Amar Chitra Katha launches collection of all 300 titles

Amar Chitra Katha, which has depicted India's rich culture for generations of Indians through its comics, has launched a complete collection of its 300 titles.

Billed as a collector's delight and ideal for private, public and school libraries, the collection encompasses books on Indian mythology, heritage, culture, history, heroes and heroines, religion and modern idols published in the past 45 years, Manas Mohan, chief operating officer of ACK Media, said late Thursday.

The late Anant Pai, media-person, illustrator and story-teller, had launched Amar Chitra Katha in 1967 and it soon grabbed the entire nation's attention.

"Today, the collection is an investment in the future of India as we impart knowledge and encourage reading habits among children," Mohan said.

The collection, which can be ordered online, comes in three boxes with 100 titles each at a cost of Rs.15,000.

ACK Media has already gifted the collection to around 80 schools and voluntary organisations in Mumbai.

Pai's ACK became popular because each story brought out a different facet of Indian history and mythology - from freedom fighters and great kings to gods and mythological heroes.

There were squeals of joy among the staff and students of the civic-run Deonar Colony Municipal English School in northeast Mumbai when the ACK Media gifted the collection last week.

"The ACK have enhanced the joy of learning for my students and staff," said school principal Nandini Sethi.

"The ACK stories have not lost their appeal and essence over the years. The books help bring history lessons to life and the historical personalities become real people as opposed to just names," said Gitanjali Ghosh, teacher and founder of Anando, an NGO catering to underprivileged children here.

Mumbai-headquartered ACK Media brings out Tinkle, Karadi Tales, Brainwave and develops products for multiple platforms from a design studio in Bangalore and a subsidiary in Chennai.