim reflects admiringly on the Babu's professionalism,...
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Chapter 13
...way, Kim and the lama occasionally encounter the devout hill-folk, as well as the Bengali hakim—Hurree Babu—who secretly asks Kim to always keep within eyesight of his umbrella. This proves difficult,...
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While Kim and the lama wait out a storm in a hut at Ziglaur, Hurree Babu spies the two foreigners with a group of baggage-coolies. Pretending to be an agent...
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Two days later, Kim spies Hurree’s umbrella and suggests they rest until it catches up to them. Hurree and the two...
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...as Kim attacks the Russian and the coolies run away, fearing retribution from the Gods. Hurree pretends to attack Kim, but really tells him to retrieve the bag with the men’s...
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...the bags, and the two men are now stranded in the wilderness, entirely reliant on Hurree. Hurree Babu reflects similarly; despite being stuck with the men and no way to communicate...
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Chapter 14
...do not cause trouble for her village. Kim asks her to deliver a message for Hurree for him, and she obliges, saying there is nothing she “would not do for thee.”...
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...expresses his passion for life in the Hills. Later, the Woman of Shamlegh returns with Hurree’s response, which states his hope to rejoin them at Shamlegh soon. The lama refuses to...
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Kim accepts the lama’s decision but asks if they can wait for the hakim (Hurree Babu); the lama, not understanding Kim’s intentions, refuses. Kim speaks to the Woman of Shamlegh,...
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Chapter 15
The narrator recounts Hurree Babu’s humorous manipulations of the two men, describing how he led them past telegraph stations...
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The widow mentions the Bengali hakim is there, and Kim asks to see him. The Babu arrives, and Kim gives him the papers and maps from the kilta. Hurree is delighted,...
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Hurree Babu leaves and Kim decides to see the world again. Upon walking outside, however, Kim...
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