Amar Chitra Katha

Lal Bahadur Shastri may have been small in size but he had an immense vision. Determined to build a new India, he took on every challenge with a cheerful smile and a humble heart. Years of hard work took their toll, however. In her moment of triumph, the country was suddenly left grieving for a wise, honest and courageous prime minister.

From his father he learned social etiquette from his mother, India's age-old philosophy and culture. From his Muslim mentor he learned to respect different faiths and from his English tutor the best of Western and Indian thought. But none of them could have molded the young Jawaharlal Nehru into the fiercely idealistic Indian so famous throughout the world today, that distinction he achieved by his own intelligence, keen observation and hard work.

With Shiva and Vishnu as parents, a child's life is bound to be unusual. Ayyappan's courage is unlimited and his wisdom unmatched. Vicious tigresses fall under his spell just as avenging demons succumb to his divine strength. Only power-crazed human beings are foolish enough to try to destroy this extraordinary lad. But, as he ascends to his rightful place as the god of Shabarimala, the glow of Ayyappan's compassion makes even earthly riches lose their glitter.

Tipu Sultan died as he lived, a free man. A childhood spent watching and helping in his father's campaigns had made him a shrewd general. From his father he also inherited courage and a sense of honor and, most importantly, the determination to oust the British from Indian soil. But this noble 18th-century warrior had no weapon against treachery.

Superbly skilled, speedy and strong, Arjuna boasted that he was the world's greatest warrior. But, despite his unquestionable courage, this honorable Pandava prince realized he could not confront Lord Indra's power or even the wiles of a cheeky monkey, without help. He needed divine weapons, such as the Gandiva bow, with its inexhaustible supply of arrows and a special war chariot. Most importantly, he needed the blessings of the gods, especially Lord Vishnu.

Superbly skilled, speedy and strong, Arjuna boasted that he was the world's greatest warrior. But, despite his unquestionable courage, this honorable Pandava prince realized he could not confront Lord Indra's power or even the wiles of a cheeky monkey, without help. He needed divine weapons, such as the Gandiva bow, with its inexhaustible supply of arrows and a special war chariot. Most importantly, he needed the blessings of the gods, especially Lord Vishnu.

Just because the boy was blind, he became the butt of every unkind prank. Little did his family realize that Soordas could often see more than anyone else. He could direct a shepherd to his lost goat and a father to his missing son. He could describe exactly how the idol of his beloved Lord Krishna was dressed in the temple each day. The Mughal emperor Akbar personally came to invite him to his court. The poet Tulsidas visited him. The powerful, the wise and the ordinary flocked to him for his all-seeing wisdom and his soul-stirring songs of devotion.

Laugh your head off at the unbelievably foolish antics of paramartha and his disciples but you'll find, surprisingly, that you are always on their side. Their kindly, simple ways have had a fan following since the 17th century, when the tales were concocted by an Italian priest who settled in Madurai. In this Tamil work, the author hits upon a happy combination of sound advice and rollicking humor.

The bandit wore a gruesome garland of fingers of the men he had killed. As his garland of fingers grew longer strong men cowered in fright. The bandit was invincible, until he met a gentle monk, Buddha. Thus darkness came face to face with light and at last the restless bandit found peace.

The bandit wore a gruesome garland of fingers of the men he had killed. As his garland of fingers grew longer strong men cowered in fright. The bandit was invincible, until he met a gentle monk, Buddha. Thus darkness came face to face with light and at last the restless bandit found peace.

When seven brave warriors go missing and a beautiful princess is transformed into a dog, the twelve-year-old prince, Balaraju, swears to punish the culprit. His weapons, single-minded courage and an unfailing charm, seem puny against the spells of a powerful magician. All the same, the wise young lad's mission is brilliantly successful and he also finds he can cast a few useful spells of his own. An adaptation of a popular folktale from Andhra Pradesh.

The day was April 13, 1919. It was the festival of Baisakhi, new year's day in the Punjab, when thousands of holidaying villagers mingled with the citizens of Amritsar to listen to their leaders in Amritsar's Jallianwala Bagh. No one even imagined that the garden would turn into a killing field. The British Brigadier-General Reginald Dyer, in a bid to teach 'a moral lesson to the Punjab', ordered his soldiers to open fire at the unarmed crowd of men, women and children. It was a turning point in India's struggle for freedom.

When Verghese Kurien stepped down from the train and on to the dusty platform in Anand, Gujarat, on 13 May, 1949, little did he know that his life was going to change unimaginably. Waiting for him was not just his own destiny but that of thousands of small, marginalised farmers who, until then, had only known exploitation and deprivation. The story of Dr. Kurien is the story of Amul. It is the story of Operation Flood, the 'billion-liter idea' that set India on the top of the world map for milk production. A die-hard patriot, Kurien was committed to the co-operative cause. He put the milk industry in the hands of the farmers, believing firmly that with ownership would come responsibility and great success. And he was right. Amar Chitra Katha traces the story of the man who is known as the 'Father of the White Revolution'.

Bandits and bullies both relied on his sense of fair play. When, as a boy, he tended to pet animals rather than play with his toys, people thought he was simple-headed. It was this spirit of kindness, however, that guided his lifelong fight against injustice and inequality. The rough and tumble of political life may have bewildered him but the country recognized in Jayaprakash Narayan an honest, brilliant and selfless Gandhian.

A powerful demon threatens the gods in their heaven. They need a savior, who, Lord Brahma decrees, will be the son born to Shiva and Parvati. But Shiva, a badly-dressed, untidy, solitary ascetic, seems to enjoy bachelorhood. Even Parvati's unmatched beauty aided by Kama, the god of love, seems unequal to the task of enchanting the stern lord. This illustrated classic is based on Kumara Sambhava of Kalidasa.

Munshi Premchand was an iconic writer, best known for his short stories. Through his tales, he managed to depict social conditions in a manner so emotional and direct, that they are relevant even today. 'Budhi Kaki' talks of the necessity for caring for the elderly, while 'Two Oxen' shows us why we need to be compassionate towards all creatures. In 'Stories by Premchand', we retell these two stories in a graphic form, while retaining the language and flavor of his writing.

The Rashtrakootas who ruled in Deccan for two and a half centuries (752 to 985 AD) respected all faiths of their time. This is reflected in Ellora where we find rock-cut cave-temples representing the Vaishnava, Shaiva, Jaina and Buddhist faiths. This Amar Chitra Katha tells the story of the Rashtrakoota heroes who have left us a lasting legacy, the Ellora caves.

Goddess Durga is the fierce form of Devi who, as Shakti, is considered the personification of Universal energy. According to the Devi Bhagavata, the universe is but her manifestation. The worship of Durga is believed to be more than 4,000 years old in India.

From his snowy abode on Mount Kailasa Lord Shiva travelled far and wide, answering the prayers of his devotees. But he was often in disguise to ensure that his favors went only to the deserving and so it was that he battled with the dauntless Pandava Arjuna, cast his net into the seas as he mingled with humble fisher folk and emerged from the sand to kick aside even the mighty Yama, god of death.

Throwing his aged father into prison, Kamsa occupied the throne of Mathura. Commanding a formidable army he thought he was unstoppable. The threat to his power came from an unexpected quarter, from a cowherd boy who was rumored to be his cousin Devaki's eighth child, Krishna. Moreover, there was a divine prophecy that Kamsa would meet his end at the hands of the eighth child of Devaki.

He rebelled against the established institution of religion. He spoke strongly against blind faith and ritualism. Kabir, who belonged to neither Hindu god nor Muslim wrote his couplets urging people to rise against orthodox thought. Kabir's words can still iron out religious differences between communities and destroy pointless pride. Everyone, he said, is equal and all gods are one. So difficult was this for the people of his time to understand that some of them resolved to be rid of him.

Ghanshyamdas Birla was a great son of India. There is hardly an aspect of national life which he did not enrich by his business acumen, patriotic fervor and philanthropy born of his deep personal attachment to Mahatma Gandhi. He gave substantial financial aid to the Mahatma's constructive programmes. Ghanshyamdas Birla was also closely associated with other important leaders of his time, such as Lokamanya Tilak, Motilal Nehru, Madan Mohan Malaviya, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and Jawaharlal Nehru.

Even the conquering British had to tread cautiously around this one-eyed, all-seeing lion-hearted king of Punjab. Strong and outstanding brave, Ranjit Singh defied death at every turn. Only ten years old when he first led a victorious army, he went to become Maharaja, in 1801, of all Punjab and then lands beyond.

It was a time of corruption and despotism in the state of Travancore. Balarama Varma, the Maharaja, was a helpless teenager who watched his Diwan take advantage of his inexperience to impose crushing taxes on the people and pocket the money himself. It was Velu Thampi who led a rebellion and overthrew the Diwan. The grateful Maharaja proclaimed him the Diwan and the people enjoyed a period of justice and firm administration. But then a greater foe awaited Velu Thampi, the British East India Company, which had begun to interfere with the internal affairs of Travancore.

The beautiful Princess Rukmini, they said, was the goddess of wealth herself. No wonder kings and emperors wanted her as a wife. Her brother Rukma wanted her to marry Shishupala for political expediency. But Rukmini had set her heart on the valiant Krishna, the prince who was Lord Vishnu himself. Now, Krishna had to whisk her away from under the noses of his enemies. Would his prowess be equal to his love and would Rukmini win the happiness for which she had prayed?

Intelligent, brave, competent and just, Razia was chosen by her father, Sultan Iltutmish, to succeed him to the throne of Delhi. The people loved her and trusted her but the Amirs or nobles found it difficult to swear loyalty to a woman. Sultana Razia ruled for only three and a half years but she proved her father right by being a wise and just ruler who protected and nurtured her.

Amidst the many wars he fought, Raja Bhoja, the ruler of Malwa, always found time to listen to poetry of the gifted. Ballala, a poet in his court, has immortalized his patron in his work Bhoja Prabandha which is a romantic tale, written in Sanskrit, partly in verse and partly in prose. Ballala was interested not so much in history as in heroics. In his attempt to magnify Bhoja as a patron of the arts and letters, Ballala has ignored historical facts. The poets, Kalidasa and Bana, who he said adorned Bhoja's court, actually lived much before Bhoja's times.

There is strength in numbers, says a wise pig. Being honest and selfless can change your destiny, says a young fawn. A friend is your most precious possession, advises a gentle crab, while loyalty is a noble swan's prized virtue. But it is courage that really helps these exceptional creatures gain freedom and respect.

She ruled over a small kingdom, but dreamt of freedom for the whole country. In the great revolt of 1857, Lakshmibai, the Rani of Jhansi, matched wits and force with the best of British generals. The image of the brave Rani of Jhansi charging her steed through enemy lines, her sword raised for the next thrust, is forever imprinted in Indian hearts.

Son of the beautiful goddess Ganga, the giver of life, the lad was born to greatness. Not only was he handsome and wise, he was also equally adept on the battlefield or in a regal court. As this tale reveals, Bheeshma is best remembered for his exceptional honesty and kindness. Who else would have uncomplainingly suffered the trials of kingship without its comforts? Who else would have chosen long years of loneliness just to pander to a father's whim?