About this issue
Hi friends, Here’s a big cheer for Lt. Cdr. Abhilash Tomy’s 14-year-old dream that finally came true. Abhilash has become the first Indian to complete a solo, unassisted, non-stop circumnavigation of the globe! And you know what? President Shri Pranab Mukherjee himself was present at the Gateway of India, Mumbai, to welcome him home, at a grand naval ceremony. And we were there too! I had goosebumps as I watched his beautiful sailboat, the Mhadei, cross the ceremonial line, off the Gateway, accompanied by water cannon salutes and flares. May we all have the courage and strength to see through our dreams. Do read the concluding part of his story in Nautical Tales. Here’s a big thank you to Neha Dara (Deputy Editor, National Geographic Traveller India) for taking us all along on Lt. Cdr. Tomy’s adventure.
About TINKLE
Tinkle started as a fortnightly children’s comics magazine, in 1980. Under the guidance of editor-founder, Anant Pai, the brand evolved the tagline ‘Where learning meets fun’. It was one of the first few children’s comics magazines with Indian content at that time. Till then children were reading syndicated foreign comics, – Archies, Phantom, Mandrake – translated into Indian languages. In Tinkle, children could read folktales from all over the world as well as stories revolving around the Tinkletoons. Many of these characters have evolved into icons such as Suppandi, Shikari Shambu, Tantri the Mantri, Kalia the Crow, etc. Over the years, newer characters have stepped into the Tinkle pages. These include the Defective Detectives, Butterfingers, Sea Diaries, etc. Apart from comics, the magazine also engages readers with several educative non-fiction pages including puzzles, do-it-yourself crafts, solve-it-yourself mysteries, knowledge features on a wide range of subjects and contests. Though intended as a magazine for children between the ages of 8 and 14, Tinkle’s reach goes far beyond. Families eagerly look forward to the magazine, every month, across the length and breadth of the country. It is probably not just the entertainment but the unexpected insights that the magazine gives their children that families value. Owing to Uncle Pai’s efforts, Tinkle is also welcomed by educators and school principals and thus holds a position as a recommended magazine for wholesome edutainment.