In conversation with Pran Kumar Sharma- The Legend of Indian comics

Whenever I would pick up a Chacha Chaudhary comic book in my childhood, there was this one face that I had gotten very familiar with apart from the comic characters themselves. It was this smiling, benign-looking man, clad in a dapper suit and tie, whose face would be displayed on the front page of every Chacha comic book. That man, of course, is Pran Kumar Sharma.

Even without intending to, Pran had become a part of my life. When I realized that the wonderful world of comics I am so besotted with is created by this man, I began idolizing him. I and my brother were both quite fond of the Chacha Chaudhary universe and thus Pran slowly became a household name for us. We loved the simple and enchanting world he had created in those comics. Of particular captivation for us were his illustrations; the houses, the lanes, the trees, the clouds, the clothes - everything had such simplicity and allure that we often wished we could dive into that world sometimes. Then there were the chaste Hindi dialogues, the wacky plots, the absolutely bizarre names of characters; it was all so charming. We understood then that the sole credit for all that goes to Pran and our admiration for him thus grew manifold. We would always wonder then how Pran must be like as a person; how would his voice sound like and what would I say if I ever met him?

As I stepped in the career of journalism, my little fascination of knowing the person behind the Chacha Chaudhary comics intensified further. And hence over the last few months, I have been striving to contact the man. The efforts finally bore fruit a few days back.

With quivering hands, I dialed his number; not knowing what to expect. The call connected and a husky, tired voice answered at the other end.  My mind was a little blank and the heartbeat had risen quite a few notches, but I still managed to introduce myself. “Am I worth it?” was his question when I informed him the purpose of my call. I laughed nervously. But he was very friendly and eased my nerves. Thankfully, he agreed to the interview for the coming Sunday afternoon. His approval made me feel like I was walking on the clouds. Over the next few days, I pompously declared to anyone who would listen about my ‘achievement’. I felt like the child who had got the autograph of his favourite film star.    

The day of the interview was a monumental achievement for me; it shall always remain as one of my biggest career highlights, no matter what. I had ceased all my other tasks to dedicate my concentration solely towards this interview. I knew very well that there would not be another moment like this. It felt surreal, almost bizarre, that I would be interviewing the man who had provided for innumerable of my memorable childhood moments. When I made the call, the first thing he said was, “I was waiting for your call.”  Wow, I thought. The legend of Indian comics was waiting for my call. This is crazy! Before I could begin the interview, he asked me politely, “Paani pee loon thoda?” (Can I drink some water?). I smiled and waited patiently for him to finish. And then began the interview.

Over the course of the next two hours, I cleared my heart of nearly all the things that I had always wanted to ask Pran. Fortunately, he obliged me. I feel he almost enjoyed the interview as much as I did. Almost.

Now I will let the legend do all the talking.

Excerpts from the interview.

Q. The one thing that many of your fans are concerned about these days is that do you still make new comics at this age?

Pran: Yes, of course. The day I stop creating comics would be the death of me. I will make comics till my last breath. Yes, I have adapted with the times now. I do not make as many as I once used to because of old age. But I do have a couple of assistants with me now who help me out. I give them the cartoons and dialogues and they colour them digitally. That does help a lot.

Moreover, I have also adapted in the stories of my comics with the age. Previously, the themes of my stories were very simple. But today’s kids are very smart. Hence, I have introduced computers, mobile phones and things like Facebook in my stories now. Kids like that I guess. And I enjoy the fact that I can bring smiles on their faces.  I will keep enjoying making comics until my end comes.

Q. How did your interest in cartooning begin?

Pran: I was always interested in drawing cartoons from my childhood, but never really thought of it as a career option in my early days. Like every other youngster, I too wanted to establish my career first. Hence, I did my M.A. in Political Science. But even after that, the cartooning bug was always there inside me. In those days, there were no such special cartooning courses. All the legendary cartoonists of India like R. K. Laxman and K. Shankar Pillai were self-taught. I too got inspired by them and then started considering cartooning as my career option.

The fact that many of my cartoons had already been published in some of my college magazines, made me eager to get many more published across many other platforms. Hence, I put my foot down and declared to my family one fine day that I am going to be a cartoonist. They were shocked. They wanted me to take up a government job as that was very popular in those days. But my mind was made up. The cartoon bug in me had risen like a storm and there was no looking back ever since.

 Q. Why did you specifically choose comics? There are so many other forms of cartooning that you could have taken up?

Pran:  Cartooning has basically three branches- social, political and comics. The last one is my area of interest. See, the thing is, in the late 60s there were many legendary Indian cartoonists, but all of them focused more on serious topics like politics and social issues. I thus wanted to attempt a different genre of cartooning.

Moreover, in those days, whatever comics we had were imported from western countries like Spiderman, Superman, Dennis the Menace, Phantom, Mandrake etc.  I wanted to create comics completely and solely rooted in the Indian sensibilities; which would have characters and issues which our children would be able to directly relate to. And in doing so they should also have fun. Hence I started creating diverse comic characters which thankfully people loved and many of which have stayed on even now.

Q. Tell us about your career progress in your initial days.

Pran: When I had made up my mind that I would be a cartoonist, I then started approaching different newspapers to get my cartoons published. Those days, the concept of comic book wasn’t there, so I had to rely on newspapers. I struggled initially, but soon enough a couple of newspapers showed interest in my cartoons and published them. As my cartoons got published, other newspapers too got interested. Punjab Kesari, Navbharat Times, Karamveer and many other newspapers published my cartoons and my name thus started getting popular.

Back then, I used to make my own cartoons and post them myself to the local newspaper houses riding on my bicycle. I didn’t get much for those cartoon strips in the newspapers; around 10 Rs. for each strip. It was a struggle. But it sure was fun.

Q. How did your association with Diamond Comics begin?

Pran: It was in the 1980s when these two guys from Diamond Comics (DC) came to my residence to meet me. They were keen to compile my comics, which had been published in the newspapers and magazines like Lotpot, into a book form. I immediately agreed to the fact that my comics would come out separately in a book was a huge motivation for me. Plus the money they offered was good; I was taken in.

I initially gave them content for two comic books, which they published as 45-page comic books.  Luckily the response was so good that all the prints got sold out within two weeks of their release. There was no looking back after that. The DC guys kept coming back to me for more and I kept creating the comics with passion. I slowly became a household name.  It also gave me a stable income for survival. There is no denying that DC gave me a platform to be famous. And now I have more than 600 comics books in my name.

Q. Was there anything specific in your mind when you created your characters?

Pran: I wanted all my characters to be connected to the Indian middle-class sensibilities. Hence you will find all my characters facing similar issues and problems to tackle in their everyday lives. My world was simple- the lives of the people, the houses they stayed in, the buildings in the background; everything was very simple and hence people connected to it. Moreover, I never wanted any of my characters to do anything unnatural; like I made sure they should never fly or crawl up the walls. Children relate to these things very quickly. I hence did not want to show them any unreal things and instead wanted to tell them that our world can be fascinating even in the simplest form.

Q. How did the character of Chacha Chaudhary come into being?

Pran:  In those days, we did not have any Indian comic character to relate with. Even if someone came out with something, people would label it as a copy of western countries. I was thus determined to make something entirely unique and Indian. Hence Chacha Chaudhary took birth. He is not handsome or strong like other superheroes, but his entire strength is his common-sense. He wears a turban, has a walking stick as his weapon and still solves the problems of the world. He is our very own Indian hero with whom everyone can relate to.

Q. What made you form Sabu’s character?

Pran:  Chachaji was having to face a lot of issues you see. Tackling goons, solving mysteries was fine but the issues started getting graver. Things like terrorism and bomb blasts started taking place. I thus thought that Chachaji should have an able companion with him to tackle all these. Hence Sabu took birth. 

He is a massive and powerful man from Jupiter. Everyone in his planet is strong and tall like him. One day he was flying his spaceship and happened to land in India. He was instantly mesmerized by the beautiful scenery; the snow clad mountains, the crystal clear water. He then met Chachaji who took him home and the two then instantly formed a friendly bond. After Sabu drank Chachi’s lassi, he then decided to stay here for the rest of his life. Sabu became like a family to Chachaji; the two are inseparable now. If Chachaji is Lord Ram, Sabu is like Lord Hanuman. Chachaji is the brain and Sabu is the brawn. Together they are the perfect heroes that our society needs.

Q. Talking about Sabu. Correct me if I am wrong, but in my childhood, I remember reading a chapter in the comics where Sabu was a genie. Is that correct?

Pran: (Laughs loudly) No one has ever asked me this question before. But you are correct. Aaapke yaddasht ki mai taarif karta hoon. I really admire your memory.

When you create a character, it goes through many shades. Yes, there was just this single episode where Sabu was initially introduced as a ‘Jinn’ who came out from a lamp. However, when I saw the print, I did not like it. Furthermore, I realized that I should not be showing something totally unrealistic to children. Hence I changed his character and modified him to be from Jupiter. That has stuck ever since.

Q. Was the idea of keeping ‘Rocket’ as a vegetarian dog deliberate?

Pran: Yes, I like to keep things in my comics a little different. Rocket too was born out of that. He is not an expensive or beautiful dog. He is a very simple dog that can be found in any lane. Chachaji once fed him some milk and since that day the dog has been with him. I kept him vegetarian deliberately so as to not let the crooks feed him meat or bones when they want to commit any wrongdoing. Thus Rocket too is an able companion of Chachaji and is like his family. He also helps him solves mysteries and takes on many bad guys.

Q. The villains in your series were generally pretty funny and goofy. However, the character of Raaka took the series to a very different level, isn’t it? He was the first really violent and dark antagonist in your series.

Pran: I wanted to create a completely different character that would take everyone by surprise. Hence Raaka the dacoit was formed. He is unabashedly violent and kills for power and pleasure. When he grew immortal, there was no stopping him except Chachaji and Sabu. People fear him, but in the end, he is always packed off in some far off and desolate place. The idea was to be innovative and not get repetitive with the stories that I came out with. Raaka’s stories take my comics to a different genre; while certain sensibilities about good and evil remain the same.

Q. The names of your characters are quite funny and unique.

Pran: Again, the idea was to be different and unique. I did not want to borrow names of normal people but create ones that are unheard of and sound funny at the same time. That too does take a lot of thinking though. I had to sometimes sit for hours to come up with names. I am happy people liked the names that I created.

Q. You created so many characters, but Chacha Chaudhary was the most famous. Was there any other character before Chacha Chaudhary that had become well-known?

Pran: Actually Chacha Chaudhary became famous in the mid-70s. There was another character of mine which was extremely renowned in the early 70s- Shrimatiji. I can’t tell you how popular she was; especially amongst the females (laughs). The Shrimatiji comic strips first appeared in the women magazine Sarita. Within just a few weeks, its popularity really soared and people just loved her. Later on, Shrimatiji started getting published from the magazine Manorama because I had some dispute with the Sarita owners. Shrimatiji ran quite successfully in Manorama for several years until the magazine was closed down. Nowadays, apart from the usual stand-alone comics of Shrimatiji, its comics strips also appears in Gujarat Guardian Daily (Surat) as well as Sudha Weekly(Bangalore).

The reason Shrimatiji's character became so popular was because she is like the very average middle-class married woman. She is always on the lookout for the street-side sales and would find out other ways to curb her household expenses. Plus, people really enjoyed her constant banter with her husband.

Q. Any particular character from the many that you created that is your favourite?

Pran: I created all my characters with equal love and passion. They are like my own babies. I can never be partial towards any one. I love them all equally.

Q. There was a TV serial that was made on Chacha Chaudhary.

Pran: Yes, it was in 2005 I guess when these Sahara guys contacted me for the want of adopting Chacha Chaudhary into a serial. Those days Subroto Roy's Sahara TV was quite popular. It was Roy's son Sushanto Roy who was primarily interested in this adoption of the series into the serial. He was the one who sent for me to meet them at their Mumbai office. He told me their wish and I had no issues. The money was good and they seemed genuine people. My only problem was with royalty. I told Sushanto that companies don’t generally give me royalty and at this age, I won’t be able to run after you, so if you can provide me the royalty I will be happy. Within minutes Sushanto asked his accountant to pay me my royalties and I was thus content. The serial too was quite good.

Q. You started way back in the 60s.What difference do you find in the cartooning style of today and that of the past?

Pran: It has changed a lot. In my initial days, drawing comic strips took a lot of effort; sketching the characters, making the backgrounds, filling it with vibrant colours and giving dialogues to the characters. It was really a tough and time-consuming job. Now, things have become comparatively easier as most people like to take the help of computers and make cartoons digitally. I, however, still prefer to make my cartoons on paper. It takes a lot of hard work. But it is fun.

Q. From what I have come to know, you were invited to many cartoon conventions from around the globe. Can you elaborate?  

Pran: Yes, after more than 20 years in the field, my name had reached to different corners of the globe. In 2006, I was invited by the Cartoonists Society of America in Chicago to deliver a lecture there on the subject of comics. It was an enriching experience as the audience there loved to hear my views. I also got a chance to meet some of my idols from the cartooning field like Mort Walker (the creator of Beetle Bailey) and many others. A few years later, I was also invited by the Cartoonists Club of Great Britain; that too was a landmark. There were many other places after that which kept inviting me like Australia, New Zealand, Moscow and different countries from Europe; I had become a known name. More than anything else, these tours gave me the chance to relive my childhood dream of visiting foreign lands. It was my passion, you can say, which made me achieve that. At first, my friends and relatives would mock me for being a cartoonist, now they are proud to be associated with Pran!

Q. What would your message be to aspiring Indian cartoonists of today?

Pran: Perhaps I should not say this, but I find a real lack of originality in our Indian cartoonists today. They tend to get inspired by western countries and concepts and try and emulate their characters. Most of the Indian comics and graphic novels that you find in the market today are modified versions of western comic characters. I thus want to tell young Indian cartoonists to please be original. If you make Spiderman wear a dhoti, he will still be a Spiderman. He will not be Indian. These cartoonists should take inspiration from Indian sensibilities and emotions. There are innumerable stories and characters that can be taken out from our country.

Furthermore, to be a good cartoonist you should have a very deep sense of humour and good intellect apart from having a balanced and good drawing sense. These are the most vital ingredients one must have if they desire to be a good cartoonist.

Q. You have often been quoted talking about the need for a comics museum in India. Please elaborate.

Pran: Places like America, England, Australia, many countries in Europe and even many smaller ones around the globe have comics museums. They know how to respect their legendary cartoonists. But unfortunately, our country does not have a single genuine comics museum. The need for such museum arises as they can preserve some the gems created by the legendary comic artists of any country which we can show to our children.

Our country too had legendary cartoonists like R.K.Laxman, Kutty, K. Shankar Pillai and others who have even contributed in our independence through their cartoons. They had themes which showed our plight during those days and ignited the patriotic passion in people. But where are those cartoons? We need to show them to our children and a museum would have been the best option to display these cartoons of our legends. I hope someday soon our country too realizes the need for this.

Q. You must have received endless praises from your fans over the years. Any particular comment that has stuck with you?

Pran: It’s really difficult to point out any one. My fans have been very generous with me. I am overwhelmed with their love for me. However, I would like to share a recent incident.

I was at a hospital, undergoing surgery for some intestinal infection I had been infected with. The day before I was admitted to the hospital, the legendary actor Pran had passed away. I was sitting in my hospital room and reading the newspapers which carried this news when the doctors came in. I looked at them and said in jest, “Looks like it’s the turn of the other Pran to go as well.” The head surgeon, however, held my hands and told me, “Pran ji, I will never let anything happen to you. I have grown up reading your comics. You are my hero.” I was extremely touched by that.  It is moments like these which make me realize that my life has been worthwhile after all.

Q. You are an inspiration to many. Have you got inspired by anyone?

Pran: Oh, of course. Many people inspire me from different fields. Currently, though, I am a big fan of Indian cricket team captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni. He is a real inspiration for every one of us. Just look at the way he has risen from a small place (Ranchi) and has become a world-renowned face. We are all so proud of him today. And that is not just luck; he has put in a lot of hard work, passion, and dedication into it. Though I am nowhere as close to him in success, I can relate to him as well because I too have reached where I have because of a lot of hard work and dedication.

Q. What would you say has been your biggest achievement in life?

Pran:  I can’t call this an achievement but I guess I have contributed something towards the society; even if it is very small. I guess I provided the people of India with a ‘sasta’ entertainment. The fact that I could bring smiles on the faces of different people, made them forget their troubles for a few minutes, gives me the greatest satisfaction. That I could say is my biggest achievement in life. My fans are the ones who keep me alive even today and would do so even after I am no more. Without them I am nothing.

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End Note: 

This is not just an interview for me; it is a monumental career achievement. 

One of the primary reasons for me to do this interview, other than my fascination for Pran, was the fact that I could not find anything comprehensive written on him in the online media. Furthermore, in the making of this interview, I spoke to many fans of Chacha Chaudhary. All of them still fondly recall the comics, but very few of them know about the man behind them. I thus thought that it was my responsibility as a journalist to present this interview to the fans of Chacha Chaudhary. It is essential that they know about Pran. They deserve this. He deserves this.  

There will never be another Pran in our lifetime. Hence, this is my way of saying ‘thank you’ to my childhood hero. That is all I can give him in return for making my childhood so delightful and memorable.

This one’s for all of us. This one’s for ‘our’ childhood.

Concluded

The World of Chacha Chaudhary and I

Comics. This world itself has some magical potency in it to tingle certain strange sensations inside me. No matter wherever I might be, and whatever I might be doing; hearing this word always gets my attention. The reason for that is just one- my connection with comics since my childhood has been an extremely deep and emotional one; something which goes beyond the realms of childhood fascination.

Over the last two decades I have had the pleasure of gorging through multifarious comics; ranging from Lotpot, Amar Chitra Katha, Tinkle, Archies, Tinitin, Asterix et al. However, there was one particular comic and its characters that for some strange reasons attracted me the most. Chacha Chaudhary and his many friends occupy such a special place in the cupboards of my memory that it is virtually impossible to even think of forgetting them. And curiously, somehow or the other, there keeps coming instances in my life where I in some way repeatedly get connected to these friends of mine. Presently, I am going through one such phase again where all of a sudden I have had this increasing urge to dive into the world of Chacha Chaudhary and his friends. Hence, a few weeks back, I searched out a local shop that keeps these comics, happily brought a dozen of them and have been gorging on them ever since.

The reason for writing this post is a little different though, and not just to share my association with Chacha and his friends. The post comes from the fact that I had the privilege of interviewing the creator of the Chacha Chaudhary comics- Mr. Pran Kumar Sharma. But hold on, this is about the only thing I will divulge on the subject; for now that is.

I considered that since I have interviewed such a gigantic legend of Indian comics, it would perhaps be injustice on my part to merely present the interview in one post and get it done with. The interview with Pran ji is not just a story for me; it has unparalleled emotional significance. But more on the legend of Pran in the next post. I have hence concluded that it would be prudent to set up a base for that interview by first presenting my insights into some of the famous characters he created, and the effect of the world of Chacha Chaudhary and his many friends on my psyche.

The characters:

Chacha Chaudhary: The wise-old man of our comics. His ‘brain works faster than a computer’ and he can solve the complex of cases ranging from terrorism, dacoity, varied mystery and many more. He is more than 50 years old, wears a red turban, carries a walking stick, is bald and thin, and yet is a superhero for the society in his own right. Goons fear him, police look up to him for help and children love him. You can be rest assured that no matter what problems you are facing, Chachaji would save the day in the end.

Sabu: The superman from Jupiter, Sabu is more than just a sidekick to Chachaji. This gigantic and muscular ‘alien’ is as Indian as one can be and is like a family to Chachaji. If Chacha is the brain, Sabu is the more than ideal brawn. His character is chiefly responsible for bashing up goons and dacoits with one swipe of his hand. And you better not make this guy angry because, “Jab Sabu ko gussa aata hai, tab kahi Jwalamukhi fatta hai”.

Bini Chaachi : Chachaji’s better half, Bini Chaachi might not be a prevalent figure in all the episodes of the series but she sure packs a punch; quite literally. She has an imposing figure and can take down the meanest of ruffians on her day. However, her primary role in the comics is to chide Chachaji for being jobless and provide ‘lassi’ for Sabu.

Rocket: This forever faithful companion is probably one of the simplest of dogs one can have as a pet. But for Chachaji, Rocket is family. He also plays crucial parts in solving out mysteries and taking on the bad guys. And like many of those unusual things in the series; Rocket is the only dog in the world who is a vegetarian.

Dag-Dag: Though he is just a vehicle, Dag-Dag too is a vital chrachter of the series. Despite the fact that his tyres are bandaged, window panes are damaged, and that he emits a lot of smoke, he remains another faithful friend to Chachaji in times of need. Oh, and by the way you can never steal or cheat him as he is ‘half-human’ and can think for himself.

Gobar Singh and Dhamaka Singh: Although the series has a wide array of bad guys up its sleeve, these two are the most consistent ones. Both desperately try to rid Chachaji from their path to make their criminal life easier, but unfortunately their plethora of schemes never succeed.

Billoo: This street-smart teenager doesn’t exactly feature in the Chacha Chaudhary comics, (except for a few episodes) but is connected to the same world. He loves cricket and always manages to infuriate his arch-nemesis ‘Bajrangi Pehelwan’. He is the representation of the average teenager of today.

Pinki: Another character who is related to the world of Chachaji but has her own standalone series to speak of. This fiver-year old ‘pocket dynamite’ is an incessant chatter-box, has a lot of friends and continuously gets on the nerves of her neighbour Jhapatji. She always gets others into trouble while walking away guilt-free. She also has a pet; a squirrel named ‘kut-kut’, who accompanies her in almost all of her (mis)adventures.

Raaka: The only serious character in this world, Raaka is a dangerously vicious criminal who is a great threat to the society. He kills for power and pleasure and the only ones who can stop his reign are of course Chachaji and Sabu. The unique thing about Raaka is that he is immortal, and is gigantic and muscular in size. This happened courtesy the elixir of life he drank, made by a doctor called Chakramacharya. Fortunately for the world though, he is always disposed off into some remote places like space, sea or volcanoes courtesy Chachaji and Sabu. One can be rest assured that he will return though. Always.

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There are of course many more characters that Pran has created, but these are the few of them which I have connected most deeply with. Why am I so besotted with them has its own significance.

From a very early age, when I was perhaps 6-7, I had become obsessed with Chacha Chaudhary and its world. The simple drawings they had in their comic panels made me feel like visiting those very places and losing myself inside them. I remember waiting eagerly for every new title in the Chacha Chaudhary series once I got to know if it. The storyline of these comics would not be the greatest, but they had a simplistic charm about them that simply cannot be found in any other comic book. The funny names of the characters, the chaste Hindi dialogues, the total buffoonery in the stories and homely surroundings of their world, made me fall in love with them.  I even had this strange habit of keeping these comics beside my pillow before I went to sleep. It was like having a protective friend around you; which made me feel safe. I almost felt like no matter what I was going through, somehow or the other Chachaji and Sabu would save the day.

As I grew up a bit, I started collecting all the ‘exclusive’ Chacha titles I had with me and kept them safely stacked in my personal 'library'. I took them out during the summer and Puja vacations and no matter how many times I might have read a particular comic, it would always be a special feeling to leaf through their pages with no worry in the world. Life indeed was blissful back then.

Those days however, I could not buy these comics directly from bookstalls. My only source of purchasing them was at the railway stations. The Wheelers and many more like them used to keep a fair bit of these comics and every time I would enter the Howrah station, my first instinct would be to look for a Wheelers stall. Before I boarded my train, my first mission would be to get hold of a bunch of Chacha comics. It would be nothing short of an achievement to acquire even a couple of good titles like Chacha Chaudhary – 10 or Chacha Chaudhary aur Raaka ka Inteqaam. Furthermore, the train journey in itself was a perfect setting to read through the adventures of Chachaji. I loved reading those in the dim light of the chugging train; it was (and still is) a fascinating experience in itself. At every station where the train would stop, I had the habit of peeking out of the window and look at the book stalls in the hope of getting hold of a new Chacha title.

Even now, whenever I visit a railway station, my eyes automatically starts searching for a Wheelers book stall. I go there and always leaf through a few pages of the new Chacha comics. The feeling is akin to saying hello to your old friends; like revisiting those golden days of your life!

Life has of course changed manifold now. But certain things will remain the same. My fondness for Chacha Chaudhary and his world is one of those things. I might not read them as ardently as I once used to; but the love for them still remains deep. Perhaps that is why, even today, sometimes I keep a Chacha Chaudhary comic book close to my pillow. In the hope that no matter what tough times I might be going through, maybe just maybe, Chachaji and Sabu would save the day yet again!!

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It was like walking in a dream; a dream that I had visualized innumerable times since my childhood.

The store was dingy and had many book racks. I enquired with the shop-keeper about the thing I wanted and he directed me to the corner shelf of the shop. One look at the shelf and I knew I had entered a dream world. The shelf was replete with hundreds of titles of the comic series that I wanted. I was stunned. I was mesmerized. I had never seen so many of these comic books at one place. My heart pounded in excitement. I then noticed a little 6-7 year old boy sitting near the extreme end of the shelf; surrounded by many of these comics. I however did not have time to pay heed to him. My only concentration was devoted to this plethora of comics in front of me, and I thus started picking many of them one by one. I leafed through their pages, touched them, and inhaled the smell in them; wanting to drink in every moment of this. The people in the shop looked at me curiously; perhaps thinking what was an adult like me doing in a comics section. But I did not care. I was in heaven.

I finally selected a dozen of them, albeit with great difficulty, and proudly strutted towards the cash counter. The lady there looked at me with raised eyebrows. But I was in a different zone then; nothing could bother me. As she computed my bill, I looked back at the book-shelf one last time and my eyes then once again fell on the little boy at the corner. His head was bowed; deep in reading the comics safely placed on his lap. Something about the boy seemed odd; he looked uncannily familiar. His hair was oily and fell down to his forehead. He was lanky and had a ‘nazar ka tika’ etched on his temple. He then suddenly looked up. Our eyes met and I realized I was looking back at my reflection from 20 years back. Before I could react, the lady at the counter said, “You bill sir.” I had briefly forgotten that I was in the shop and then hurriedly paid my bill. As I safely put my prized collections in my bag, she kept looking at me with her raised eyebrow. It almost felt she was asking me a mental question, “For your young nephew these aren’t they?” I zipped my bag shut and smiled at her, before answering her mentally as well. “Nope…” I said and looked back at the young boy. He smiled and waved at me. I waved back at him and finished my sentence, “This one’s for my childhood.”

To be concluded


(To read the second and final part of this post click here.)

Interview with Suniti Bhushan Datta (Wildlife Biologist)

Wildlife is something that has always fascinated me. In fact it wouldn’t be too far-fetched to claim that had I not gone into writing, I would probably have tried my luck at doing something related to wildlife. From a very early age, I was captivated by the wildlife documentaries shown on television and had a strong urge to lose myself in those dense jungles.

This fascination of mine is however being led by many others across the globe who work tirelessly to care for our forests. One of them is Suniti Bhushan Datta, a wildlife biologist and nature educator from Dehradun, India. Author of the book ‘Birding in the Doon Valley’, Dutta has been into the various facets of wildlife for about a decade now.

There had been several questions in my heart regarding our wildlife that I could never get real answers to. Suniti Dutta, through this interview, gives me and many others like me the perfect opportunity to have their questions answered as he sheds light on various aspects of wildlife that every citizen of this country should be aware of. Read on.

Excerpts from an interview

Q. I have always been fascinated with how a wildlife professional works. Please elaborate on the kind of job(s) you do in your field?

Suniti Dutta: I am basically a consultant wildlife biologist and nature educator. In the former capacity, I am sometimes hired by NGOs or the Forest Department to conduct population surveys or research on a particular species, population or certain aspect of wildlife or its habitat.

I have also, of late, started working with various schools, through certain organizations, as an outdoor/nature educator- basically introducing children to nature, letting them experience it firsthand, outside of the often misleading and sensationalist confines of Nat Geo, Discovery and Animal Planet. I have been doing nature education ad lib work for the better part of 10 years now, but I have only recently taken it up professionally and full time. I tend to enjoy doing it much more than research and find it more meaningful from a conservation point of view!

Fieldwork is the fun part of wildlife biologist’s work! The science that we do is only one part of it. Everything...the birds and other wildlife, walking through the forest, the fresh air, the silence in the night, the stars...it is just magical. Every day you learn something new; see a new sight, or a new creature, an animal behaving in a different way... It can never be boring.

Q. Looking at those wildlife documentaries, I have always considered the work of wildlife professional to be very exciting. Is it always like that?

SD: Yes, working with wildlife can be exciting, in terms of being able to encounter or observe animals that are usually not easy to approach, or even see in the wild. Though, for the most part it is usually mundane collection of data and analysis for research.

As I stated earlier, Nat Geo, Discovery, et al, does tend to sensationalize wildlife work more than it is, or is necessary.

The excitement also comes from obtaining the results of that research, being able to answer questions about the natural history, ecology or behaviour of a species, or about a habitat.

Whatever else it is, I can tell you that wildlife work is never ‘routine’!

Q. How did your interest in wildlife take birth? Did you always wish to get into this field?

SD: I have been interested in animals since a very young age, though I’ve never really worked out how that interest started exactly. My mother and eldest sister are both avid birdwatchers and my sister used to read to me from Gerald Durrell’s books, and I spent many of my school holidays in the then wildlife-rich tea estates of Assam and North Bengal, all of which were certainly factors that encouraged that interest. My family has always encouraged and supported my interest in wildlife and the outdoors.

While as a career choice, I wanted to do something related to the outdoors, I never specifically thought of working with wildlife until much later. As a child, all I was sure about was that I never wanted work within the confines of an office and/or behind a desk. I’m allergic to offices!

Q. Tell us what a person needs to do in order to become a wildlife professional? As in what is the approach he must have right from the beginning, the courses he must do etc.

SD: To become a wildlife professional, there are several avenues that are now open. If you want to pursue wildlife research, there are several post-grad courses in wildlife sciences that are offered. The two better ones are from the National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS)-Bengaluru and Wildlife Institute of India (WII)-Dehra Dun. The academic criterion for both these courses is a graduate degree in any life science with 55% aggregate. Although this has recently been waived, having an adequate good grounding in the basics of science is good for understanding biological systems.

With a graduate degree, you can also apply to work as a nature guide in a wildlife reserve, since there are many resorts and wildlife tourism camps that are constantly on the lookout for guides. Also, many NGOs related to environmental advocacy, research and activism also recruit interested persons.

In general, an inquisitive mind, and a love for and aptitude for living in the outdoors are essential. Many field sites are in remote locations, well away from the comforts of urban existence, which you should be prepared for.

Q. Please share your experience of studying at the Wildlife Institute of India. How different is it from other normal institutes; meaning is the environment there just like a normal college one? As a student, what did you do there?  

SD: I joined the Masters Degree (Wildlife Sciences) course at the Wildlife Institute of India in the XI^th Batch (2007-09). This is an extensive and intensive course that prepares you for a career in the field of wildlife research and conservation. WII is an autonomous institute under the Ministry of Environment and Forests and hence, has unparalleled access to India’s forests, which is a big advantage. During the course, we were introduced to a diversity of habitats across the country, from the Himalayas to marine ecosystems.

The institute also holds Certificate and Diploma Courses in Wildlife Management for Forest Service personnel, which allows students to interact with officers directly working on conservation and wildlife management issues, allowing one to get a perspective of the ground realities. This also helps in networking as well as bridging the gap between researchers and managers.

I would say that the WII’s M.Sc course is very different from most other colleges in that it actively encourages you to pursue original research and thinking, rather than be spoon-fed by professors. During the last semester of the course students have to propose and conduct an original research project for 6 months that culminates in a dissertation, which has to be defended before one’s peers.

Q. As a young wildlife professional, what are your views on the current situation of wildlife in India? Additionally, what do you think we should do to improve it?

SD: Overall in India, wildlife is not doing as badly as people make it out to be, though I would caution that it is not doing very well either. India is in a state of flux and how wildlife fares in the next few decades is dependent on the attitude of the government and the people.

With current government policy of unsustainable development, there is little to stop the indiscriminate clearance of forests, except the voice of the people. Wildlife cannot vote and hence, it is very low down the ladder in terms of politicians’ priorities. It is ultimately we, the people of India, who must speak out in defense of the natural wealth of this country. As far as the government is concerned, the forests and the environment are yet another resource to be plundered to conform to the current destructive growth model.

Development in itself is not a bad thing. It has to take place. But, while many countries, especially in Europe, have adopted sustainable, green solutions for development, here in India, we are hell-bent on pursuing the most destructive course. Our government and politicians seem to have no foresight.

Q. I have currently been reading in the papers as to how the tiger is making a comeback in our wild. I have a sinking feeling that the numbers being put up are grossly inflated. Is it true or is the tiger situation in India really improving?

SD: Tigers need three essential factors for their survival- adequate protection from poachers, a good prey-base and minimal disturbance. If these three things are taken care of, tigers will thrive in a given forest area.

The tiger is one animal that is actually not doing so badly actually, at least in most places. With the high-profile campaigns to protect the tiger in the media and amongst the general public, there is an increased media spotlight and hence, pressure on tiger reserves to step-up patrolling and anti-poaching measures. As long as this initiative is sustained, tigers will survive.

The next step has to be to look beyond tiger reserves at wider landscapes, such as the Terai Arc Landscape along the base of the Himalayas or the Satpura-Maikal Landscape in Central India. Connecting populations, through viable forest corridors is crucial to maintaining the genetic viability and the long-term survival of tigers in India.

As for numbers, no wildlife census is entirely accurate. The secretive nature of most wildlife makes them difficult to count, even using advanced techniques. That is why the correct term is ‘population estimates’, and not ‘censuses’. The days in which state wildlife departments published ‘exact’ numbers, usually concocted, are long gone. Also, absolute numbers mean very little in terms of conservation application, and have been replaced by the more meaningful population density and habitat occupancy.

As such, the figures published in the NTCA-WII report are as accurate as possible.

Q. Since you are already conducted Elephant census, can you please tell us as to how the census of an animal is conducted in our country? I had once read Valmik Thapar claim a few years back that the way the tiger population is conducted in our country isn’t very proper. What are your views on that? Also in comparison to other countries where does our animal census method stand?

SD: Different animals and habitats require different methodologies.

With elephants, for example, there are several techniques that are used in combination, depending on the terrain characteristics and estimated density of the animal. These can be waterhole count, dung-density estimates along transects and block counts. Transects and waterhole counts are used for estimating prey and ungulate densities.

Carnivore populations are estimated using camera-traps, placed systematically in a particular area.

The tiger population estimation exercise in the country has come a long way from the days of the highly inaccurate pugmark census. The camera-trap method used today is as accurate perhaps, as it will ever get. Of course, the efficacy of any estimation method used, is dependent on how it is carried out.  In my opinion, the tiger and prey estimation exercise should be carried out by a competent independent agency, in conjunction with the state forest departments. Left to their own devices, the latter can inflate figures to suit their purposes. Also, the methods and analyses should be peer-reviewed, as is the practice by the scientific community worldwide.

The census techniques in use in India are the same that are used to estimate various wildlife populations around the world.

Q. The Alipore Zoo in Kolkata has recently launched the ‘Adopt an Animal’ scheme. This is already quite popular in zoos like Nandankanan and the Darjeeling Zoo. One thing I always wondered was is the scheme just another way for our stars to get some limelight when they ‘adopt’ an animal or does it have its benefits?

SD: Given the current state of Alipore Zoo, and most any other zoo in the country, the scheme is just eye-wash. It is just another way for stars to show how, ‘concerned’ they are. The animal, as long as it remains in the same pitiable conditions throughout the year, does not benefit at all.

Q. I have had the opportunity to visit many zoos across the country on different occasions but find only a few of them in acceptable conditions. What are your views on the condition of zoos in India? What according to you is a model zoo?

SD: The primary function of the modern zoo, a concept developed by Carl Hagenbeck in Hamburg in 1907, was to exhibit animals in as near replication of their natural surroundings as possible so as to educate the public about them. As conservation interest grew in the general public in the latter half of the 20^th century, interpretative facilities were added to new zoos and management was improved. With Gerald Durrell’s Jersey Zoological Park, they also became captive breeding centres for endangered animals. The idea being that, if for multifarious reasons, an animal becomes extinct in the wild, there is a repository of the species in captivity that can be used to repopulate the habitat, once the reasons for its extinction have been removed.

Somehow, this renaissance has not taken place in India and by large, zoos in India continue to follow the Victorian concept of keeping animals in bare cages with minimal decoration. Interpretative facilities, where they exist, are inaccurate at best. Captive breeding (or conservation breeding as it is now known) is again haphazard and unscientific, where it exists. There has been no real move to change this system over the years and despite having a Central Zoo Authority and published guidelines, zoos continue to be neglected by an apathetic administration.

Q. While we are on the topic, I would also like to talk about enclosures for animals in our zoos. I find them quite inadequate in space. Do you feel that should be improved throughout the country?

SD: There are issues much graver than just the space. An example of this is the Delhi Zoo, where a Lion-tailed Macaque- a highly endangered rainforest primate- has been kept in a vast unsheltered paddock, with a single snag in the centre. No attempt has been made to provide this animal with anything remotely resembling its rainforest habitat. Never has an animal looked more miserable.

There are possibly two zoos in India worth mentioning, where at least some attempt has been made at improving the situation. The Nainital High-Altitude Zoo has large, open enclosures with natural vegetation, where the animals have some privacy and adequate separation from the public; they are well maintained and fed quality food. Attractive bilingual, interpretative signs are abundantly placed to educate the visitor about the animals in the enclosures.

Darjeeling Zoo is similar in its approach to displaying animals, and has of late been quite successful in breeding the endangered Red Panda.

Q. Would it be viable to completely abolish the concept of zoos and only keep the animals in the national parks i.e. in their natural surroundings?

SD: The less said about other zoos in the country the better. As they currently exist, zoos in the country should be demolished and rebuilt, or shut down permanently, because they serve no purpose other than to torment their captive inhabitants.

Q. Talking about national parks, I had the opportunity to visit one. While on the safari, I noticed how congregated it can become sometimes on one route with canters and jeeps all falling over each other to get that shot of a particular animal. I found it quite disturbing that an animal was being blatantly disturbed in its natural surroundings. Doesn’t that in a way kill the concept of a national park itself?

SD: National Parks and Sanctuaries were established to conserve certain habitats and their wildlife. That was their primary mission. Tourism was meant to be an incidental, secondary and highly regulated means of generating some revenue. However, in recent years tourism has overshadowed the original purpose of a protected area. Increased revenue means better promotion prospects for the officer in charge of a high profile park or sanctuary. There are also vested interests from locals and politicians who have stake in the business. All this eventually boils down to lax regulations and an unplanned, haphazard growth of resorts around a protected area that suck resources from it and contribute nothing, except garbage and litter.

The emphasis in India is not on quality tourism, but quantity: stuff as many people as you can into a canter/jeep, and show them a tiger. Most tour operators, guides and resorts subscribe to this model, because it generates quick revenue. They have no affinity towards the park, except for this. Many however, do bandy about the words, ‘eco-tourism’ and ‘eco-friendly’ without having the slightest idea of what these entail, because it looks good to a non-discerning tourist on a flashy website.

Corbett NP is a prime example of this. The resorts that line the Kosi River bordering the park have dance floors and bright lights, hardly the ambience for an ‘eco-friendly, wildlife’ experience. None of this would have happened without the complicity of the forest department, or if resort owners had the even the slightest interest in the welfare of this beautiful landscape.

Q. I also noticed that on a safari in a national park, people keep shouting and flashing their cameras at the animal, completely ignoring the laws of the jungle. I had wondered that wouldn’t it be prudent for forest officials to brief all the public before they enter the park on the basic rules they have to follow inside?

SD: There are exceptions, few and far between but, as I have said above, the forest department has little interest in regulating tourism for reasons mentioned. Guides too, have little motivation to do so either because this could lead to not getting a handsome tip.

Also, most protected areas are short-staffed and it is a strain to have to assign valuable manpower for tourism regulation, rather than protection and management duties. In most cases, the former takes precedence and ultimately conservation suffers.

Briefings certainly help of course but, unless these rules are enforced, nothing happens. We have traffic rules in India, but does that stop anyone from double-parking, overtaking from the wrong side and driving in the wrong lane?

In my opinion, tourism should be stopped in National Parks and Sanctuaries, and large open-air safari parks developed that are well stocked with tigers, lions and other showy wildlife, where tiger-centric tourists can be driven through to see these creatures at their heart’s content, for a small fee. It won’t make a difference to the general tourist whether he gets a ‘wildlife experience’ or not. He’s seen a tiger, the guide got his hefty tip, and the forest department its revenue, and wildlife remains undisturbed. Everyone is a winner.

Q. Correct me if I am wrong, but there seems to be hardly any interest among the larger part of the public in wildlife as a career? Does that stem from the fact that there is no genuine love for animals in our country?

SD: I don’t think it has anything to do with any less love for animals or wildlife, as such.

For one thing, there isn’t much publicity about wildlife as a career and the field is still rather limited in this country. In terms of a general shift away from conventional careers, we in India are still conservative about taking up something outside the box and parents are as much to blame for this as anyone. Doctor/engineer/businessman/software professional/civil servant/lawyer/accountant are still very much the careers to take up.

In recent years, I have seen an increasing number of young people, especially in the 30-35 years age-group, moving away from their ‘mainstream’ careers and taking up something different, especially in the outdoors, whether as adventure tourism operators or wildlife guides. It is a refreshing change and hopefully it will grow.

Q. Is there any way we can change the general sentiment related to animals in our country?

SD: Education. That is the key to everything, I think. The better people understand the natural world and the environment around them, the more they will appreciate and hopefully conserve it.

Q. On a lighter note, tell me about some of your career highlights. Any particular achievement that you are truly proud of?

SD: Given my academic track record, I was greatly surprised when I was selected to join the M.Sc programme at the Wildlife Institute of India! That and doing the course itself, was definitely a highlight. I guess I could be proud of that!

Having my first book, ‘Birding in the Doon Valley’ published, gives me a lot of satisfaction. It is a book that I have wanted to come out with for a very long time- since school days, actually- and to have it published and on the market, is a dream come true. It’s come a long way from random scribbles on the back of my Maths exercise books (the subject I day-dreamed through the most!) to its present form!

Q. What are your future plans now? How would you, as a wildlife professional, like to contribute towards improving the standards of our wildlife situation?

SD: I have always been curious about animals, and one of the reasons I wanted to become a wildlife researcher, so that I could gain skills to answer various questions I had about them.

However, some years ago, I read a quote attributed to Dr. George Schaller (without a doubt, the world’s most accomplished wildlife biologist), where he said that, “It is painfully clear that good science and good laws do not necessarily result in effective conservation. Aware of this, I have in recent years focused less on detailed science, something I enjoy most, and more on conservation. I have tried to become a combination of educator, diplomat, social anthropologist, and naturalist—an ecological missionary, balancing knowledge and action.”

This made me think hard about where I was headed in terms of contribution to conservation. Research is one way to go but, all too often and especially in this country, research findings seldom get incorporated into conservation action on the ground. Publishing papers in high-impact journals brings personal satisfaction, but I couldn’t see it contributing much to conservation.

As stated earlier, I had been conducting nature and outdoor education programmes with various schools in Dehra Dun, whenever I was here from the field, but have recently decided to take this up full time. Growing up here, I was fortunate enough to have teachers who encouraged us to explore this beautiful valley and its diverse habitats. My appreciation and love for the outdoors was greatly honed by this experience. This valley is a fantastic outdoor laboratory to introduce children to nature, with mountains and forests and streams galore, all within easy access.

I feel that children today are losing touch with the natural world. Television channels like Discovery, National Geographic and Animal Planet are all right, but there is nothing to compare being in a natural environment and experiencing things for oneself.  Children are the future. The idea is to capture a child’s natural curiosity and sustain it.

Every child who appreciates and cares about wildlife and the environment today can potentially make the world a better place tomorrow.

Sounds of Time

The 'Record Prince' store

Seventy year old Richard Phillips from Boston has his eyes lit as he looks at the priceless and diverse collection of record players lying in the shelf of the small shop in front of him.  Santana’s eponymous debut album from 1969, a bunch of albums by the Southern Rock legends Allman Brothers Band, records from the 70s by British progressive rock pioneers King Crimson; among others occupy the shelves of this small record store in Kolkata. Also lying near these are jazz must-haves like Miles Davis’ Kind of Blue, live albums by the Bill Evans Trio and Weather Report classics. 

“These are absolute gems; I have been looking for many of these in my country for quite some time. Imagine finding them here in this small nook!!  My wife is a big fan of the Allman Brothers. She would be absolutely delighted.” says Richard with the excitement of a 12 year old.

Located in the nostalgic neighbourhood of Free School Street in central Kolkata, Record Prince , popularly known here as ‘Chacha’s shop’, has been in existence since 1965 and is one of the very few shops still housing some of the most valued and precious record players there can be. This shop, as some claim here, is the Mecca of vinyl records in town and not to mention a few well-maintained gramophone players, some of which are even up for sale.

Anyone who might have possessed a record player once would know what a good quality one is, and shops like Record Prince do keep theirs well oiled. The owner of the shop, 67 year old Anis Ashraf, is a jolly man who hardly visits the store these days himself and lets his two sons handle it. He got most of these records from their previous owner Bakhtiar Jaan who used to run a nameless record store in these very lanes in the early 1950s. Ashraf who used to work as an employee in Bakhtiar’s store learnt all the nitty- gritty and other technical details of record players with perfection. For instance he can tell you in details as to how a 78rpm(revolutions per minute)- the standard speed of a record player-  is supposed to run smooth. He can also inform you about genres and artistes that lure people to these records; things which were poles apart from his upbringing.

“What’s special about these vinyl records is that even after years of endless and repeated use they never seem to lose their rich quality of sound. This can never be the case of cassettes or even these new age CDs.  Although I have lost a handful of my old records as they got broken, but I have got quite a few which are more than sixty years old.” says Anis assuredly while showing the worn-out diaries he still maintains that detail track names and artistes on a particular LP (Long Play, or long-playing microgroove record), year of publication and total length of the recording. These are details he says that customers absolutely relish. “It gives me immense pleasure when I provide the customers with the things they are looking for. There is no greater feeling when people from different parts of the globe say that they have heard about my shop from their friends," he adds with pride.

Some of the famous classics on the shelves of the store

Record Prince however is not just renowned for housing English classics; it caters to local tastes too by having some of the most treasured collectibles of Hindi songs of the yore. Records of everyone from Pandit Ravi Shankar to Rabindrasangeet renditions by Hemanta Mukhopadhyay decorate the shelves of the shop. 

Danish Ashraf at the store

However the real gems or his ‘special collections’ as ‘Chacha’ likes to call them are kept in a moldy hole in the wall, behind the shop. Arranged systematically in racks, the records are alphabetically arranged according to the artistes’ names. After a record-to-tape, or now record-to-CD, capture each one the records goes back to its original place of safety.  While Chacha claims he has sold off most of his collections, there still are close to around 5000 records at his store.

Of his two sons, 30 year old Danish Ashraf is the one who is mostly seen managing the store and learning the tricks of the trade from his father like a loyal son.  “I have no intentions of going anywhere else. I wish to continue doing this as long as I can and maybe expand it even further in the future. It is our family’s bread and butter and I can never let it go.”  says Danish confidently.

In the age of MP3 players, IPods and digital music, Record Prince has survived and lived to tell its tale.  “I guess I have in a way ensured this shop’s place as an important part of Kolkata’s nostalgia; howsoever small it might be.”  smiles Anis Ashraf before going off to greet a couple of eager customers. Though Anis today may have taken his self-imposed voluntary retirement from his shop, it seems that the magic of vinyl refuses to leave him.