High kiwi prices in India: Gurugram dietician says buy amla, jamun, guava and other affordable, seasonal fruits insteadIs the kiwi craze burning a hole in your pocket? With prices hitting almost ₹60 for a single kiwi, it’s time to look at what’s growing in our own backyard
Deep-sea mining companies face a blizzard of litigation if they forge ahead with "unlawful" plans backed by U.S. President Donald Trump to dig critical minerals from the ocean floor, the head of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) told AFP on Friday (May 22, 2026)
U.S. Senate Republicans abandoned plans on Thursday (May 21, 2026) to advance major immigration enforcement legislation after furious internal disagreement over a proposed $1.8 billion compensation fund for U.S. President Donald Trump's allies who claim they were unfairly targeted by federal
A dream in full swing: Kunal Pradhan writes on career slams, golf and Rory McIlroyHe waited 17 years for his first Masters title. Then won twice, back-to-back, joining a club of just six golfers in the modern history of the game. A look at an incredible journey, and those that came before
U.S President Donald Trump said he had postponed the signing of an executive order on artificial intelligence with top CEOs at the White House on Thursday because he didn't like parts of the text. "Because I didn't like certain aspects of it I postponed it
How an Indian comic book legacy was lost in a fire
How an Indian comic book legacy was lost in a fire
For generations of Indians, the Amar Chitra Katha comic books have been a gateway to stories on religion, mythology and history.
Amar Chitra Katha - which loosely translates as immortal illustrated stories - started publishing in 1967, using engaging visuals and simple language to retell religious parables, scriptures and folk tales in comic form.
Nearly six decades later, the comic remains popular, especially among children.
But part of that illustrated legacy has gone up in smoke. On 1 October, a massive fire broke out at the warehouse of Amar Chitra Katha in Bhiwandi, a suburb of Mumbai, reportedly caused by a short circuit.
It took firefighters four days to control the blaze. By then, the damage was done.
Nearly 600,000 books of Amar Chitra Katha and its sister publication Tinkle, a more light-hearted illustrated magazine for children, along with special edition box sets and merchandise. were destroyed, according to the publication's spokesperson.
The damaged material included more than 200 original hand-drawn illustrations from the 1960s and 1970s. The original positives on transparent film and other archival materials were also lost.
Most of the published titles have been digitised and can be accessed through apps, Damini Batham, head of marketing at Amar Chitra Katha and Tinkle told BBC Marathi.
"However, some of the older original hand-drawn pieces and art boards are lost forever," she added.
While the financial loss caused by the fire is yet to be ascertained, the emotional loss weighs heavy on comic book lovers in India.
"Even today, one can instantly recognise an Amar Chitra Katha image," says writer and comic book lover Ganesh Matkari.
These books played a vital role in cultivating a love for reading among children. Their simple language and engaging visuals made complex stories accessible.
Amar Chitra Katha was started by Anant Pai, a junior engineer with The Times of India newspaper. He was associated with Indrajal Comics, owned by the newspaper group, which published comic books on American writer Lee Falk's popular heroes Phantom and Mandrake.
The idea for Amar Chitra Katha came to Mr Pai by chance when he was watching a quiz show at a shop that sold television sets in Delhi.
He noticed that the participants could answer questions on Greek mythology, but failed to answer questions on Indian epics and mythology.
Upset at what he saw, Mr Pai set out to create comic books based on Indian stories, according to his illustrated biography released by Amar Chitra Katha in 2012, a year after his death.
"The stories have a moral core and are used by parents and schools to teach Indian heritage worldwide," says Ms Batham.
The first ten issues featured Western fairy tales like Cinderella and Snow White. But it was the 11th issue on the Hindu deity Krishna, released in 1970, that marked a turning point for Amar Chitra Katha.
Illustrated by Ram Waeerkar, the Krishna issue set the tone for future publications.
Mr Waeerkar, known for his fine lines, expressive faces and dramatic compositions, went on to illustrate more than 90 comic books for the publication.
Following Krishna's success, Amar Chitra Katha expanded to include many more stories based on Indian mythological and historical characters such as Rama, Shakuntala, Savitri, Bheeshma, Hanuman, Chanakya, Buddha, Shivaji and Ashoka.
"These comics inspired me to become a cartoonist," renowned illustrator Alok Nirantar, who identifies as "a lifelong fan" of Amar Chitra Katha, told BBC Marathi.
Everyone holds a soft corner for Amar Chitra Katha. Hearing about the loss of original documents is heartbreaking. Even in the digital age, the original artwork held unmatched value.
In 1980, the publication launched Tinkle. The comic magazine was an insistent hit especially among children, with characters like Suppandi and Shikari Shambu becoming household names.
Amar Chitra Katha and Tinkle continue to be published in several languages including English, Hindi, Tamil, Malayalam and Bengali.
They sell around 4.5 million print copies a year, up from around 3 million around a decade ago, and the apps where their digital versions can be accessed have half a million users globally, an executive of the company told the BBC.
Gayatri Chandrasekharan, editor-in-chief of Tinkle, says, "October to February is our peak season. We were set to participate in several events including Diwali fairs, book festivals, and comic cons. Everything printed in the last six months was lost in the fire."
But Amar Chitra Katha's editor Reena Puri remains hopeful.
"We faced a similar fire in 1994. We rose from the ashes like a phoenix then, and we will do so again. The love of our readers and the determination of our team will help us rebuild," she says.
The 1994 fire, suspected to be caused by a short circuit in Mumbai's India Book House office, which published Amar Chitra Katha back then, damaged around 3,000 reference books and the artwork and scripts for several unreleased editions.
Ms Puri sees this as an opportunity to innovate through digital platforms. "Our library of over 1,500 books is now available digitally through apps," she adds.
Yet for art lovers, the loss is irreplaceable. Any exhibition of the original artworks is no longer a possibility.
We rarely get to see original works by legends like Bal Thackeray [who eventually became a popular political figure] or RK Laxman," Mr Nirantar laments. "Now, with Amar Chitra Katha's originals gone, future generations may never see these masterpieces firsthand.
Follow BBC News India on Instagram, YouTube, Twitter and Facebook.
Source: BBC
Related Posts: Kashmir’s pastoral nomads trekked the Himalayas for generations Ripple effects will be felt for generations How Spielberg’s shark thriller continues to terrify generations Do heart diseases pass on to generations When a bridge fulfills dreams of many generations to connect with mainland in Kerala SHANTI Bill to boost India's civil nuclear sector for generations to come Nirjala Ekadashi Vrat Katha 2025 Rare first Superman comic once stolen from Nicolas Cage sells for $15m India’s First Ram Yatra Ram Katha Train Chennai Comic Con 2026
Even after the sweltering heat, if you have managed to breezed into the office at 9am with fresh skin, bouncy hair, and bright eyes. But somehow by 1pm, your reflection tells a different story: oily strands, a puffy face, dull complexion, and that unmistakable mid-afternoon slump
1 days ago
, the parent company of Naukri.com, said its after taxes (PAT) jumped 23% year-on-year (YoY) to Rs 566 crore in the March quarter, compared with Rs 463 crore in the year-ago period.The company’s increased 16% to Rs 869 crore in Q4FY26, from Rs 750 crore in the same quarter in the previous year
1 days ago
South Korean police are seeking an arrest warrant for a YouTuber who allegedly faked evidence that defamed actor Kim Soo-hyun and fuelled a scandal which ended his career. Authorities say the YouTuber had manipulated screenshots of text messages and shared an audio file made with AI to give the
1 days ago
Among the Rajya Sabha MPs completing their terms are former Prime Minister H. D. Deve Gowda and senior Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Digvijaya Singh. The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Friday announced that elections for 24 Rajya Sabha seats will take place on June 18 as 24 members
1 days ago
Anna University has released the results of the Tamil Nadu Common Entrance Test (TANCET) 2026 today, May 22. Candidates who appeared for the examination can check and download their TANCET 2026 results by visiting the official website at tancet.annauniv.edu
1 days ago
Alert: Fake census forms, scamsters on the prowl? Beware!Fake Census 2027 forms resembling official survey documents are reportedly being circulated by scammers in parts of north-east and east Delhi. Here’s how the fraud works and what residents can do to avoid falling victim to it
1 days ago
The TDP-led NDA is set to secure all four Rajya Sabha seats in Andhra Pradesh. Elections are scheduled for June 18, 2026. The current Rajya Sabha composition will shift following this election. Sources indicate the TDP will contest two seats, with the BJP and Janasena each vying for one
1 days ago
Karuppu: Flawed yet beautiful humans are the soul of Suriya-Trisha Krishnan's film, not guardian deitiesRJ Balaji's Suriya and Trisha Krishnan-starrer Karuppu might be about a guardian deity but the film's strength lies in its humans. Here's why. May 22, 2026
1 days ago
How Bengal police erred, CBI fixed wrong arrest of BJP 'devotee' in CM Suvendu aide murder caseRaj Singh, 28, was arrested on May 10 by the West Bengal Police Special Investigation Team (SIT) formed to probe murder of CM Suvendu's aide. Published on: May 22
1 days ago
The Supreme Court on Friday recalled its order barring three academics from all government projects for drafting a chapter about “corruption in the judiciary” in a now-withdrawn textbook, Live Law reported. A bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul Pancholi
1 days ago
‘Use electricity wisely’: Govt tells citizens as peak daytime power demand breaks record amid heatwave“Due to the intense heat wave in the country, the demand for electricity is also increasing,” the ministry said. Published on: May 22, 2026 4:47 PM IST Edited by Priyanjali Narayan Share
1 days ago
Cuba Has Few Defenses If the U.S. Military Moves Against ItThe communist island once had a vaunted military, but it’s now “a shell of a shell of what it used to be.” Published on: May 22, 2026 4:27 PM IST WSJ Share via Copy link Cuba’s armed forces once fielded tens of thousands of
1 days ago
The Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) on Friday has announced the introduction of two new insurance products viz LIC’s New Jeevan Sathi – Single Premium and LIC’s New Jeevan Sathi – Limited Premium as part of efforts to strengthen its savings portfolio
1 days ago
Gul Panag slams Dhruv Rathee’s ‘humiliate PM Modi abroad’ remark: ‘It diminishes the institution’Gul Panag reacted to Dhruv Rathee’s post on PM Modi and said disagreement should not insult institutions. Published on: May 22, 2026 3:06 PM IST By Mahipal Singh Chouhan Share via Copy link
1 days ago
The income tax department has tightened its data-matching systems in recent years. With the growing use of AI-based risk assessment and system-driven verification, taxpayers are now expected to ensure that the details disclosed in their income tax return (ITR) match the information already
1 days ago
Inside fashion’s luxury home gym era: $15,000 Swarovski dumbbells, designer Pilates reformers and moreLuxury houses are moving beyond fashion, designing sculptural fitness equipment that turns the home into a stylish wellness sanctuary Published on: May 22
1 days ago
Stephen Colbert signed off the final episode of The Late Show with special guest Sir Paul McCartney, bringing the programme's historic 33-year run to an end. On Thursday night's show, Sir Paul and Colbert reminisced about past appearances at New York's Ed Sullivan Theater by The Beatles
1 days ago
Anti-low appraisal, ‘chaatu’ colleague, 'Baddie' party: How Cockroach Janta Party has opened a can of wormsNo one knew a statement by CJI using the word ‘cockroach’ while talking about the youth would lead to a social media wave that would surpass BJP's popularity. Published on: May 22
1 days ago
2 held from Goa for 'running cyber fraud-cash conversion racket', ₹40 lakh trail uncovered2 held from Goa for 'running cyber fraud-cash conversion racket', ₹40 lakh trail uncovered Published on: May 22, 2026 2:18 PM IST PTI Share via Copy link New Delhi, With the arrest of two men from Goa
1 days ago
Try these 5 home remedies that may actually help ease seasonal congestionEvery seasonal congestion doesn’t have to be treated with medicines. Here are some home remedies that could actually help clear things up. Published on: May 22, 2026 2:27 PM IST By Anukriti Srivastava Share via Copy link
1 days ago
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is on his latest mission to assuage nervous U.S. allies in Europe about the Trump administration's intentions with North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) or at least put a friendlier face on whipsawing changes and uncertainty about American troop reductions.U
1 days ago
72-year-old grandmother of 5 proves there is no age limit to bodybuilding, shows super toned physique at Taiwan eventMeet Lin Sui-tzu. For this Taiwanese grandma of five, who trains six days a week, the goal isn't just to live longer — it's to live stronger. Published on: May 22
1 days ago
, the parent company of Naukri.com, said that its jumped 23% year-on-year (YoY) to Rs 566 crore for the March quarter, compared with Rs 463 crore in the year-ago period. The profit after tax (PAT) is attributable to the company’s equity holders
1 days ago
Mercedes GLE and GLS Night Editions: Both Night Edition SUVs get Mercedes’ 9G-Tronic automatic gearbox and AIRMATIC suspension setup. Mercedes GLE and GLS Night Editions: Mercedes-Benz India has introduced the special Night Edition versions of the Mercedes-Benz GLE and Mercedes-Benz GLS
1 days ago
As expectations rise across higher education, institutions are increasingly being judged by measurable progress rather than reputation alone. This article explores how assessment, benchmarking, and evidence-based improvement are becoming essential to building credibility, trust
1 days ago
Bengaluru woman touched after tempo driver gifts entire bouquet instead of one flower: ‘He made my entire week’A Bengaluru woman shared how a tempo driver gave her an entire bouquet instead of just one flower. Published on: May 22, 2026 2:03 PM IST By Mahipal Singh Chouhan Share via Copy link A
1 days ago
Kuki-Zo body seeks handover of all Manipur hostages, dead or aliveA hostage crisis and escalating Naga-Kuki tensions are the latest in a series of crises in Manipur, where ethnic violence has continued since 2023 Published on: May 22, 2026 2:29 PM IST By Thomas Ngangom Share via Copy link An apex
1 days ago
