= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
6:09 pm Andheri station…. Try and muscle my way into the “packed like sardines” compartment or get Mid Day, was the question…. Mid-Day won… At the newspaper stall something caught my eye that sent me into a flashback mode….
TINKLE
The Flashback : My love for reading was triggered by my late grandmother (who enforced afternoon curfew) and my cousin (who gave me my first copy of Tinkle). It is Tinkle that transformed a hyperactive kid into a … ummmmm “less hyperactive” one!
What is Tinkle anyway
Tinkle, for the uninitiated, is a very popular comic book/magazine for children. It would be an insult to label it as “just a comic book”. Tinkle is much more than a comic book. Its an encyclopedia cum story book cum comic cum everything. The brain behind this unique and much loved childrens book – Mr. Anant Pai, also called as Uncle Pai.
Tinkle, as I remember it :
The magazine was packed with information, which is presented in a way a child can understand. There was a section dedicated to the development of gray cells, called “Tinkle Tricks and Treats” . Here, simple science experiments were explained beautifully and there were puzzles for the “puzzle” type of children. And animals were made popular by Tinkle, not Animal Planet. There was a section called as “Meet the <animal>”. For example, “Meet the Dog” or “Meet the Tiger”, where information about animals (in comic book format) was given. Then there were the usual suspects, Kalia the Crow and his gang, Shikari Shambhu, Supandi, Tantri the Mantri etc. Tinkle also had a “desi” version of Tom and Jerry, called Mooshik . A smart mouse, a dumb cat, 3 panels, loads of imagination, one awesome story!
Apart from the fun and games, Tinkle also had stories with a message. Boring stories told in a simple language, by cartoon characters. There was another interesting section called It happened to me . Readers could contribute their unique, funny and interesting experiences.
Tinkle had its own team of writers, but they also accepted inputs from their young readers. It gave us (my cousin n me) great joy to see “Story idea contributed by …..”. Really made our day!
This amazing magazine was my best friend till I was 12. Gradually, Tinkle phased out of my life and its place was taken by Famous five, Secret seven etc. It laid a strong foundation of a good habit. It had something for every one. Riddles, comics, puzzles, animal life, short stories…. You name it, Tinkle had it!
Go and get a copy for yourself today… and bring back childhood memories. I just did!
P.S : I missed my “usual” train… but I got something very very valuable.
Thanks for reading the review.
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =