The Marwar Festival

Illustration: Ritoparna Hazra

Every year, during the two full moon days of Sharad Poornima sometime in the months of September and October, the Marwar festival of Jodhpur commemorates the sacrifices and legacies of Rajasthan’s great heroes and rulers. Places like the Mehrangarh Fort, Umaid Bhawan Palace and Mandore come alive with performances by local folk dancers and singers, dressed in colourful traditional Rajasthani attire. The festival also features other cultural events like the unique camel tattoo show, turban tying competitions and polo matches, as well as displays of some of the finest Rajasthani handicrafts and artefacts. This year, the festival will be celebrated on October 12th and 13th.

Kamini Roy (1864-1933)

Illustration: Ketan Pal

October 12th marks the birth anniversary of Bengali poet and social worker, Kamini Roy.

Kamini was born in 1864 in the village of Basanda in present-day Bangladesh. Although a child prodigy in mathematics, she developed an interest in Sanskrit after spending many hours in her father’s library. Later, she joined Bethune School and went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree with Sanskrit Honours, becoming one of the first two female Honours graduate in British India, the other being eminent physician Kadambini Ganguly, who was three years her senior.

In 1889, Kamini Roy published her first collection of verses, Alo Chhaya, and went on to become a leading Bengali poet and social worker. In 1921, she fought hand-in-hand with Kumudini Basu, née  Mitra, and Mrinalini Sen for educational and voting rights for women. For her immense contributions to the betterment of women and society at large, the Calcutta University honoured her with the Jagattarini Gold Medal. She passed away in 1933 at her home in Hazaribagh in West Bengal.

15 Things You Should Know About The IAF

Illustration: Samhita Sonti

By Samyukhtha Sunil

The Indian Air Force was officially established on October 8th, 1932, by the British Empire. Post-Independence, it was renamed as the Royal Indian Air Force and the Royal prefix was removed after India became a republic in 1950. Air Force Day is celebrated every year on October 8th to commemorate the warriors who put their lives and safety on the line every single day to protect the people of this nation. A spectacular aerial show is conducted at the Hindon Airbase, which starts with flag-bearing skydivers appearing out of the clouds sporting colourful canopies. As we celebrate India’s 88th Air Force Day this year, here are some interesting facts about our guardians in the sky.

  • Following the U.S., Russia and China, the Indian Airforce is the fourth-largest and seventh-most powerful in the world in terms of military capability. The entire division comprises over 1,70,000 personnel and 1,500 aircraft.
  • With over 60 airbases across the country, the IAF’s Hindon base situated in Ghaziabad is the largest in Asia and the seventh-largest in the world!
  • The highest air force station in India is situated in the Himalayas, all the way up at the Siachen glacier at a whopping height of 22,000 feet above sea level.
  • In the Indo-Pakistan War of 1971, the IAF managed to take out 79 Pakistani tanks and a train!
  • The air force has set a world record for accomplishing the highest landing on Ladakh at a height of 16604 ft above sea level.
  • The IAF is the only airforce in the world that operates the C-17 Globemaster III, C-130J Super Hercules, and Il-76, three of the world’s largest transport aircrafts in existence.
  • Hindustan Aeronautics Limited developed the Tejas for the Indian Air Force. It was the second supersonic light combat aircraft that they came out with after the HAL HF-24 Marut.
  • In an unimaginable act of bravery, the IAF airlifted hundreds of Indian troops from the Siachen glacier during Operation Meghdoot in 1984.
  • The IAF set an incredible world record while rescuing 20,000 civilians during the Uttarakhand flash floods under Mission Raahat.
  • As most of Northern Kerala was cut off from the rest of the country during the 2018 flash floods, it was the IAF that rescued and airlifted hundreds of people and dropped off 300 kg of food and relief materials.
  • Air Marshal Arjan Singh is the first and only Indian Airforce officer with a 5-star rank.
  • Flying officer Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon was the first and the only IAF officer to be honoured with the Param Vir Chakra for his bravery in the Indo-Pak war of 1971.
  • Air Marshal Padmavathy Bandopadhyay is the only female IAF officer to be promoted to the 3-star rank.
  • The IAF has over 300 female fighter pilots serving currently.
  • The IAF has only one airbase in a foreign country, all the way in Tajikistan.

The Village Without Doors 

Illustration: ACK Design Team

Ever imagined living in a house with no doors whatsoever? Well, the entire village of Shani Shinagpur village in Maharashtra lives exactly like that. 

35 kilometres from the Maharashtrian city of Ahmednagar lies a village called Shani Shingnapur. The village houses a temple of Lord Shani, the god that rules the planet Saturn. The temple has no idol but instead a five and a half feet high black rock called Swayambhu, which means self-evolved deity. There is an interesting legend associated with it. 

When one of the shepherds of the then local hamlet touched this stone with a pointed stick, it started to ‘bleed’. The news spread like wildfire and the entire village community gathered to witness the miracle. On the very same night, in the dream of the most devoted and pious of the shepherds appeared Lord Shaneeshwara. He said, “This black stone is my form. Pray to it daily and perform ‘Tailabhishekam’ (a ritual where devotees pour oil on the idol) every Saturday.” The shepherd asked if he should build a temple around the stone. To this, Shani replied, “The open sky is the roof and I prefer it that way. There is no need for any other shelter or protection as I will be around to shield you all. I promise there will be no theft or dacoity in this hamlet for as long as I am here.” 

The legend has been passed on for generations through word of mouth. It is because of this conviction of the villagers that the houses, shops, temples, and post offices do not have a single door or a door frame even today. On his part, the god of Saturn was holding up his promise till very recently; the village has not registered a crime till 2010!  Impressed by the near-zero crime rate, the United Commercial (UCO) Bank has opened India’s first ‘lock-less’ branch here! Today, Shani Shingnapur has been dubbed ‘The Village without Doors’ among tourists, with a lot of devotees visiting to worship Lord Shani in this chosen sanctuary. 

Marshal Arjan Singh (1919-2017)

It isn’t often that one receives the coveted title of ‘Marshal’ of one of the strongest air forces in the world. The Indian Air Force officially has only one veteran fighter pilot who has ever been awarded with this prestigious title, the senior air officer, Arjan Singh. He was the first and the only officer to be promoted to five-star rank as Marshal to the Indian Air Force. An iconic leader who always led his squadron from the very front, Marshal Arjan Singh’s legacy is an indispensable part of modern Indian history. 

Battle ready 

Born on April 15th, 1919 in Lyallpur (present-day Faisalabad), Arjan Singh completed his education from the Government College in Lahore as an all-rounder. He headed the college swimming team and set several university-level records for swimming. His talent and vigour resulted in his acceptance into the Royal Air Force College, Cranwell, in 1938 at just 19 years of age. He carried his athletic prowess even to college where he led the swimming, athletics and hockey team. When war broke out in early 1939, Singh’s training was cut short and he was immediately assigned to Squadron 1 in Ambala. 

Braving World War II

After being assigned his initial squadron, Singh was moved around to different regions in the North-West frontiers. He, however, had the strong urge to overtake the Japanese attacks on the Imphal-Kohima frontiers. It was during this period that he encountered several near-death experiences. 

One of the most significant events that unfolded during the war was during his posting in Imphal in 1943 as squadron commander. When the Japanese laid siege to the Imphal valley, it was under Singh’s leadership and sharp vision that the squadron was able to retaliate against the Japanese troops. For his exemplary leadership skills, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) in June 1944, by Lord Mountbatten. 

Independent India and the Partition

When India celebrated its independence on August 15th, 1947, Singh, who was moved up as Group Captain, led the flight display past the Red Fort in Delhi. As India prepared its troops for the partition that followed, it was Singh who led the airbase at Ambala successfully. He went on to complete his training, not once allowing his vast experience and military expertise stop him from learning more constantly. 

DID YOU KNOW?

 

Singh served as the Chief de Mission or the representative ambassador of the Indian contingent during the 1965 summer Olympics in Melbourne, Australia!

Chief of Air Staff & the Indo-Pakistani war (1965) 

Singh’s multi-faceted personality and his strong leadership qualities made him the perfect candidate for the government position as the Chief of Air Staff, a role he took up, officially, in 1964. In the year that followed, Pakistani troops breached the LoC and infiltrated Jammu & Kashmir illegally with their forces. This marked the beginning of the first Indo-Pakistan war, resulting in full-scale conflict between the two countries 

Pakistan launched Operation Grand Slam which was a series of planned airstrikes targeted at specific villages in the Kashmir valley. The Indian Air Force responded successfully to these sudden attacks through several strategic counter-attacks planned on a moment’s notice, despite enduring some losses early on. The IAF avenged the fallen comrades under the calm and decisive leadership of Chief Arjan Singh. The war came to an end when both countries agreed on a ceasefire in the region in the month of September. For this near-impossible feat, Singh was awarded the prestigious Padma Vibhushan. 

Diplomacy and Final Years

After serving as the Chief of the IAF for almost 5 years, Singh retired as the Air Chief Marshal at the age of 50 in the year 1969. Singh was a man who always kept busy and found ways to constantly contribute to his nation. It was during this time, shortly after his retirement, that he was appointed as the Indian Ambassador on several expeditions across the globe, from Switzerland to Kenya, all in a span of ten years. 

In 1989, he was appointed as the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi by the then President K.R Narayan. He served this position for a year till he turned 71 and subsequently retired once again. His health began deteriorating at the wake of the new century and continued to be poor during his final years. 

Despite the several health issues that he faced, he lived up till the age of 98 and succumbed to a cardiac arrest in 2017 at his home in New Delhi. His death was mourned deeply by the IAF and the government at the highest level, including Prime Minister Modi and President Ram Nath Kovind.  A special funeral was conducted with full military honours and IAF fly pasts as the national flag flew at half-mast in New Delhi. 

It was Singh’s legendary leadership, grit and power that helped him survive some of the most tumultuous events in global history, to engage with them successfully, and to lead the nation to safer and stronger frontiers without fear. His life and his legacy will always stand as a powerful testament to the bravery and valour of the brave soldiers and fighter pilots who guard the skies every single day. We salute his wisdom and bravery!

The Khadi Movement

Illustration: Souren Roy

Khadi is a type of cloth which originated in the Indian subcontinent. It used to be handspun and handwoven using a charkha (spinning wheel). The material is unique and versatile, as it keeps you warm in winter and cool in summer.

For Mahatma Gandhi, khadi was more than just cloth. He saw in khadi an ideology, a movement, a unifying force for the Indian people.

The British used to export raw materials from India to England, only to sell them back as finished products at a heftier price. Gandhiji realised that India needed to become self-reliant in order to escape the grip of foreign dependence. He encouraged both the rich and the poor to spin khadi for at least an hour a day as a duty towards their country. Apart from enabling Indians to become more economically self-sufficient, he also meant for this practice to alleviate the stigma against manual labour and bridge gaps between the people.

Khadi became so central to the Indian identity that the charkha was featured on our national flag for 26 years, from 1921 to 1947.

Vikram Sarabhai (1919-1971)

Illustration: Arijit Dutta Chowdhury

August 12th, 1919, marks the birth date of the legendary physicist and astronomer, Dr Vikram Sarabhai. He established the Indian National Committee for Space Research in 1962 which is now the esteemed Indian Space Research Organization.

From heading multiple organisations simultaneously and working on many ground-breaking projects including developing a satellite launching vehicle, to honouring his many other professional commitments as a public speaker and teacher, all the while making ample time for his family, Dr Sarabhai was the ultimate master of time management. He was a scientist par excellence but he was a mentor extraordinaire who had scary faith in his team members. It was to such an extent that even his team would be perplexed from time to time. It was perhaps the greatest gift Dr Sarabhai gave to India, because it was this style of mentorship that was carried forward by many top Indian scientists including Dr Kalam, who was one of his dearest students.

His contributions left an indelible mark in the history of Indian space research and nuclear power. He was conferred with the Padma Bhushan in 1966 and Padma Vibhushan in 1972. His sudden departure on December 30, 1971, left a huge void in India’s intelligentsia. However, his generous sharing of knowledge and vision was such that even after he was gone, every member of his organisations knew exactly what they had to do. Thanks to him, today India stands proudly at the forefront in the space race when it comes to efficiency and economy. From launching India’s very first satellite Aryabhata to successfully putting the Mangalyaan into the red planet’s orbit on its very first try, the Indian Space Research Organisation has followed his vision and created history.

Read the entire life story of the father of the Indian space programme in Amar Chitra Katha’s latest release ‘Vikram Sarabhai’, which will soon be available on the ACK Comics app, Kindle, and all major e-tailers.

India’s First Int’l T20 victory!

By Samyukhtha Sunil

Illustration: Samhita Sonti

Indians have been playing cricket since the late 19th century. By 2006, India and the rest of the world were introduced to a brand-new format of cricket known as ‘twenty-twenty’ or T20 for short. It promised the audience more entertainment and power-packed matches that were reduced to 20 gripping overs instead of the more traditional formats of one-day internationals which consisted of 50 overs, or test matches that spanned over a few days. Indian audiences took to it like ducks to water, soon making India the largest consumers of the T20 format in the world! The Indian cricket team’s love for the format back to its very first season victory all the way back to 2007.

India’s first-ever T20

On December 1st, 2006, the Indian team marched into the Wanderers stadium in Johannesburg to take on South Africa in this brand-new form of cricket. With no experience in the format and no specific strategy in place, India took its chances against the opponent. Under the captaincy of Virender Sehwag, the players led the team to a slow-paced yet decisive victory. This day also marks the first and the only international T20 match to be played by the legendary cricketer, Sachin Tendulkar.

The 2007 World Cup

With a new, young captain, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, taking over the reins of the team in the year 2007, India entered a glorious new era marked by massive victories and the revival of the Indian cricket team’s heydays. ICC launched its first edition of the international T20 world cup that year. The Men in Blue kickstarted the season by playing against newcomers Scotland. However, heavy rains wreaked havoc, bringing the match to an abrupt halt.

In the electrifying weeks that followed, India locked horns with different teams and won several matches. Amongst the most memorable ones was the match against Pakistan in 2007 in which legends such as Virendra Sehwag, Harbhajan Singh and Robin Uthappa swayed the team to a thrilling victory against the rival team!

It all finally boiled down to the play-offs when India was paired against Australia for the semi-finals. By now, the men in blue had gained a more definite hold on the format and had learnt the tricks of the trade. There was a tremendous shift in India’s playing form and its approach towards the game. With incredible bowling by Harbhajan Singh and Sreeshanth, the team secured its position in the grand finale!

The grand showdown!

Known for his calm persona, Captain Cool aka MS Dhoni led his team into the big final against Pakistan. On September 24th, 2007, India came face to face with the Pakistan team in Johannesburg in a stadium full of excited fans, hooked on the edges of their seats, witnessing the ultimate face-off between the two arch-rivals. India won the toss and chose to bat first and managed to gain a respectable score of 157 runs at the end of the 20 overs with a loss of 5 wickets.

Pakistan began on a rather dull note, losing several wickets in the initial few overs. Just when the Indian team thought victory was at hand, the game changed as Pakistani batsman Misbah-ul-Haq led a spirited comeback for his side. Soon, the game could go either way, and even a single wrong move by India could cost them the title.

As spectators held on to their breath, the pressure in the stadium was palpable for both teams. In a move that was totally unexpected by the audience, Dhoni offered the last two overs to the relatively inexperienced Joginder Sharma instead of the seasoned Harbhajan Singh. Joginder’s third delivery got knocked out of the park for a massive sixer and the fear of losing was now looming large over the Indian team. While Pakistan had no wickets left to spare, they only needed six runs off four balls, and with Misbah in fine form, the Men in Green could smell victory. Gleaming with confidence, Misbah played it big on the next ball, but unfortunately, his shot landed straight into Sreesanth’s arms, setting up a jaw-dropping finish! Indian cricket fans all over roared in pride as the team lifted the very first T20 World Cup. The game was even more crucial for the team as they won against their arch-rivals and this was a match that was etched in the walls of the team’s history.

This was only a trailer for what was to follow. T20 became viral across India and the fans thronged the stadiums in thousands. The format began to breach every aspect of an Indian’s lifestyle and due to overwhelming demand, India launched its very own T20 league; the Indian Premier League or the IPL which has revolutionized the way Indian summers are experienced. With massive celebrity endorsements, overflowing stadiums and the collective roar of a nation, this format of cricket has become ingrained into India’s identity!

Six Things You Never Knew About Mangalyaan

By Samyukhtha Sunil

On the afternoon of November 5th, 2013, scientists and astrophysicists from across the globe gathered around various computer screens. The atmosphere was tingling with nervousness and excitement. Within hours, India was about to launch its first interplanetary vessel, the Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM) satellite named Mangalyaan, into space. As the mission took off from India’s first launch-pad in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, the world watched on eagerly. In less than a year of its launch, the Mangalyaan mission set an iconic record in Indian history when it officially entered Mars’ orbit on the 24th of September, 2014. With this achievement, India became the only country in the world to successfully put a satellite into Mars’ orbit on its very first try.

Illustration: Arijit Dutta Chowdhury

This mission was initiated by the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) headquartered in Bangalore and marked a historic moment for both the organization and the country for several reasons. As the satellite marks its sixth year orbiting the red planet today, let us retrace the journey of this mission.

The Dream Team

Shortly after the news of India’s success reached every corner of the world, there were several inquiries about the team behind India’s successful execution, with people pleased to know that several female scientists were an integral part of this mission! This mission was backed by a massive team of 500 people, with prominent scientists like Ritu Karidhal, Nandini Harinath, Anuradha TK, Moumita Dutta and Minal Rohit, coming to the forefront for the role they played in the success of the Mangalyaan mission.

India’s most efficient mission yet

The Mangalyaan Mission is considered to be one of the most cost-effective space projects in the world. ISRO’s space program gave birth to the world’s most efficient and cost-effective satellite when compared to the satellites launched by the US and other nations. The entire mission cost India just 74 million dollars while the American Mars Mission costs ten times as much! It is even believed that Mangalyaan’s entire budget was smaller than several Bollywood and Hollywood budgets too, making it an incredible feat that the ISRO managed to pull off! The ISRO continues to spearhead this project with rapid progress being made on the sequel mission, Mangalyaan II, expected to fast track the pace of India’s research on the red giant.

Home-grown technology

Mangalyaan’s cheap budget was also a direct result of using home-grown technology. Indian-made components and technology were given higher priority than foreign imports, which was yet another commendable milestone that India achieved through this mission.

Illustration: Arijit Dutta Chowdhury
Findings

As of June 19, 2017, the Mangalyaan completed 1000 Earth days around Mars, during which there have been several findings and probes that have become major turning points for India’s scientific and astronomical research. Apart from initiating research into the possibilities of life existing on the red planet, the satellite has sent back several terabytes of images from Mars. One of the main objectives of the mission was to study the Martian atmosphere which includes methane and CO2 using several sensors, and it is believed that the ISRO has managed to make a significant breakthrough in this study.

Blackouts and communication error

The initial build of Mangalyaan was projected to last for only six months, but it has taken the world by surprise after having completed over 5 full years in Mars’ orbit. The mission has also encountered several trouble points. The MOM went through a communication blackout between June 2, 2015, to July 2, 2015. However, the spacecraft emerged out of this blackout through successful auto control systems.

A historic MOMent for India

India happened to be the first Asian nation and the fourth globally to have sent a spacecraft to Mars and the very first country in the world to do so in its maiden attempt. This has undeniably landed India an important position amongst the global scientific and space research community. This space mission was so stellar that several other space organisations including NASA conducted an in-depth study into how India managed to achieve this feat at such low costs on its first try. It is believed that the images captured by the Mangalyaan were some of the best captures amongst the fifty other space missions by various countries.

Anant Pai (1929 – 2011)

Every year, on 17th September, we celebrate the birthday of our founder Anant Pai, our beloved Uncle Pai, on what we call Uncle Pai Day! Here’s a quick snapshot of how he came to start Amar Chitra Katha and Tinkle over half a century ago.

Anant Pai was born on September 17th, 1929, in a small village in Karnataka called Karkala. Throughout his life, Mr Pai was a diligent student. He would score brilliant marks everywhere. Despite not knowing how to speak in English, Anant and his sister, Savita got admission in Orient High School in Mumbai’s Mahim area. After he finished his schooling, he got admission in Wilson College, Mumbai. Later, he went on to study Chemical Engineering at the University Department of Chemical Technology. 

The origins of Amar Chitra Katha

Eventually, Anant Pai started working at Times of India where he was asked to do a market survey for reprints of American comics. That’s when he suggested to his boss if the newspaper can print comics based on Indian mythology or history. However, his request was denied. But the idea never left his mind.

Illustration: Dilip Kadam

One day, when Anant Pai and his wife were visiting Delhi, they came across a TV shop that was broadcasting a quiz show. He was an avid reader and tried to learn from wherever he could. As he watched the programme, he noticed that the participants knew more about Greek mythology than they knew about Indian mythology. From that day onwards, Anant Pai decided to resign from his job and create comic books on Indian historical and mythological figures. 

He spent days thinking of a name that best represented the company’s essence and something that would connect with Indians in every corner of the country. That’s when he came up with the name Amar Chitra Katha. Amar means eternal and Chitra Katha means comic books. It was a simple yet effective name that is now synonymous with Indian comics. In February 1970, the first-ever Amar Chitra Katha title, Krishna, was printed and ready for sale. The rest is history. 

The Partha Movement

One day, Anant Pai was called by the principal of a school. There, he noticed a child being rejected admission due to the unavailability of seats. The thought of a child going through such a disheartening rejection made Mr Pai come up with a movement for children to boost their self-confidence. It was called the Partha movement. Mr Pai formed Partha Clubs of Personality in different parts of the country. There, they taught children how to believe in themselves, and set realistic goals and work towards them. He even went on to write several books on the very same topic.

Illustration: Dilip Kadam | Script: Gayathri Chandrasekaran

Did you know?

There’s another popular club associated with Amar Chitra Katha. It’s called the Anu Club, which takes you on a journey into the wonderful world of science. Anu Club was originally a comic series that used to appear in the pages of Tinkle. Then, in 2019, it was relaunched in a new video avatar on Tinkle’s YouTube channel. Watch all episodes of Anu Club by clicking here! 

Tinkle, Tinkle, Little Star

Amar Chitra Katha’s popularity was soaring through the roof, and kids couldn’t get enough of it. It came to a point where kids were demanding a weekly magazine. Uncle Pai and his team had to find a solution, and that solution was a children’s magazine which would have fun stories, games and much more! 

Illustration: Dilip Kadam | Script: Gayathri Chandrasekaran

One day, Anant Pai and Subba Rao were discussing potential names for this children’s magazine when Subba Rao got a call from his marketing manager. Subba Rao said to him, “I’ll give you a tinkle later in the day.” And that was it! Anant Pai had found the perfect name for his children’s magazine! On November 14th, 1980, Tinkle comics was launched! 

In time, fan favourite characters such as Suppandi, Shikari Shambu and Tantri The Mantri were conceived. Tinkle has come a long way since then. From producing monthly magazines, Tinkle now has a digital edition out every week and remains very popular among children even today. This year, Tinkle magazine will be completing 40 years!

Read more about Uncle Pai’s life in our Amar Chitra Katha title on him, now available on the ACK Comics app as well as all major e-tailers.