A few days ago I came across a thin comic book stuck between the shelves of my cupboard. This was the reason, of course, it had survived several bouts of vigorous spring cleaning. I sat down forthwith with Little Lulu, her best friend Anne, her brother Iggy and, yes, the rotund Tubby!

I wonder how many children in their single digits even relate to such comics today? For that matter, do children read comics at all and progress from Lulu, to Elmer Fudd, Donald Duck and Porky Pig to Roy Rogers, Lone Ranger, Anne Oakley and Phantom to high school romances like Millie the Model and the 64-page romance digests and finally get to read illustrated classics, like Mill on the Floss and Jane Eyre?

The Amar Chitra Katha series was one of India’s earliest and finest offerings in this genre. They replaced the fast disappearing raconteur — grandma — and took us through mythologies and folklore in a simple yet delightful format.

The boys went on a different circuit, from Walt Disney characters and cowboys they went on to the mighty heroes, Super, Spider, Bat, and other such men! Some protagonists like Archie, Popeye, Tin Tin and Obelisk risked no gender preference and were avidly devoured by both sexes!

There was no other visual treat apart for comics for us then and the animated version (cartoons) that almost always preceded the screening of the feature film was not ever to be missed. One has lost count of the number of times the class teacher pounced on student with their heads suspiciously bent, and triumphantly snatched comic books out of their lap. The browsing was such fun that even the risk of confiscation was no deterrent!

... contd.