Blisterin Barnacles!!! open them comixxx

Enough of all the serious jazz! I want to write about something light. Obviously I make a distinction between light and ‘to be taken lightly’. We all like to do things that lighten us, because it brings a smile on our face, a spring to our steps and makes us just laugh seemingly without rhyme or reason.

I for one, love to indulge in pastimes that weigh less heavily on the mind. Among those that come to mind immediately are music and reading. Let me focus on reading. Reading is hard to define for me simply because it entails more than just holding printed word in front of you. The real reading occurs when one processes what is written and translates it into some sort of understanding or comprehension that has the potential to plant subconscious thoughts that can guide our actions even ultimately. Too complex? Not really, but when one actually thinks about it, reading is one form on deconstructing someone else’s thought and reconstructing it in ones own head – a kind of linear communication that passes between the writer and the reader, only the impact will ultimately depend on how it is reconstructed.

We all read and for various purposes. Even those who don’t fancy themselves to be readers as the stereotype will define do some sort of reading, whether it is work related or otherwise. While I don’t consider myself to be a consistently voracious story reader, who can be found with a book all the time, I do have my moments where I get completely submerged into some fascinating world or the other. What I do read avidly, though are magazines, papers, just about anything conveying common knowledge. More importantly, I spent a significant part of my formative years reading ‘comics’. These wonderful illustrated stories have the potential to stretch the imagination more than any other medium in my opinion, because they are at the same time informative, educational, entertaining and more importantly just plain fun!

I remember waiting to go to the library as a kid during vacations and coming back with a colossal pile of among other types of books, comics and what wonderful stories they were! Coming to think of it, these books have played a significant role in shaping my thinking, much more so than I have even realized.

My love for Indian mythology can in some ways traced to the amazing Amar chitra katha stories that offer a treasure trove of information on Indian mythology, and which are far more captivating and exciting than any TV serial, simply because the illustration is so rich and the attention to detail so fine, despite having to work within a confining format.

My love for history, especially European history certainly has roots in asterix comics. These stories are evergreen and rich in humour but most importantly are historically accurate and have even been used to supplement text books in European schools!

My dabbling in international politics can in some ways be traced to tintin comics and their amazing stories of international deceit and espionage, which vividly portray so many countries across the globe and quite accurately too.

While it is impossible to measure the extent to which comics have impacted my life, it can certainly be said that they have enriched my life and broadened my vision beyond the confines of the limited story frames they detail.

Comics are normally viewed as frivolous pastime among children, but with these comics and many others, their power to enrapture and teach far outweighs any negative effects they might have. Let us not forget also, that the language in comics is exemplary. They can be thought of as guides that can help learners when they begin their literary journey, from whence readers can branch out into other literary pursuits.

Reading a comic is one of the most refreshing and entertaining pastimes one can indulge in. Amar rahe ye chitra kathaein!!