Just to strengthen your POV - have always loved the thumbnails and the storyboards than the TVC produced. Also, can't forget the 'Madvertising' - MAD's take on advertising. The best communiques used to be the tiniest ones in the corner or in the page margin.
It had crossed my mind to include him, but then didn't because his work was quasi political. But yes, his work gave us enough insights into the world of politics.
Very relatable Shantanu.. books were the one vice that was condoned as you point out. I remember the corner library at Portuguese Church and Kemps corner - and the rush to finish borrowed books to maximize the number of them we could check out in a month.
Yes, the rush to finish library books ... the 'booking' of titles and keeping track of when they would be returned so that we would be able to rent ... all of these have played a huge role in our growing years. Sadly, circulating libraries have almost become extinct now.
Ah yes..forgot about the keeping track part… a bunch of us expats living in a time warp created our own ‘rotating library ‘ of amar chitra kathas amongst a small desi group here and surprisingly it was popular with the kids / this was a couple of decades ago- I am not sure there will be any takers today
Brought me back the memories of Abbas library and an nodescript one, NCT. Both were at Kings circle. While Abbas was a little elite, NCT was affordable. And he used to recommend books too. Now in hindsight, I never really thought much about the gentleman, but he must be really loving his work/business.
I think ACK will always have readers that’ll come into its fold. Circulating libraries today might not work as you fear. Technology and easy ownership are contributing factors.
Nice one Shantu. For me it was only comics...especially the ones with amazing illustrations. More than reading the text, i used to watch the illustrations :)
Not surprising as you made a career in art. And how could I miss Tinkle? Supandi, Shikari Shambhu ... super stuff ... apparently Tinkle is still very much in publication. Wouldn't mind checking out the newer version.
Wow! That was a super rush of nostalgia with some very interesting intellectual stuff. Thanks for taking us beyond the obvious.
PS: Did u read Alfred Hitchkok too?
Appreciate the kind words. Alfred Hitchcock's Three Investigators I didn't get into that much.
Excellent reading . Very well written . Makes one remember the entire journey of our past in now faded areas like comics .
Thanks, Swapneel. It did bring back some fond memories while I was writing it.
Very well written Shantanu!
Reading Comic strips was a big part of my growing up! I remember my sister & me fought to be the first one to read the latest Indrajal comic!!
MAD was always fascinating with its quirky humour…esp the “spy vs spy”
I remember reading volumes of RD and National Geog in the School library. As Shantanu says , subscription for these were for alas, only for elites.
Could totally relate with Shantanu’s newsletter , with a sense of nostalgia !
Shantanu, my congratulations & best wishes!
Thank you so much, Arvind dada. So glad that there’s resonance in our choices - especially MAD. Ironically they were the most intelligent comics.
Just to strengthen your POV - have always loved the thumbnails and the storyboards than the TVC produced. Also, can't forget the 'Madvertising' - MAD's take on advertising. The best communiques used to be the tiniest ones in the corner or in the page margin.
Thanks Aniruddha. MAD has been a personal all-time favourite. And the MAD Marginals by Sergio Aragones were an absolute delight.
Add RK Laxman’s daily cartoon to the mix and our education was complete! Brilliantly captures our upbringing!
It had crossed my mind to include him, but then didn't because his work was quasi political. But yes, his work gave us enough insights into the world of politics.
Very relatable Shantanu.. books were the one vice that was condoned as you point out. I remember the corner library at Portuguese Church and Kemps corner - and the rush to finish borrowed books to maximize the number of them we could check out in a month.
Yes, the rush to finish library books ... the 'booking' of titles and keeping track of when they would be returned so that we would be able to rent ... all of these have played a huge role in our growing years. Sadly, circulating libraries have almost become extinct now.
Ah yes..forgot about the keeping track part… a bunch of us expats living in a time warp created our own ‘rotating library ‘ of amar chitra kathas amongst a small desi group here and surprisingly it was popular with the kids / this was a couple of decades ago- I am not sure there will be any takers today
Brought me back the memories of Abbas library and an nodescript one, NCT. Both were at Kings circle. While Abbas was a little elite, NCT was affordable. And he used to recommend books too. Now in hindsight, I never really thought much about the gentleman, but he must be really loving his work/business.
I think ACK will always have readers that’ll come into its fold. Circulating libraries today might not work as you fear. Technology and easy ownership are contributing factors.
Nice one Shantu. For me it was only comics...especially the ones with amazing illustrations. More than reading the text, i used to watch the illustrations :)
And another favourite of mine was Tinkle.
Not surprising as you made a career in art. And how could I miss Tinkle? Supandi, Shikari Shambhu ... super stuff ... apparently Tinkle is still very much in publication. Wouldn't mind checking out the newer version.