Amar Chitra Katha:
A Legacy Unparalleled

chillibreeze writer — Aishwarya Shankar

If you’re like everyone else, when you felt a little too old to curl up in grandma’s lap and listen to enthralling stories, mummy promptly bought you a collection of brightly illustrated comic books starring several familiar neighbourhood heroes. Krishna, Buddha, Birbal, Mahatma Gandhi and Shivaji filled your weekends and holidays. When you grew up, you saved these wonderful hardbound bits of culture for your children and maybe even for your grandchildren.

Amar Chitra Katha fables have been a part of every Indian child’s legacy and imagination for decades. Begun in 1967 by Anant Pai and published by India Book House, Amar Chitra Katha was created in an attempt to teach Indian children about their culture and heritage. Every Amar Chitra Katha comic is special as it gives you glimpse and reminds you of India’s glorious past and the magnificent legacy that has been passed down.

Amar Chitra Katha means “immortal picture stories” and they successfully tap into, and get inspiration from, the rich vein of Indian lore and mythology passed down through the ages. From tales of wit and wisdom to heroes that must be remembered, from mystical saints to the simple ‘Suppandi, Amar Chitra Katha feeds every appetite and fires every imagination.

Tales of Hanuman, the brave monkey God whose valour and true devotion won the hearts of millions, the story of Angulimala - The Robber Who Became a Saint is about the life of a young man who walks away from a life of violence to follow the teachings of Buddha. Another interesting story is about Heaven without Barbers, A Jealous Queen, and how the legendary minister Birbal - The Clever saved the day with his razor sharp wit and wisdom.

Some Heroes are unforgettable like the mighty and valorous King Paurava, who fought against Alexander the Great and his invading army and the memorable tale of the hero Hemu, the grocer's son who battled the Mughals with shrewd strategy and sheer determination, only to become the emperor of Delhi.

Ancient Indian history comes alive in stories about legendary battles, invasions, warriors, kings, famous travelers and epic tales of valor in Akbar, Great indian Emperors, Ashoka, Hiuen Tsang, Brave Rajputs, Fa Hien, and Noor Jahan - The Most Powerful Mughal Queen. Modern Indian history also finds a place in tales about the unforgettable leader and father of our nation in Mahatma Gandhi, India's first prime minister in Jawaharlal Nehru and one of India's most brilliant scientists in Jagadish Chandra Bose. Folktales and fables about lions, bulls, monkeys and crocodiles can be found in Panchatantra - Crows and Owl, The Dullard and Other Stories, Jataka Tales - Monkey Stories, Friends and Foes - Animal Tales from the Mahabharata.

Download Amar Chitra Katha comics on your iPhone and read them on the go, encouraged a technology blogger recently. With the comic book craze hitting children and adults alike, it is not surprising that Amar Chitra Katha comics has joined the comic bandwagon. A captivating narration of Indian history, epics, folklore and myth, this collection of comics remain one of India's most popular comics today.

 

 

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Chillibreeze's disclaimer: This is a contributed article and was published on Chillibreeze in September, 2010. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not reflect the views of Chillibreeze as a company. Chillibreeze has a strict anti-plagiarism policy. Please contact us to report any copyright issues related to this article. The relevance of the facts and figures cited (if any) could change after a period of time.

 

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Related links

Amar Chitra Katha: Preserving India’s Heritage
Amar Chitra Katha: How it Preserves India's Heritage
Amar Chitra Katha & Indian History
Amar Chitra Katha - Preserving India’s heritage
Amar Chithra Katha – Preserving Indian Culture and Heritage

 

 

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—About our writer: Aishwarya has a degree in Journalism and has been freelancing for the last 2 years. She has experience in feature writing, travel writing and writing about arts and culture. She has worked on projects for Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation, Capgemini and Sony BMG. She enjoys reading, travelling and watching movies, and hopes to become a children's books author. She is currently based in Bangalore.

 

 

 

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