Amar Chitra Katha

I always used to think that Amar Chitra Katha has been around for ages. So it was quite a surprise to know that it's only been around for thirty-five years.

Growing up, I had a friend who's Dad who used to subscribe to these comics and I really used to enjoy them. I mean what's there not to like - there were heroes, there were villians, there were superhuman powers and there were gadgets! Coming to think of it, most of my knowledge about Indian mythology is from those comics!

Thinking back though, there was one thing about Amar Chitra Katha - although they used to talk about simpler times, it somehow conveyed to me that morality and ethics was not necessarily easier all those ages ago. They were as conflicting, as confusing as they are today. And one more thing - it used to cover the Indian past in all it's mixed and diversified glory, in all it's form - region, religeon, everything! The scope and the vastness of our history is something unique in the world, I think.

It was great to see the face behind the comics - Anant Pai. And what is even more wonderful is that the entire Ramayana can now be read online!

Via BoingBoing