In the 1970s, historical Indian figures were added into the mix, including medieval warrior kings such as Shivaji and Akbar and modern freedom fighters such as Bhagat Singh and Mahatma Gandhi. Its first heroes were Hindu gods and goddesses including Krishna, Rama, and Durga, whose stories were drawn from classical Hindu mythology. Founded by Anant Pai in 1967, it is also an important cultural institution that has helped to define, for several generations of readers, what it means to be Hindu and Indian.

Write to us: with us on Facebook and Twitter.Amar Chitra Katha is India’s first and most beloved comic book series.

Like this story? Or have something to share? Source: FacebookĪmar Chitra Katha has been experiencing growth and plans to expand to cater to an international audience in the future, with the promise of introducing contemporary heroes and their biographies. In its newer versions, the beloved comics are conscious of the kind of stories they tell, and the effect it has on the audience. Today, villains are now handsome, an army is filled with both light-skinned and dark-skinned characters, and women play heroic roles. You may also like: 11 Children’s Comics And Books That We All Loved Reading But we can choose whether to tell them at all or not.” We cannot change those stories and have to tell them as they are. In mythology, men and women play certain pre-set roles. In a conversation with The Hindu, Executive Editor Reena Ittyerah Puri comments,”Women are leaders and strong characters and we are writing comics to show that. Source: Facebookĭark skinned servants and subservient women have been swapped for a more neutral skin tone and women who are active influencers in the story, as seen in the tale of Vaishno Devi, Volume 829 of Amar Chitra Katha. However, times are changing, and Amar Chitra Katha has begun to change as well. According to a report by The Hindu, over 100 million copies have been sold in over 35 languages, till date. You may also like: Remembering Anant Pai, The Master Storyteller Who Created Amar Chitra KathaĮven then, the nostalgia that these stories carry for India’s youth cannot be denied. Source: FacebookĪlso noted were the differences in skin colour, clearly indicating the disparity between upper and lower castes, as well as its tendency to skew towards a religious bias.

Known for the stories of brave heroes, witty courtiers, mythical creatures, and evil asuras, Amar Chitra Katha came under fire in the last decade, with critics noting that the stories were enforcing gender stereotypes, creating heroines who were obedient and dainty, with the same body type. The storytelling company has undergone many changes over the last 50 years, but it nonetheless remains close to the hearts of Indians. The tales contained in the numerous volumes of Amar Chitra Katha have been a constant companion to India’s children for half a century.

Amar chitra katha stories read