We live in an era of technology. Our life revolves around everything that spells INTERNET. With too many internet based things, each one of us is always stuck on mobile phones, note-books, I-pads, laptops almost every second of those 24 hours where fingers keep dancing and eyes keep rolling ultimately giving us pain, both mental and physical. Mental because even the smallest break in the network irritates us and physical because we lack movement and exercise resulting in extreme discomfort which is sure to last a lifetime.

This reminds me of the world which was free of internet. It was the era of physical activity by means of outdoor games and indulging in friendly and interesting conversations with our families and associates which was more than healthy. For more mental growth, one thing that always helped since the educated elders of the family always encouraged every child was the habit of reading books, magazines and newspapers.

For the children, books with moral stories were of real help. These books mostly used to have short stories with lessons in bravery and chivalry, humanity, love and kindness and inspiration that always led us to the right paths of life. Comedy and fun were most certainly welcome to ease tensions of the day. The most positive part was that none of the reading habits spoiled your eyes or caused any discomfort. Now that people read mostly on screen has resulted in weak eyes at a very early age.

The main thing missed is the fun of comic books. Other educational books or literature were mostly a part of education at school level. Many comic books inculcated the habit of reading in a child developing his interest in all aspects of life.

Some comics of the past are not available anymore. Whatever is available on internet seems a difficult task to carry on for a longer time as the fun of “turning the pages” has gone missing. On a comp or any other gazette you cannot have too many things in hand for people with varied interests.  But with the comic books, you could read and pass on the book from one hand to the other and from one door to the other. This “networking” was more beneficial.

The available books on the net are known to almost everyone. But the books which have gone missing are “Mandrake-the magician”, “Phantom series”, “Bahaadur-Nagrik Suraksha Dal”, “Champak”, “Flash Gordon”, “Chandamama”, “Vikram aur Betaal”…I really wonder if any of these are available anywhere at all because I haven’t heard about them since a very very long time. For many people some of these names may sound alien.

Comics like Mandrake taught us to be good. The magician Mandrake never used his magical powers over the innocent. He used them on the ruffians only when it was extremely necessary.

Bahadur was a man from the Nagrik Suraksha dal and was always ahead in helping the citizens even in the smallest of trouble. He always came forward to assist people and used to teach good lessons to the criminals.

The jungle romance between Phantom and Diana in the Phantom series was a real balance between love and duties towards the protection of jungle and wild life while romance went on.

Champak series held a lot of short stories in welfare and comedy always ending with a moral.

Chandamama had stories for the youth where love was the main element, yet sober and sensible.

Bikram aur Betaal had those old time stories which never ended since Bikram was asked to give the moral and suffered due to the contradictory conditions laid down by Betaal.

Detective stories of Rip Kirby had the element of suspense and thrill.

Flash Gordon was more of a “planetary ” invasion type thrill.

All these books had decent covers and language giving descriptions of broader outlook with moral values which people of every age could sit together and read out aloud. Holding these comic books in public was never an embarrassment issue since they were designed to be family books.

Aaah !!! how I yearn for these books, so many gone with the winds of change.