Amar Chitra Katha

Starting off as the ruler of tiny Thaneshwar, Harsha (17th century AD) rose to become the powerful monarch of the kingdom of kanauj. He avenged the wicked assassination of his elder brother and the cowardly abduction of his sister. His biographer Bana Bhatta and the chinese traveller Hiuen Tsang were unanimous in their praise of this learned king, whose fame did much to create a glowing image of India in lands far away. If Harsha is remembered till this day as a great ruler, it is not only because he was a brave military leader, but also because he was a man of noble impulse, a great patron of learning and letters and he had great scholars like Banabhatta, Mayura and Divakara in his court.

The Moon faced Ganesha's wrath for laughing at him, when the elephant- headed god fell off the mouse he rode. When Ravana obtained the Atmalinga from Shiva, the gods were perturbed and turned to Ganesha for a solution. Kind-hearted, benign and always ready to help, Ganesha can also display anger at injustice and foolishness. This Amar Chitra Katha features stories that revolve around one of the most popular and endearing figures in Indian mythology.

Teacher, writer, poet and a rebel, Subramanian Bharati used the power of his pen to make the mighty British Raj tremble. His songs were sung by all sections of people in Tamil Nadu, during mass gatherings and Satyagrahas. Revered as the father of modern Tamil renaissance, his heart beat for one India. He was aptly called Bharati, a title bestowed on him for his patriotic songs.

This Amar Chitra Katha highlights the life of revolutionaries who were exiled to the dreaded cellular prison on Port Blair in the Andaman Islands. Many went insane and a few committed suicide, but Veer Savarkar refused to be daunted. He valiantly continued the fight for human dignity and freedom, even in prison. What was the secret of Savarkar's strength? He was utterly confident that India would achieve freedom. That conviction gave him hope and courage to overcome depression and keep fighting wherever he was, inside the prison or outside.

He was from a respectable family, well-educated and a lawyer, yet many Indians thought of him as 'untouchable'. It was up to B.R. Ambedkar to teach his 'depressed' community to fight the injustices that it faced each day. Hard working and wise, he became the icon of the underprivileged. History, however, will remember him as the architect of India's Constitution.

In the early 20th century when the hills of Kumaon echoed with the bone-chilling roar of a man-eating tiger, it was the sure shot hunter, 'Carpet Sahib' who went to put an end to the terror. But what was often missed was the intense sorrow he felt when one of these magnificent creatures had to be shot down. Jim Corbett understood the tiger and respected it. He recognized its irreplaceable place in the circle of life and described it as the 'large-hearted gentleman with boundless courage'. Amar Chitra Katha tells the story of Jim Corbett and traces his life and love for one of India's most valuable and endangered animals.

In the early 20th century when the hills of Kumaon echoed with the bone-chilling roar of a man-eating tiger, it was the sure shot hunter, 'Carpet Sahib' who went to put an end to the terror. But what was often missed was the intense sorrow he felt when one of these magnificent creatures had to be shot down. Jim Corbett understood the tiger and respected it. He recognized its irreplaceable place in the circle of life and described it as the 'large-hearted gentleman with boundless courage'. Amar Chitra Katha tells the story of Jim Corbett and traces his life and love for one of India's most valuable and endangered animals.

Wise Yudhishthira, strong Bheema, skilful Arjuna, brave Nakula and Sahadeva - five exceptionally talented brothers whose youthful exuberance made their Kaurava cousins very jealous. Things only got worse when Duryodhana found that everyone wanted Yudhishthira as king. It was their courage and skill that helped the Pandava princes survive several murderous plots and as a bonus, they won themselves wonderful wives!

This was no mere perch for any monarch, the goddess parfait herself embellished it with her thirty-two beautiful companions, whom she first cast into stone. Eventually king Vikramaditya received the throne as a gift from the Lord Indra, but he little realized that it would one day be used to remind the world of his virtues and guide future rulers to greatness.

Prince Khurram was a favorite of his grandfather, Emperor Akbar, who saw in the young prince a reflection of himself. Akbar was not mistaken. Khurram proved himself to be a brave soldier, an able commander and an excellent strategist. He was certainly the natural heir to his father, Jahangir, who recognizing his qualities gave him the title of Shah Jahan or Ruler of the World. But his stepmother, Noor Jahan, had other plans.

Malharrao Holkar of Malwa, in Central India, was so impressed by the religious devotion and regal bearing of eight-year-old Ahilya, that he decided to make her his daughter-in-law. A decision he never regretted. Recognizing her abilities, Malharrao trained the young girl in the art of statesmanship and trusted her enough to leave the administration in her hands when he went on military expeditions. Then, in a series of misfortunes, Ahilya lost her husband, father-in-law and son. The brave queen took charge and turned Malwa into a contented and prosperous kingdom. So much so that even the British, whom she opposed steadfastly, praised her as a truly great ruler.

When Usha, daughter of the asura king, Bana, dreamt of a handsome youth, she lost her heart to him completely. Little did she know that he was Aniruddha, grandson of Krishna. Nor did she ever imagine that their love would lead to a fierce battle between the Yadava forces of Krishna and the demon army of Bana, aided by the wild hordes of Shiva.

The Sultan of Gujarat has taken a liking to Kanwal and is out for Kehar's life. Can Kehar keep himself alive and also rescue Kanwal from the Sultan's clutches?

The battle between Alexander of Macedonia and King Paurava was the most difficult one the Greek invader had ever fought. Here he was faced with an adversary whose courage and pride demanded recognition. Even though Paurava lost the battle to Alexander's brilliant strategy on the battlefield he could not be conquered by the great conqueror.

Legend has it that the ancient town of Thanjavur came up on the spot where Vishnu defeated an evil demon. The mighty Cholas made it their capital in the 9th century CE, following which they increased, through conquests, the size and strength of their empire. Finally, after realizing all his military ambitions, the Chola monarch Raja Raja Chola I decided to build a great temple in Thanjavur dedicated to Lord Shiva. Thus Thanjavur became home to the majestic Brihadeeswara temple and many other shrines. Amar Chitra Katha tells the stories surrounding this ancient town and its monuments.

Birbal had proved himself to be the most reliable minister at court, time and again. He dispensed justice, dealt diplomatically with other rulers, led military expeditions and composed poetry. In addition, he also rescued Akbar from the dangers of arrogance and unfettered power. Most importantly, he made the Great Mughal laugh.

King Virat's honor was at stake and his son, Uttara, was anxious to show off his warrior skills. But faced by the enemy Kaurava hordes, Uttara's courage vanished. It was up to his hero, the famous Pandava, Arjuna, to ensure that the young prince succeeded in his mission and yet, Arjuna had to keep his own identity hidden or the Kauravas would gain the upper hand.

There was a great consternation in the court of Keladi, when the king married a commoner. But Chennamma, the merchant's daughter, proved to be a born queen. She became an expert rider and archer. She took great interest in the governing of the kingdom. When a scheming minister poisoned and killed the king, Chennamma was forced to take over as ruler. Before she could calm the troubled kingdom, Keladi came under attack from the powerful armies of Bijapur. Undaunted, Chennamma sold her jewelry to finance the battle. Then she marched out to meet the invaders, at the head of her army.

For the sick, the troubled and the oppressed Shirdi in Maharashtra was the place to go. It was where Sai Baba's all-encompassing love made them feel better, happier and more at peace. He could reveal himself as the Supreme Deity and yet assume the form of a street dog, turn water into oil and save a child miles away from burning flames. However, by the time he left this world in 1918, he had also made thousands understand that good acts are the only miracle needed to find God.

Aruni was willing to give up his life for his Guru, Uttanka cast aside his dreams for his teacher. Young or old, their devotion and obedience were almost superhuman. Luckily, as described in the Mahabharata, the gods looked kindly on them. After all, these young men had earned the right to happiness.

Swaraj is my birthright and I shall have it' -- this clarion call was given by Bal Gangadhar Tilak. He was a towering figure in the Indian Independence movement. A nationalist to the core, he believed strongly that modern education would inculcate patriotism and self-respect in the people. His inspiring speeches and writing landed Tilak in jail several times. But this did not dampen his spirit or will to cast off the yoke of foreign rule from his motherland.

Was Tenali Raman a fool or the cleverest man at the court of Krishnadeva Raya? After all, he humbled great kings as well as learned scholars. Wiggling out of every predicament in unique and unexpected ways, this poet-jester reminds us of Birbal at the court of Akbar. Read his tales and laugh with joy even as his plain common sense leaves you gasping.

Jayadratha was a despicable man - vindictive, arrogant and selfish. In the Mahabharata battle, Jayadratha had shamelessly hidden himself away, for Arjuna had taken a terrible vow to put an end to his own life if he failed to kill the villain before sunset that day. With the wise Krishna by his side, would the mighty Arjuna fail to find his mark?

When Albert Einstein was a very young boy, his teachers and his father despaired about his apparent lack of interest in studies. To top it he had speech difficulties and was vague and inattentive. Albert hated the kind of rote learning he was obliged to do in school, memorizing dates and texts. But as he grew older, it became clear that Albert was no ordinary person. 1905 is often termed his 'miracle year', the year he published not one but four entirely new papers, on four completely different topics.

Every ruler needs a friend like Birbal - faithful, intelligent and blessed with a wonderful sense of humor. Birbal dealt with every tricky situation, every palace intrigue and every demand of his petulant queen with characteristic aplomb. His gentle tact gave him a unique advantage, he became the all-powerful Akbar's alter ego. With wisdom to match his wit, he soon had both friend and foe under his spell.

Abbakka, queen of Ullal, a small principality (in what is now South Karnataka), had made a pledge to her dying mother that she would avenge her defeat and humiliation at the hands of the Portuguese. Defying her over-cautious husband, the king of Bangadi and the under-confident nobles in her court, Rani Abbakka rallied her army to challenge the might of the Portuguese and wrest freedom for Ullal and later even for Mangalore.

King Udayana was a lucky man. He was handsome and strong and had the love of two beautiful princesses. He also had the undying loyalty of able ministers. They pulled every trick in the book to ensure that he overcame his enemies and won back, not only his vast kingdom, but the happiness he richly deserved.

Hothal, an apsara is allowed by Indra to live among humans. When her father is exiled from his kingdom, Hothal disguises herself as a man and fights alongside the valiant Odha, who she eventually falls deeply in love with.

The king of Vijayanagara, Vira Narasimha, was very ill. He was afraid that after his death, his much loved and popular brother, Krishnadeva Raya, would seize the throne from his little son. So he asked a trusted minister to put Krishnadeva to death. The conscience-stricken minister could not perform such a heinous deed and convinced the bewildered prince to escape. Fate had already decreed that Krishnadeva Raya would one day rule the Vijayanagara empire and take it to its zenith of glory.

A reputed national airline, world-renowned scientific and medical institutions, an industrial empire catering to a nation's needs from tea to trucks and from cosmetics to common salt, how did he achieve so much? With hard work, humility and value for tradition but also with an overwhelming desire for progress. Moreover, his spirit of adventure soared higher that the planes he so skilfully piloted.