Five eternal TV characters from our childhood that will make a good read aloud to our kids

With the nationwide transmission of Doordarshan in early 1980s, came these characters into our lives and became inseparable part of our childhood memories.
These are characters from books written by renowned authors like R.K. Narayan, Rudyard Kipling, Devaki Nandan Khatri, Enid Blyton etc.
Read these books with your children. Not only will this give you an opportunity to relive your childhood but to introduce your children to classic literature, to great Indian and English writers and to some strong positive inspiration.

1.       Our beloved ‘Swami’ from Malgudi days:


Malgudi days, based on R.K. Narayan’s book of the same name, presents an imaginary city of Malgudi in full colour, revealing the essence of India and of human experience. The author in his book captures the readers’ heart with 32 short stories and each story portraying a facet of life in Malgudi.
R.K. Narayan is a leading Indian author who has won numerous awards including Padma Bhushan in 1964 and Sahitya Akademi award in 1958. He has been a nominee for the Nobel Prize in literature multiple times.
Malgudi Days- Buy at Amazon


2.       Mowgli from ‘ The Jungle Book’:


Even today most of us can sing the entire title track ‘Jungle jungle baat chali hai’ and our Sundays were incomplete without Mowgli.
This delightful story about a ‘man-cub’ who is raised in the jungle by wolves is based on the book ‘The Jungle Book’ by Rudyard Kipling.
Sayan Mukherjee, writing for the Book Review Circle, call The Jungle Book ‘One of the most enjoyable book of my childhood.’
Rudyard Kipling’s stories are simple, engaging and thoughtful. Rudyard Kipling received the Nobel Prize in literature in 1907.
The Jungle Book (Vintage Classics)- Buy at Amazon

3.       Chandrakanta:


We got acquainted with the world of magic and wizardry much before the world saw Harry Potter. Every Sunday, we were glued to our television set to enjoy ‘Chandrakanta’.
Chandrakanta, a mega budget epic television series was one of the biggest ever blockbusters on Indian television.
This television series is based on Devaki Nandan Khatri’s fantasy classic of the same name. The book is equal or even more enchanting and engaging than the TV series with its story, characters, magic and twists and turns to the plot.
The story of Chandrakanta is a romantic fantasy about two lovers who belong to rival kingdoms; Princess Chandrakanta of Vijaygarh and Prince Virendra Singh of Naugarh.
Babu Devaki Nandan Khatri is renowned as the father of Hindi mystery novels.
Chandrakanta Santati - Vol. 1 to 6 (hindi) buy at Amazon
Chandrakanta (in English) buy at Amazon

4. Chacha Chaudhary:


Chacha Chaudhary is one of the most popular Indian comic book characters. An old man, whose attire comprised of a red turban, a wooden stick, a waistcoat with a double inside pocket and a pocket watch. According to the comic, his brain was sharper than a needle and faster than a supercomputer!
Chacha Chaudhary has been created by cartoonist Pran Kumar Sharma. He has been given the title of ‘Walt Disney of India’ in the World Encyclopaedia of Comics. The Chacha Chaudhary strips find permanent place in International Museum of Cartoon Art, USA.
Pran Kumar Sharma received a Lifetime Achievement Award 2001, from Indian Institute of Cartoonist.
The animation series and the comic books have always managed to put a smile on our faces as children and as grownups.
Pran Combo Pack (Set of 9 Books- Chacha Chaudhary,Pinki, Billoo) (English) buy at Amazon

5.       The Famous Five:

Remember the time when DD Metro telecasted ‘The Famous Five’! The series was great entertainment.
For most of us Enid Blyton was the author who introduced us to the habit of reading books. Our days were incomplete without watching or reading about adventures of Julian, Dick, Anne, George(ina) and Timmy.


These books are still as captivating as they were decades ago and a good place to start reading to our children.     
Famous Five: 21 Exciting Adventures! (Set of 21 Books) buy at Amazon

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