“I have a passion for teaching kids to become readers, to become comfortable with a book, not daunted. Books shouldn’t be daunting, they should be funny, exciting and wonderful; and learning to be a reader gives a terrific advantage.” – Roald Dahl
Everyone knows Roald Dahl, the writer of the novel Matilda and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Reading books should be a fun activity. An activity that makes you think, smile and learn something new.
My journey of reading started with comics, to be specific Tinkle Comics. Reading comics is like watching a colourful book but without motion. Initially I was a bit sceptical about comics as kids read it, but than my sister convinced me and well, “The rest is history.”
Launched in 1980s, Tinkle was a fortnightly children’s magazine. The aim of the magazine was to inform the people about Indian culture and mythology. In India, all are the folktales and fables were expressed in the oral form. But this all changed after the launch of Tinkle Comics. Tinkle Comics was previously owned by India Book House, but the Amar Chitra Katha (ACK) Media brought the brand in 2007.
Tinkle Comics included a lot of fictional stories, folktales of India, puzzles, jokes, quizzes and a lot more. Their main target was always children; many adults also would relate to the interesting content. It was an amalgamation of education and entertainment. The creator of the brand Tinkle was Anant Pai, fondly known as Uncle Pai.
Now before I discuss the various characters in the comic; let me elaborate on why the comic is still loved by many including me. As children, we always prefer reading content which is simple and relatable. Along with the content, the use of colours and the presentation of the stories were perfect.
You ask anyone about the comic, the only thing people say, “Oh the stories are just simple and profound, and the characters are unique.” Started in 1980, even today more than a million copies are sold.
So now let’s talk about some of the famous characters from the comic:
Suppandi:
Everyone’s favorite dumb character. Give him any work and he will mess it up. But he still has the zeal for life. He teaches people, that it is OK to be stupid than arrogant
Shikari Shambu:
The well know hunter, who always gets caught in bizarre situations while chasing animals.
Tantri the Mantri
Another dumb character, he is actually a minister in the king’s court, but wants to become the king. The stories are about his cunning plans going haywire.
Nasruddin Hodja:
One of my personal favorites after Suppandi, he uses his wit to come out of difficult situations.
Kalia – The Crow
The witty crow, who always saves the different animals of the jungle from Chamataka and Doob Doob.
The list is long. The thing that makes every reader pick Tinkle Comics is the way the stories are written. The simplicity of the story, the adorable characters and the way it keeps the reader engaged.
In case you haven’t picked up a copy of it yet, then what are you waiting for? Grab a copy and get lost in the world of Tinkle.
