7 classic Indian comic books from our childhood

Remember those childhood days when life was nothing more than running around with friends, being fed by our parents’ hands and reading end number of comic books? Undoubtedly, that was the best phase of our lives. Also, reading comic books used to be the most fascinating and enjoyable as they acted as the gateway to new lands and universes for us.

Comic books give us the space to imagine and dream beyond the normal and the usual. The charming characters and sometimes their superhuman qualities make the readers feel more powerful in themselves. Comic book revolving around characters like Spiderman, Batman, Wolverine, Wonderwoman, etc. are some of the most popular ones. However, Indian comic books are unique and exceptional in their own way. Here is a look at 7 classic Indian comic books.

There would be very few people in India, who would not have read Tinkle while growing up. A fortnightly magazine first issued in 1980, it is one of the most popular Indian comic books. The various characters in the magazine including Suppandi, Shikari Shambhu, Ram & Shyam etc. are absolutely amusing and delightful.

Pic credit: Fitness Books Combo sets

An absolute favourite of many of us, the short, red-turbaned Chacha Chaudhary along with Chachi, Rocket (dog) and Sabu, his tall assistant from Jupiter were a great fun combination. In the comic, Chacha’s mind worked faster than the computer, hence giving the message that a strong mind is more powerful than a huge body.

Pic credit: Diamond Toons

Aimed to teach children about Indian culture and social heritage, the format and style of the comics made children fall in love with them. Today, it is available in 20 languages in India and enjoys a steady readership with millions of copies sold.

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Loved by the kids for his remarkable wit, brilliance, and wisdom- Tenali Raman was a famous scholar during the regime of the Vijayanagara Empire in the 16th century CE. He had a solution to every problem that emerged in Krishnadevaraya’s kingdom. The very mention of the comic brings back some of the fondest memories from our childhood.

Pic credit: Om Books

'Bahadur (The Brave One)' is the first Indian comic book Super Hero created by Aabid Surti in the year 1976. Incidentally, Bahadur appeared on the scene when dacoit menace was at its worst in north India. Thus, the comic series focused a lot on dacoits.

Pic credit: Wikipedia

Famous for its illustrations, Chandamama published long-running mythological and magical stories that ran for years. Its unique story-telling format taught moral values without being too preachy. Its final issue came out in the year 2013.

Pic credit: Mohi Book Depot

A must-read for all, Akbar-Birbal was humorous and full of knowledge at the same time. Birbal’s ability to outwit the other ministers in the court of Akbar made each one of us laugh out loud. What made these stories successful is the way how Birbal offered simple and humorous solutions to complicated problems.

Pic credit: Maple press