Anant Pai strode the Indian comics industry like a colossus. Using the comics format he told stories from mythology, history and literature to generations of children. Uncle Pai, as he was known, wanted Indian children to be familiar with their heritage. He believed that it helped build self-esteem and confidence. He also wanted to bring the children of this country together through stories. A chemical engineer by profession, Anant Pai gave up his job to follow his dream, a dream that led to the creation of Amar Chitra Katha and Tinkle. Amar Chitra Katha pays tribute to its creator and traces the story of the man who left behind a legacy of learning and laughter.
Ridiculed for his idealism and love for truth, and scoffed at for his simplicity and humility, Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi proved himself to be no ordinary mortal when by literally 'turning the other cheek' he brought the mighty British empire to its knees. This special edition traces the Mahatma's life as he grew from a passive, quiet and thoughtful boy into a man who seemed to possess unending reserves of strength and determination in the face of tremendous odds. A man who stirred the hearts of millions and inspired them to believe in freedom.
Gita, short for Bhagavad Gita, 'the Divine Song', is a philosophical dialogue in the Mahabharata. The setting is the start of the great war between cousins, the Kauravas and Pandavas. Arjuna, the Pandava hero, finds himself facing his close kin, elders and teachers. The thought of piercing them by his arrows deeply disturbs Arjuna. Distraught, he breaks down, throws away his bow and declares he will not fight. It is Krishna's task to counsel his friend about life as well as his duty as a warrior so that he can fight the war with full moral conviction.
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
Ambition and arrogance - these were to be the cause of Ravana's downfall. Blessed by both Brahma the creator and Shiva the destroyer, the powerful ruler of Lanka could have enjoyed fame and respect had he only reined in his arrogance. It was left to Vishnu the preserver to find a way to curb Ravana. In the process, there unfolded one of the world's most beautiful romantic sagas - the story of Rama's love for his devoted Sita.
Luck seemed to favor Arjuna. The Pandava was not only handsome and skilled but also a brave warrior. He won the hand of a beautiful princess but a past encounter with the mysterious Naga princess, Uloopi, remained with him like an enchanting dream. On that occasion, he had saved her life. Would she now work her charms to bring him back from the dead?
Even the gods were charmed by this most honourable of kings. Fate had snatched away his palace, his wealth, his wife and his son. Worse sorrows were to pour down on him and yet Harischandra would not abandon the righteous path. He revealed the true mettle of a great king, protecting his honour – and that of his family – with single-minded determination.
Even the merciless Lord Yama is charmed by Savitri. This gentle, beautiful princess is admired by gods and kings, the rich and the poor, the young and the old. But when the shadow of death hangs over her husband she is filled with courage spurred by her selfless love for him. She strives for a miracle – with amazing success!
Rama was happy living in the forest with his wife and brother. Palace intrigue may have forced his exile, but the next fourteen years promised to be quite pleasant. Suddenly, this idylic life was thrown into turmoil. His beloved wife Sita was kidnapped! With unmatched skill as a warrior, Rama destroyed the ten-headed Ravana. And along the way, he won a host of very grateful friends.
Deer, in the Jataka tales, are often gentle bodhisattvas or Buddhas-to-be. They are noble, selfless, wise and virtuous. Models of right thinking and right living, they strongly advise a life of non-violence and peace for ultimate happiness. Even if greed leads them astray, they are soon guided back to the correct path.
No one dared challenge the might of King Rama of Ayodhya. Famous for his valour and skill as a warrior, he confidently set out to become the King of the World. But then, his force came up against two little boys roaming the forest wilds. Luv and Kush laug
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.
Ramayana is the story of Rama, the prince of Ayodhya. Poet Valmiki describes Rama as a dutiful son, loving brother, devoted husband, fierce warrior and wise statesman, of pleasant manners and speech. Rama is above all an upholder of Dharma so it is no wonder that he is hailed as an avatar or incarnation of Lord Vishnu.
When Satyabhama, Krishna's fiery wife, gets offended by the behaviour of Indra's wife Sachi, the two gods come to war over the lovely Parijata tree. The princess Lakshmana is determined to marry Krishna. Her father must ensure that during the swayamwara only Krishna will win his daughter. Sage Narada provokes Satyabhama into agreeing to give him Krishna, unless she can find something heavier than him. But all her possessions together prove to be lighter than Krishna.
Tarul Mozhi Varman was the younger son of the king of Thanjavur. Quiet, firm and dependable he won the heart of every person he met. However, it was his hot-headed brother who was heir to the throne. But no one could stand in the way of what destiny had in store for the young prince. By the strangest twists of fate, Arul ascended the throne as Raja Raja Chola and proved to be one of the greatest rulers in the history of medieval India. During his 30-year-reign the Chola empire not only became a formidable maritime power but was also a hub of art and architecture.
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.
It is little wonder that Indra was the lord of all gods – he displayed the true characteristics of a perfect leader. It was his diligence and eye for detail that ensured that only the virtuous were given god-like status. Arrogance and impatience were soon corrected. But, most importantly, as a leader, Lord Indra strove to be worthy of his position.
It was a time when the evils of the caste system cast a malevolent shadow over Kerala. The 'avarnas', as the low castes were called, lived on the fringes of a society that found their very shadow, polluting. It was at such a time that Narayana was born. As a child he shocked his elders by questioning the system. As a guru he strove to educate people in the oneness of God and the human race.
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
Rogues and scoundrels were forced to tread carefully - even the exalted emperor was not spared when he erred - for Birbal, Akbar's able minister, was at hand to dispense justice. Part detective, part psychologist, he never failed to nab a wrongdoer. His methods might have been unorthodox - he once summoned a tree as the key witness in a case - but he never failed to get the desired results.
Could a man of flesh and blood be lord Vishnu himself? The infant who insisted on claiming the offerings made to the lord had matured into a single-minded Vaishnava. People thronged to him for his happy, simple message of love. This is the story of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, the renowned Vaishnava saint (16th century) who popularized the chanting of the Hare Krishna mantra. His followers regard him as an avatar of Krishna.
Anand Math is considered to be a milestone in the history of modern fiction in India. It received such wide acclaim in the late nineteenth century that Bankim Chandra Chatterjee, its author, was referred to as the Walter Scott of India. Translations appea
Kalidasa, the greatest poet of classical Sanskrit, is known only through his writings. His works tell us that he was probably a Brahmin and a devotee of Shiva. Apart from this, there are no clues to his personal life. Even the names of his parents are not
This will help us customize your experience to showcase the most relevant content to your age group
Please select from below
Login
Not registered?
Sign up
Already registered?
Success – Your message will goes here
We'd love to hear from you!
Thank you for visiting our website. Would you like to provide feedback on how we could improve your experience?
This site does not use any third party cookies with one exception — it uses cookies from Google to deliver its services and to analyze traffic.Learn More.