There was a time when kids in India would eagerly wait every month for the next issue of the 'Tinkle'. Some of the 'lucky' ones subscribed to the comic, receiving it at their doorstep at the the beginning of each month, for the princely sum of Rs.240 per year. Others would hop on to the nearest bookstall, eager to grab the latest copy. This practice was common among the kids of the 90s and the 2000s. Another comic hugely popular since a long time was the Amar Chitra Katha. People used to buy ACM titles at Rs 1 or 2 in the sixties. Prices rose to around Rs 30 in the last decade, and now people buy it for as high as Rs.90 per title. Mr. Anant Pai, fondly called as 'Uncle Pai' sure did a great job in making the childhoods of Indian children one of the most memorable ones.

Characters like Suppandi, Shikari Shambu,and Tantri the Mantri ruled the comic circles at one time. They transported the kids into a new imaginative world, be it the jungles where Kaalia the Crow and his friends lived, or the mystical lands of  Jaanoo the Witch, the lazy villages where Pyarelal and Lajjo lived,  or the comical situations of Ina Mina Myna Mo. Ajay the detective brought the new definition of 'cool' to children, and Butterfingers had the latest 'swag' in town. They all managed to make children an inch happier. Amar Chitra Katha, on the other hand, brought to life historical figures, ancient tales of kings and queens, and the lives of freedom fighters. In a simple manner, they all managed to enrich children with the rich history of India's culture and traditions.

These comics are still available today, even though at exorbitant prices. It is unfortunate that children are least interested in theses comics, and only in social media these days. After the demise of Uncle Pai, executives in the publication house have also not managed to keep up to the standards. It is very important that children have knowledge about their own country and have an imaginative and creative mind. They are the citizens of tomorrow, and shaping them appropriately is the need of the hour.