About this issue
When Mr. Pai began telling stories to children, I joined him on his journey. We would work tirelessly, sometimes without eating for hours. He always wanted my support in everything he did; he wouldn’t travel anywhere in the world without me. Amar Chitra Kathas were becoming extremely popular, we felt the need to create a magazine for a younger audience. It would contain non-mythological and entertaining stories—stories of birds and animals, palaces and kings, stories that would make readers happy. And so, Tinkle was born with completely modern content. The first issue was sold out within two hours of hitting the stalls. In the second run, again, there was an impressive sale. Tinkle became an instant favourite among children across India and has remained so for more than thirty years. My best wishes to the young team of writers and artists on bringing out the 600th issue. ....................................Mrs. Lalita Anant Pai
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.