Uncle Pai of Amar Chitra Katha no more

Updated on: Saturday, February 26, 2011

It is time to bring out a comic book on the man who started it all. Anant Pai, the legendary founder of India’s most famous comic series, Amar Chitra Katha, passed away at a hospital in Mumbai on Thursday. The 82-year-old suffered a fatal heart attack shortly before he was to undergo surgery for a fractured leg.

His genius came to the fore in the mid-60s during the time he worked with The Times of India. The iconic publication came about after Pai saw to his horror, that a child featuring on a television quiz show could answer questions about Greek history but could not say who Lord Ram’s mother was. Pai’s herculean effort made sure no one forgot.

From the time he conceived Amar Chitra Katha in 1967 to his passing at the age of 82, he remained “Uncle Pai” to two generations of Indians who were touched by its magic. Leading a band of loyal illustrators like Ram Waeerkar, Dilip Kadam, Sanjeev Waeerkar, Souren Roy and Pratap Mallick, it was Pai who familiarised young India with it’s mythology, history as well as modern achievements. Interestingly, although he opened the series with Krishna, he lent it the auspicious Indian touch by titling it number 11 instead of one.

Partnered by G L Mirchandani of India Book House, he was writer, editor and publisher of the series that wenton to sell100 million copies of about 440 titles.

In 1984, Pai launched Tinkle, which went on to repeat the success of its mother brand with its own set of comic characters such as Suppandi, Tantri the Mantri and Shikari Shambhu.

In a stellar example of ownership, Pai travelled to schools across India and was responsible for several marketing innovations. He got BEST buses painted with characters from the comic book and peppered school newsletters with advertising in an unprecedented blitzkrieg of hardsell.

In 2007, the publication changed hands and Amar Chitra Katha moved from India Book House to Mumbai entrepreneur Samir Patil who has since diversified the brand ACK Media. Uncle Pai remained a consultant to the new dispensation although he was unable to attend office as much as he would like to, he had said.

Such is the love and loyalty he bred that people from various walks of life expressed shock at Pai’s passing. Pai was a pioneer and an inspiration for everyone who worked in the fieldof children’s entertainment and education.

“A storyteller at heart’’, as his website describes him, is survived by his wife. Relatives and friends began to gather at his Shivalik Apartment residence in Prabhadevi upon hearing of the loss. The funeral was held at Shivaji Park crematorium on Thursday night.

Uncle Pai of Amar Chitra Katha no more

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