India is a land of fascinating tales of gods. The intriguing stories are often perpetuated with a retelling of mythological events culminating in the victory of the virtuous over the wicked, followed by a victory celebration. These stories are deeply rooted in the country’s history and legends say that Indian tales have been passed down through generations in an innately traditional way.
The beginning of Amar Chitra Katha:
The joint family system was a boon to young children, especially those with grandparents, as they often heard fascinating stories from the older generation. As families began to shrink and the nuclear family system grew larger, the need arose to keep the tradition of storytelling alive and this was achieved through comics that told compelling stories of the great Indian gods, demi-gods and the rich folklore. Amar Chithra Katha (ACK) thus emerged from the ancient tradition of storytelling. It was a welcome change for nuclear families where children were deprived of the basic comforts of listening to traditional tales.
Early days of comics:
The comic series was started by Mr. Anant Pai with the main aim of teaching the younger generation about the innate Indian culture, its varied heritage and rich mythology. A quiz show about Doordarshan in the 1960s was the motivating force behind the start of the comic series. The main reason was that most Indian students at that time could answer questions about Greek and Roman mythology, but knew very little about our rich Indian history. Founded in 1967, the comic series played a pivotal role during the formative years of generations of Indians. The original prints were partly in color to control costs, and the panels were printed in yellow, blue, and green. It is interesting to note that Indian tales encompass Indian history, folk tales, legends, and intriguing Indian mythology.
The popularity of ACK:
Ever since it was first printed, the comic series gained immense popularity. The number of copies began to increase and today, ACK has a remarkable circulation of more than 400 comics in more than 20 languages. It also has a huge sale of over 90 million copies to date and the classic illustrated formats have contributed to its growing popularity. Amar Chitra Katha books and magazines are distributed nationwide through major book retailers, including smaller and lesser-known bookstores. In fact, it’s a laudable feat to have around 1.5 million copies sold annually.
In the coming years, the comic book series will witness a positive resurgence as it will be featured in animated television series. We as Indians must know the factors that led to the immense popularity of the series. The stories are based on religious parables and biographies of historical figures. This is the perfect way to learn about the great and lesser-known stories of India. The fact that they are written and presented in an instructive way makes it even more engaging. Although primarily aimed at young readers, adults find the subject fascinating and often find it excellent leisure reading.