My Online Comic Collection
featuring Amar Chitra Katha, Tinkle, Archies, Mandrake, Phantom and many many others!
Collection 1 (88 Comics : ACK, Tinkle, Jughead and Archie Comics)
http://bit.ly/rp3IIq
Collection 2 (24 Amar Chitra Katha, Tinkle Comics, Ongoing Collection)
http://bit.ly/PvgqhB
Collection 3(30 Archie's Double Digests | Ongoing Collection)
http://bit.ly/QPffGO
For Chandamama Fans: Browse their archives for editions in several Indian languages all the way back to the 1940s!
http://bit.ly/gEgBtP
Comic finds bookmarked (Comics from all over the world)
http://bit.ly/UC2PYg
More Archies Comic Finds
http://bit.ly/WKWLdl
The first words I uttered when I heard the tragic news were 'Oh my God'. As I reflect upon them now, trying to cobble the sentences for this blog, I realize how true they really are. Uncle Pai indeed was my God during the days I would sit bored beyond belief in school. He was my God for introducing me to the wonders from my country's prolific history. He was my God for teaching me that greatness lies not only in victory but also in sacrifice. He was my God for opening my young eyes to that rare potion of humor which didn't come dipped in expletives and cheap one liners. He did everything a good, nay excellent, teacher should do, but without ever meeting me or knowing that I exist. He did all this with his divine vision of narrating important tales through unimportant seeming 'cartoons'. A word much maligned with the adults as I would be yelled at furiously if ever I was caught with an Amar Chitra Katha or a Tinkle when I was expected to be studying books that mattered – my textbooks. Large boring volumes filled endlessly with facts, symbols, proofs and diagrams that made absolutely no sense to me. I remember fantasizing during those ACK laced reveries about examinations that would be held only on the contents of these comics. I was so convinced I would ace them all without batting an eyelid.
Uncle Pai's presence in my life was more than just for information. His books were that cocoon of comfort that I would vanish into whenever life became too confusing to deal with. It was in his bright and realistic illustrations that I would find the inspiration to get out of that cocoon and face the randomness called 'life' yet again. Much like the unclear and defeated Arjuna who sits and listens patiently to Krishna in the Bhagawad Gita, I'd sit and listen to the words that spilled out of each page of an ACK that was the grand combination of both intellect and art.
I remember the days I would be home sick with high fever and with generous gobs of Vicks Vaporub all over my nose, throat and chest, drinking nauseating turmeric milk that mom used to make. The moment her back was turned I would stick my hand under the pillow and fish out a Tinkle to dive right back into Kalia's world to see who the brave crow would save or walk straight into Shikari Shambu's planet to see what new feared beast was fated for his unplanned assault. Uncle Pai's trademark was all over those pages that contained such high quality vocabulary embroidered in an equally brilliant narrative. I now realize it wasn't the Vicks or the milk that made me better...it were those books that filled me with such healthy optimism that the sick body had no choice but to respond. When we traveled across the nation aboard endless Shataabdis and Rajdhanis I would always forget to pack whatever mom thought was important to me. But I would never forget to carefully plant my beloved collection of Uncle Pai's comics that were the only thing I ever cared about. Heck, they were the only thing I knew I couldn't live without.
Somewhere along the way then, the tragedy began to occur. Suddenly words like 'board exams', 'college', 'career' and 'job' started making their frequent occurrences. Uncle Pai's books started becoming increasingly less important as I voluntarily found myself choosing Goel's ruthless Science books or Mathur's brutal Math ones. Painful phase, I tell you. Oh how I missed Uncle Pai in those moments. How I wished I could throw away these meaningless books that didn't teach me a thing about life and how to become a better person. But alas I didn't and once I left India for good more than a decade ago I left behind large, priceless, soon to be lost, volumes of Uncle Pai's books as well. That was when I had finally moved on from Pai to Paisa. A sad unfortunate transition.
Today as I sit here reflecting upon that version of myself, I cannot help but wonder just how quickly we can ignore a good thing. Years later, after I had spent enough time on the 'Paisa' and visited places aisa and waisa such as 'Pisa', I finally scrambled the word back to what it originally was – 'Pai'. The name of that God of mine who, without ever meeting me, taught me about the value of humanity in all species across the planet. Who was convinced that if a story is told the right way, good decent human beings can be created.
His efforts to our nation do not need an award or a certificate of validity. The fact that millions of fellow Indians from my generation are mourning his demise today is proof of just how genuinely beloved he was. The fact that despite the adoration he knew he had, he never made any effort to publicize himself on large billboards speaks volumes about him both as a human being and of course, as a creator. A true genius and a real legend. I sincerely hope someone out there has the integrity to make a motion picture on this great man. He told us a billion stories. The least we can do is tell just one – his.
Dearest uncle Pai, I am sure whatever Gods there may be are giving you a warm welcome right now and saying the same thing to you as I am with this humble blog – “Thank you sir”.
RIP Anant Pai aka Uncle Pai, Creator of Amar Chitra Katha and Tinkle.
(17 September 1929 – 24 February 2011)
In the midst of a childhood marred with the notoriously popular prospect of an unclear identity, I was no stranger to being the odd man out. It was in those trying times of absolute boredom that I found a friend in Amar Chitra Katha(ACK),among a dozen others, mind you. There was something in the language and presentation that ACK had that just seemed like magic. It was as if they could make the most boring story in history the most exciting one with their use of images and dialogs! The language, the texture, the narration, the color scheme – everything became a part of my being. A part of what would eventually trigger the writing bug in me and push me into the wonderful universe of reading. In that critical juncture of my adolescence, ACK’s presence played a Herculean role. While the parents in India are quite known for their ‘stop reading comics and pick up Advanced Calculus!’ taunts, I must thank my parents for giving up on me as I lay in bed during several lazy afternoons surrounded with piles of half open Tinkle, Diamond and ACK comics. I am convinced they were sure I would end up being a home body who would be at their economic mercy for good! I do not exaggerate. I was a serious ACK addict back then.
But then who has ever been in a middle class household in India and escaped the cruel hands of reality? As I somehow managed to forget all about these wonderful gems from my past and move on, the need to bring them back into my life only grew stronger. It was as if every line, every shade, every tree that had ever been drawn on those pages had managed to shape me into the person I am today. Hence – it had to return!
And it did! I am now the proud owner of ACK’s first ever animated DVD collection of their original comics! What is so amazing about it is that videos have not altered the look and feel of the books in any way! The artists behind ACK’s productions have my serious respects as these are the men and women who have changed so many lives without even knowing it! And for that, I thank them wholeheartedly.
Given below is a snap of my first ounces in what will definitely be a prized collection from this point forward. I intend to buy every DVD ACK releases in the future! Here is wishing ACK all the best for the future and hoping that they will continue adding to my rare diamond collection that has now begun!
Smiles.
Also find here some amazing previews of these DVDs. Go ahead! If you are a fan too then order them TODAY!
..ShaKri..
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