Amar Chitra Katha

When ten-year-old Binya becomes the proud owner of the most beautiful blue umbrella in the world, her happiness knows no bounds. The umbrella becomes her constant companion and protector. But there are others, in the village, who would also like the umbrella for their own and will go to great lengths to get it.Sita lives with her grandparents on a tiny island in the middle of a river. One day, when her grandparents are away the river begins to rise. The friendly stretch of water becomes an angry, rushing flood and Sita watches as her beloved home is washed away. Will she be able to save herself?The Blue Umbrella and The Angry River, two wonderful stories from one of India's most loved storywriters, Ruskin Bond.

Lord Shiva, it is believed, has many faces and multiple forms and each tells a tale. Visitors to an emerald-green island off the coast of Mumbai are reminded of these dramatic episodes by the work of skilful, dedicated sculptors, who lived more than 1,300 years ago! Their carvings have survived in the caves of Elephanta, despite the ravages of time and vandals and destroying armies.

Pandit Vishnu Sharma found an ideal teaching tool - tales from a collection he called the Panchatantra. gently guiding his pupils towards a life of honour and nobility, his fables provided joyful entertainment as well . they are read even today, 2,000 years later, by peoples of diverse cultures in various languages. all that is foolish as well as unkind in the human character is starkly revealed, together with some useful advice: pick your friends wisely

Born a warrior, he relinquished his kingdom to do penance. When Indra, the Lord of heaven, refused entry to King Trishanku, the sage, known for his determination, created a parallel heaven for the king who had sought his help. He trained Sri Rama and his brother Lakshmana in warfare and taught them the use of celestial weapons to prepare them for the great war they were destined to fight later. An extraordinary sage, Vishwamitra was also a seer whose hymns are part of the sacred Rig Veda.

Urvashi's beauty takes King Pururavas' breath away. He is besotted. He forgets his duties as a king and is absent-minded with his wife, Aushinari. Both gods and humans are involved in the dramatic twists and turns of his romance with the charming apsara, who dances for Lord Indra himself. Eventually, stumbling through their highs and lows, King Pururavas and Urvashi finally find their way to everlasting joy.

In the 5th century AD the Hunas of Gandhara or modern Afghanistan had their eyes trained on the rich kingdoms of India. Toramana, the leader of the Hunas and after him his son, Mihirakula, were determined to conquer the prosperous kingdom of Magadha. But they had a formidable rival in its ruler, Narasimha Gupta Baladitya and when the Hunas turned their eyes on Malwa it was King Yashodharma who fought them off.

The carefree, fun-loving boy changed suddenly. Meditative and withdrawn, Vekataraman or Ramana Maharshi, as he was later named, left his loved ones and set out to find his true calling. The Maharshi's, simplicity, his quiet wisdom and his love for every living being - be it a tree, an animal or the lowliest of people - brought with it a peace and calm that suffused every devotee who came before him.

It was a time of turbulence when resentment against British treachery and betrayal was simmering in the people of India. The Nawab of Avadh had been a staunch ally of the British, providing them with money, grain and cattle and yet, Avadh was annexed through the Doctrine of Lapse as were other states like Satara, Sambalpur, Nagpur and Jhansi. The discontent triggered off the first war of Indian Independence. Rana Beni Madho and Pir Ali were two heroes of that period who inspired many to stand up against injustice.

Born a poor refugee, Meher was blessed with both spirit and talent. She could ride horseback and design fine clothes. She could lead armies to victory and yet be a doting wife. She could attend to the problems of a vast empire and at the same time be blissfully happy making perfumes. Emperor Jahangir fell under her spell and aptly named her Noor Jahan, for she lit up his world with her love.

When King Dushyanta first saw Shakuntala, he was struck by her incomparable beauty and gentle character. He made her his wife and vowed to take her back to his palace. But a curse from the sage Durvasa erased her memory so completely from his mind that he failed to recognize her. Much later, when the curse was broken he realized his mistake but it was too late or so it seemed to be. The story of Shakuntala first appeared in the Mahabharata. It was later adapted into a play by the Sanskrit dramatist and poet, Kalidasa.

Ilisa and Kesiya, two misers, foolishly filled their lives with worry. Had they understood the joy of giving and sharing, how much happier they and their families, would have been! Buddha's most important message, that desire and greed block the path to eternal bliss, is reiterated in the Jataka tales. These light-hearted parables teach us to respect ourselves as well as others. But, like Manduka, they also relish an occasion to get a fool to part with his money!

Shivaji, famous as a warrior and patriot, was also renowned for his kindness. His behavior managed to convert a spunky young mother, an avenging widow and a terrified maiden into devoted friends. Not only did the powerful Maratha display humility and a constant sense of fair play, he also upheld the honor of every woman whether rich or poor, enemy or ally.

A power-hungry warrior and a peace-loving wife - could they ever tread together on the path of non-violence? Ashoka waged war after ruthless war, yet by the time his children grew up, he proudly saw them off as Buddhist missionaries. Read of the charmed life of this famous king of Magadha, who not only built a prosperous kingdom but spread the message of universal love.

As dawn breaks, Surya, the Sun God, leaps over the horizon in his chariot, pulled by seven radiant horses. As he rises into the sky he spreads light and warmth all over the world. The great Ganga king, Narasimha Rao, commissioned 1200 artisans to recreate this scene in stone. The Konark Sun Temple is a place where the lines between fact, fiction and folklore have blurred over time. Amar Chitra Katha interweaves the history of the 13th century monument with some of the mythology associated with it.

Disdaining even the comfort of a bed, the valiant Rana Pratap waged a single-minded, life-long war against the mighty Mughal conquerors. His Rajput pride instilled a deep respect in the enemy. They realized that huge armies and sophisticated weapons are but aids and that there can be no substitute for raw courage on the battlefield.

Jai Hind! Subhas Chandra Bose's stirring war cry brought hope to Indians everywhere. Indian soldiers in Japanese prisoners-of-war camps as well as freedom-loving youth in the country were infected by his call to arms. Though born to wealth and comfort, this brilliant scholar was also a born leader. His ideas and efforts went a long way in gaining India her freedom from British rule.

He rejected formal education and yet began a world-famous university. His poems were mocked for their colloquial language but they were adopted as anthems by two countries. Bengali society despaired of him until he was awarded the coveted Nobel Prize for Literature and a knighthood! Rabindranath Tagore, whose multi-faceted life was as fascinating as it is inspiring, lives on in his books, his music and his thought-provoking, unconventional ideals.

Narayana, the author of these parables, insists that we exercise caution when choosing our companions. His charming animal characters - sometimes silly, sometimes wise - remind us uncomfortably of ourselves. We learn to avoid the pitfalls of life, along with them, thus attaining wisdom in a rather enjoyable way! Most importantly, we realize the worth of an honest friend.

The 'dullard' of the story, an unfortunate failure at school, is a familiar figure in every age. Poor at his books, he compensates with a wealth of common sense and goes on to survive life's trials rather well. His comically smug, scholarly companions, on the other hand, soon meet their doom. These tales may mirror everyday human vices in a time-tested and engaging way but they are also gentle guides to a wiser, happier path.

Rana Sanga, the ruler of Mewar, had his eyes set on the throne of Delhi. However, the rising Mughal star Babur got rid of the Lodhi Sultan of Delhi. Thus the stage was set for the confrontation between the formidable Rana and an equally determined Babur who had just found a new home for his men, Hindustan.

He revived the Indian spirit that lay shackled by Western domination. He inspired his countrymen to be proud of their heritage. He urged them to be fearless. In his short life and in the face of tremendous odds, he initiated a world-wide movement to uplift the human race and opened the eyes of the West to the wonders of ancient Indian thought.

Was Chanakya a demon or a man? His opponents had no answer. They would plot and plan, coax and connive, but the scholar-turned-politician was always a step ahead, confounding both their motives and their ambitions. He led his king, Chandragupta, to greatness and set his kingdom on the road to peace and prosperity. Then, for generations of future rulers, he compiled a useful guide, the famously canny Arthashastra.

They make an odd couple. Bhimasena is a giant who weaves delicate baskets for a living. His friend the dwarf, who is a wizard with a bow and arrow, is known as the Little Bowman. Together, their antics take us on a roller-coaster ride of humor and adventure, from their rustic village homes all the way to the court of the King of Varanasi. In true Jataka tradition, their tale also teaches us a valuable lesson about pride and over-confidence.

Ramanuja (AD 1017-1137) lived for 120 years, traversing the land from Tamil Nadu to Kashmir. People flocked to him to understand his unusual message, the path to ultimate bliss. High caste or low, wealthy or poor, Ramanuja turned no one away. The great Acharya who wrote scholarly commentaries on sacred texts like the Bhagavad Gita was first and foremost a simple-hearted devotee. He inspired the Bhakti movement that spread throughout the country.

A hungry jackal finds food when he overcomes fear. A curious monkey meddles with something that does not concern him and comes to a sticky end. Philosophy, psychology, politics and human relations become simple enough to be understood by a child in Pandit Vishnu Sharma's brilliant work, the Panchatantra. Written and compiled in around 200 BC, every story is as relevant today as it was in ancient times.