The tales of Panchatantra, perhaps, are the oldest stories known in the literature of India. Some believe that the fables of Panchatantra are as old as Rig-veda. Panch means five, and tantra refers to codes of conduct. The stories were largely based on animal characters, making it very interesting for children. Dear Internet Archive Supporter, I ask only once a year: please help the Internet Archive today. The average donation is $45. If everyone chips in $5, we can end this fundraiser today. Right now, your donation will be matched 2-to-1, tripling your impact! All we need is the price of a paperback book to sustain a library the whole world trusts.
Download ACK Ramayana comics
Stories from Panchatantra The Foolish Lion and the Clever Rabbit Go to Panchatantra Stories Index Once upon a time there lived a ferocious lion in the forest. It was a greedy lion and started killing animals in the forest indiscriminately.
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Amar Chitra Katha ('Immortal Captivating (or Picture) Stories') is one ofIndia's largest selling comic book series, with more than 90 million copies sold in 20 Indian languages.[1] Founded in 1967, the imprint has more than 400 titles that retell stories from the great Indian epics, mythology, history, folklore, and fables in a comic book format. It was created byAnant Pai, and published by India Book House. In 2007, the imprint and all its titles were acquired by a new venture called ACK Media. On 17 September 2008, a new website by ACK-media was launched.[2][3]
The comic series was started by Anant Paiin an attempt to teach Indian children about their cultural heritage. He was shocked that Indian students could answer questions on Greek and Roman mythology, but were ignorant of their own history, mythology and folklore. It so happened that a quiz contest aired on Doordarshanin February 1967, in which participants could easily answer questions pertaining to Greek mythology, but were unable to reply to the question 'In the Ramayana, who was Rama's mother?'.[4][5]
The above is an oft-told story of how ACK was founded beginning with 'Uncle Pai', in Mumbai in 1967. However, Outlook Magazine has this article about the genesis of this popular comic series: The idea and proposal for Amar Chitra Katha was made by a Bangalore book salesman called G.K. Ananthram which led to the first Amar Chitra Katha comics being produced in 1965—in Kannada, not English. 'The English ACK titles begin from number eleven because the first ten were in Kannada,' clarifies Ananthram. To Anathram's satisfaction, the 1965 Kannada ACK venture was a great commercial success which led to Mirchandani in the head office in Mumbai pursuing the Amar Chitra Katha idea in English diligently. 'They brought in Anant Pai' says Ananthram. 'And he built a wonderful team and a great brand.'[6]
Writers like Kamala Chandrakant, Margie Sastry, Subba Rao, Debrani Mitra and C.R Sharma joined the creative team of Amar Chitra Katha, with Anant Pai taking on the role of editor and co-writer on most scripts. The notable illustrators were Ram Waeerkar, who illustrated the very first issue of Amar Chitra Katha, Krishna, Dilip Kadam, C. M. Vitankar, Sanjeev Waeerkar,Souren Roy, C.D Rane, Ashok Dongre, V.B. Halbe, Jeffrey Fowler, Pratap Mullick andYusuf Lien aka Yusuf Bangalorewala.[7]
The original printings of amar Chitra were not in full colour—because of budgetary constraints, the panels were printed using yellow, blue and green. Subsequent issues, however, changed to full colour. All Amar Chitra Katha books stuck to a monthly (later fortnightly) 30-page format, with emphasis on lucid, entertaining storylines. In addition to the 'singles' format the stories are also available as hardcover 3-in-1 and 5-in-1 bundles. There are special editions of the epics like the Mahabharatawhich is available in a 3 volume 1300+ pages set.
Occasionally there were 'bumper' issues with 90 pages, most collecting stories of a similar type from individual issues (e.g.Monkey Stories From The Hitopadesha,Tales of Birbal and some being longer stories The Story of Rama). As the epic stories became more popular, the team began to publish stories based on Indian history, of men and women belonging to different regions and religions and also on stories based on Sanskrit as well as regional classics. The continuous popularity of the comics led to reprints being issued frequently, which ensured that the back-issues remained in print throughout the seventies and the eighties. At the height of its popularity, in the mid-eighties, it had been translated into Bengali, Marathi, Assamese, Gujarati, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Telugu, Tamil and Urdu and selling half a million copies a month. Some titles were also translated into French, Spanish, German, Swahili, Fijian, Indonesian, and Serbo-Croat.
Towards the mid-nineties, the original comics were reprinted in sleeker and more durable editions, with thick cardstock covers and better colour separations. Today, Amar Chitra Katha has a national footprint across all major book retailers, hundreds of small bookstores, and tens of thousands of vendors. It is the best-selling children's publication in most large format stores.
In 2007, the publisher created a newonline store that offers all the titles with shipping worldwide. The titles are divided in following categories
- Mythology (e.g. The Ramayana)
- Humour & wit (e.g. Birbal)
- Literary Classics
- 5 in 1 Titles
Modernisation
Amar Chitra Katha has evolved over times. It has forayed into the digital world by launching its official digital store app across platforms — Windows 8, iOS and Android. Dubbed as ACK Comics, the store offers more than 300 titles. The free app gives readers access to Amar Chitra Katha comics, ranging from its archive but also including the latest books that Amar Chitra Katha publishes, with both free and paid comics. The digital comics can be read in the app in flip-book mode as well as panel-by-panel mode, which is convenient for smaller devices. Users can download and read their comics on multiple devices using a single user account.
The app has been developed by App9 Digital Studio, the digital division of Ninestars Information Technologies Pvt. Ltd.[
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The sixteen short stories collected here were written between 1891 and 1917 by the Bengali poet, writer, painter, musician and mystic, Sir Rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941). Throughout these stories, Tagore's main interest is people and the kaleidoscope of human emotions, as men and women struggle with the restrictions and prohibitions of contemporary Hindu society.
Published 1999 by East-West Publications (first published 1917)
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Meghanait is a freely available classic book and can be downloaded from sites like Gutenberg.
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Jul 28, 2015Sanjay Gautam rated it it was amazing · review of another edition
The prose of Tagore is mesmerizing which makes you feel enchanted; and often gives you a dose of refreshment. Its beauty lies in the profound insights conveyed in very simple words. Nearly all the stories touch you somewhere deep but it was the story 'Cabulliwalah' that was quite moving for me.
Apr 20, 2019Jan-Maat added it · review of another edition Shelves: read-in-translation, 19th-century, fiction, india, short-stories
I found this an engaging and lively collection of short stories, I had never read Tagore before, I knew he had won the Nobel prize, and I had the feeling that he was more renowned for his poetry, these stories though felt vital and fresh despite being over a hundred years old, perhaps because they are strongly character driven.
Most of the stories began with him introducing one or two characters and unfold through their interactions, the time and the place of the setting mostly Bengal in the 1890..more
Apr 24, 2015Corinne rated it it was amazingMost of the stories began with him introducing one or two characters and unfold through their interactions, the time and the place of the setting mostly Bengal in the 1890..more
Shelves: literature-of-quality, constructive, favorites, classic, compassion
This is a beautiful collection of short stories. Although the stories are somewhat driven by fates, the protagonists are original in their actions, and the themes linger in mind long after I put them down. Tagore has great insight in human psyche and behavior
Oct 16, 2017Rahul Matthew rated it really liked it
For those who like poetry and quotes, you cannot go wrong with one of India's most famous 'the Bard of Bengal'-Rabindranath Tagore.
Not much about him but he became the first Non-European to win the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1913 and wrote two nation's national anthems(India and Bangladesh).
A few quotes from him:
'Clouds come floating into my life, no longer to carry rain or usher storm, but to add color to my sunset sky.'
'I slept and dreamt that life was a joy. I awoke and saw that life was se..more
Not much about him but he became the first Non-European to win the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1913 and wrote two nation's national anthems(India and Bangladesh).
A few quotes from him:
'Clouds come floating into my life, no longer to carry rain or usher storm, but to add color to my sunset sky.'
'I slept and dreamt that life was a joy. I awoke and saw that life was se..more
Jun 27, 2013J.G. Keely rated it liked it
This collection has a very strong start: the first few stories are gems, just wonderfully-well crafted, evocative, sympathetic tales of life. There are humorous clever bits and heartbreaking bits, and it all has the ring of truth about it. I kept getting hints of this in The Home and The World, but Tagore couldn't seem to sustain it.
Unfortunately, that proves to be true here, as well, as several of the stories don't quite come together, and get hung-up on clumsy construction. My previous complai..more
Unfortunately, that proves to be true here, as well, as several of the stories don't quite come together, and get hung-up on clumsy construction. My previous complai..more
Jan 30, 2016Anya (~on a semi-hiatus~) marked it as defcon-3
Watching tv during dinner is a family ritual in our house. I generally stay away from tv, but tv during dinner time is sacred to me.
So these days, the 'rents and I have been watching Stories by Rabindranath Tagore and they are so lovely in their quaintness that it makes me weep. (I just had a good weepfest while watching Kabuliwaala) I have read a couple of these stories as a child but they were scattered over the years so I don't remember much. I grew up in West Bengal so I had become fluent i..more
So these days, the 'rents and I have been watching Stories by Rabindranath Tagore and they are so lovely in their quaintness that it makes me weep. (I just had a good weepfest while watching Kabuliwaala) I have read a couple of these stories as a child but they were scattered over the years so I don't remember much. I grew up in West Bengal so I had become fluent i..more
Jan 26, 2014Chaitali Chakraborty rated it really liked it
I am a Bengali, and have read all these stories in Bengali language. When I read the same in English, I had a thought passing. There are some expressions that are innate and inherent to one specific language. No other language in the entire world can capture the exact emotion. I love his work.Although, I enjoyed reading the same in my language better, nevertheless a book that would open the ajar door of Bengali emotions completely. I guess my other Bengali friends would feel the same.
Dec 29, 2013Sherry rated it it was amazing Shelves: 2013, cultural-political, five-star-books, short-story-collections, iconic-india
I just joined the Iconic India challenge in the History Group. And this is one I chose to read. One of India's greatest writers, he captures a feeling of the life of India in his stories. Much like Anton Chekhov does for Russia. He tells his stories without judgement. We are left to draw our own conclusions. Unlike the west, death in this framework is never the end to be avoided. There is a gentle fatalism that is not devoid of hope. People can change, sometimes they do and sometimes they don't..more
Jul 12, 2016Megha Chakraborty rated it it was amazing
Thid book doesn't need any review. The story never gets old. So many emotions. Genius Genius man.
Jan 13, 2013Meghana rated it really liked it · review of another edition
Short stories are my least favourite genre of literature. That's because so few authors get it right. My favourites include R.K. Narayan, Saki, O'Henry, and Jhumpa Lahiri.
After reading this book, I have no hesitation in adding Rabindranath Tagore to the list. I had read The Kabuliwalla nearly a decade ago, and it remains one of my favourite stories of all time. Like many others, I also enjoyed reading The Postmaster, but my personal favourite find was The Return Of The Child.
Tagore has a gift f..more
After reading this book, I have no hesitation in adding Rabindranath Tagore to the list. I had read The Kabuliwalla nearly a decade ago, and it remains one of my favourite stories of all time. Like many others, I also enjoyed reading The Postmaster, but my personal favourite find was The Return Of The Child.
Tagore has a gift f..more
Jul 18, 2018Avinash rated it it was amazing · review of another edition
Every story in this collection is beautiful and unique in its own way. They all carry a certain set of emotions along with some life lessons. I think they have done a perfect justice in depicting THE India of Tagore's era without any prejudice or manipulation. They give you the glimpse of the beauty this country had that time, but at the same time they also portray the flaw in it.
As I said every story has something to offer but my favorites are 'The Postmaster', 'Kabuliwallah' and 'Guest'.
In sho..more
As I said every story has something to offer but my favorites are 'The Postmaster', 'Kabuliwallah' and 'Guest'.
In sho..more
Mar 21, 2016Nazish rated it really liked it · review of another edition
Just finished this beautiful, fresh, sensitive collection of short stories for which Tagore holds so much ground and rightly so. He talks about loving fathers, songs of nature, hardworking young men fighting the family honour and empty vaults with smile on their faces and poverty and humanity in the streets of Calcutta. Must read to get a brief glimpse of Tagore's literary world.
Apr 27, 2015Mangesh Zope rated it it was amazing · review of another edition
Amazing stories which will take you back to your childhood
Touching stories from calcutta , almost felt like I am reading textbooks from school days. It's amazing how small stories like kabuliwalla and the last one could teach you lessons of life. Would love to read more work written by Ravindranath Tagore
Touching stories from calcutta , almost felt like I am reading textbooks from school days. It's amazing how small stories like kabuliwalla and the last one could teach you lessons of life. Would love to read more work written by Ravindranath Tagore
Feb 20, 2011Julia rated it it was amazing
Amazing short stories which bridge time and space as only real classics can do. Subtle characterizations, painful insights and light irony - need to read more of this.
Nov 24, 2017Pragya rated it really liked it · review of another edition
It was refreshing to read Kabuliwala again after so many years. This short story is so beautiful and poignant, probably one of the best ever written. All other stories were new to me. Particular favorites that emerged were 'A Problem Solved', 'Exercise Book', and 'Thakurda'.
I was excited about Anurag Basu's 'Stories by Rabindranath Tagore' available on Netflix which dramatizes some of the stories in this collection but the screenplay deviates far too much from the original for my taste and the..more
I was excited about Anurag Basu's 'Stories by Rabindranath Tagore' available on Netflix which dramatizes some of the stories in this collection but the screenplay deviates far too much from the original for my taste and the..more
![Pdf Pdf](https://3.bp.blogspot.com/--aJH7A_FsaU/VHwNEDPM_DI/AAAAAAAADL4/hgUnBJ3yskw/s1600/10314464_747139628711241_8503606566567408031_n.jpg)
Sep 06, 2011Laura Avellaneda-Cruz rated it really liked it · review of another edition
I highly recommend to anyone who has not yet read Tagore to read his short stories. I am not even sure that the one here is the same collection of short stories I read--I read the ones that he wrote in 1898 or so. They are way ahead of their time in some of the insights and ideas, and yet also so reflective of the time and place--a time and place where it's normal to marry your daughter off by 8 or 9, and she is quite old for marriage by her teenage years, a time when the British still had colon..more
May 01, 2015Dipti rated it it was amazing · review of another edition
The subtlety and simplicity with which Sir Tagore writes, compliments the old Indian times of Calcutta and places around it. Stories with lessons and hidden morals reminds me of English textbook stories which was worth looking forward to when a fresh new year began.
The best part about Sir Tagore's stories are that they have a very mellow edge to the stories which reflect the hardships and struggles of a common man. Although written with respect to a society which dated back almost a century back
..moreNov 23, 2014Sally rated it it was amazing · review of another edition Shelves: 19th-century-literature, nobel-prize-winning-authors, indian-literature
'Small lives, humble distress, Tales of humdrum grief and pain', November 23, 2014
This review is from: Selected Short Stories (Penguin Classics) (Paperback)
Containing thirty very short stories, often only about six pages long, yet for all their brevity the author completely wraps you up in the world and the events.
Set in and around the River Padma (near Calcutta) in the late 19th century, Tagore writes of the ordinary people: deaths and marriages, children, poverty, the rich, the mean, the avar..more
This review is from: Selected Short Stories (Penguin Classics) (Paperback)
Containing thirty very short stories, often only about six pages long, yet for all their brevity the author completely wraps you up in the world and the events.
Set in and around the River Padma (near Calcutta) in the late 19th century, Tagore writes of the ordinary people: deaths and marriages, children, poverty, the rich, the mean, the avar..more
Mar 16, 2016Gazala rated it it was amazing · review of another edition
Though I am not too fond of Indian writers, the authors that wrote in earlier times had such a fine command over the language that a lot of new-gen Indian authors lack . Tagore happens to be one of those who never disappoints.
With realistic portrayals and stories that touch one's hearts and move us in gentle ways , these short stories are no exception and provide to us reading material that targets the heart.
While I've read some of these stories in school , it has been a pleasure to read them..more
With realistic portrayals and stories that touch one's hearts and move us in gentle ways , these short stories are no exception and provide to us reading material that targets the heart.
While I've read some of these stories in school , it has been a pleasure to read them..more
![Stories Stories](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Z0LB1jSePB4/maxresdefault.jpg)
Nov 02, 2011Portia S rated it it was amazing · review of another edition
I loved this collection. I was disappointed that it did not have as well 'The Broken Nest', but these were fine all the same.
Sigh, Tagore is depressing. In almost every single story, someone either died or ..died..and the sadness came through the opened floodgates.
I think the only thing I've ever read from him that was hopeful or even cheerful would have been Gitanjali which I would listen to on headphones during the Great Panic Attacks of '09.
In this collection, we learn of loving fathers..more
Sigh, Tagore is depressing. In almost every single story, someone either died or ..died..and the sadness came through the opened floodgates.
I think the only thing I've ever read from him that was hopeful or even cheerful would have been Gitanjali which I would listen to on headphones during the Great Panic Attacks of '09.
In this collection, we learn of loving fathers..more
Oct 25, 2018Paras Abbasi rated it really liked it · review of another edition
Rabindranath Tagore's short story collection was often loose ended and extremely brief, so much so that the collection can be done with in a few hours if you're a quick reader. What struck me most about the stories was his focus on poor-rich disparity in pre-partition Bengal while belonging to the upper class himself. His stories on thaylay walas and postmasters and women, subjects that were mostly ignored as members of the Indian society, not only provided a perspective to these otherwise invis..more
Apr 30, 2016Rajat Gupta rated it really liked it · review of another edition
Simple stories about simple people and their day to day life. The narrative of stories is such that a reader will instantly connect with the stories. The emotions expressed by the characters of their love, fear, hate anger, jealousy related to people or things in their life is something which everyone could relate to.
I particularly liked the stories 'Cabuliwala', 'Babus of Nayanjore' and 'the son of Rashmani'.
I particularly liked the stories 'Cabuliwala', 'Babus of Nayanjore' and 'the son of Rashmani'.
Jul 16, 2012Omar rated it it was amazing
Each and every story in this collection rings of classic Tagore. For anyone looking to delve into the universe of India's greatest author and thinker, the collection of Short Stories is probably the best place to start. As far as the stories go, each is my favorite, and that being that most were translated by Tagore himself, they are a gem to read. Highly recommend it!
Sep 21, 2015Pranjali rated it it was amazing
Recently finished short stories by Tagore. I don't have much to say, it would be like showing lamp to sun. these are simple, soul touching stories. After reading this you will find how progressive and beyond time Tagore's thinking was. Most of these stories are relevant even today. You should probably read this to properly understand, not only bengal but the journey of india as a society.
Apr 29, 2016Dhaval Shah rated it it was amazing · review of another edition
The stories here are filled up to brim with innocence. They are such that after every one you finish, you will need a buffer time to recover from its depth, simplicity and message it imparts you with. These stories are not to be gulped as cheap whiskey but needs to be enjoyed like that old bottle of scotch with leisure and pleasure.
Dec 28, 2014Dhruv Khosla rated it really liked it · review of another edition
The endings are a little repetitive and become predictable after you have read the first few stories. The somber tone of the stories is, maybe, representative of the times in which they were written. A quick read, and definitely worth one!
Apr 17, 2015Taungzilla Lao-aruen rated it really liked it · review of another edition
Panchatantra Stories In Hindi For Kids
Touching with words and Tagore's narrative style. The writer had left a big room for us to think about the destiny of the characters in every chapters. Perhaps it's impossible for us, as the readers, to finish this book without the soliloquy about our real hard life.
Brilliant. Makes you fall in love with literature again and again.
Oct 21, 2017Shloka rated it it was amazing · review of another edition
Rabindranath Tagore’s grasp and understanding of human nature was extraordinarily profound, and this set of short stories really exhibits that well. A few of my favorite quotes from the book:
'I was thinking, why is there such a deep note of mourning in the fields, ghats, sky and sunshine of our country? I think perhaps the reason is that Nature is constantly before our eyes: the wide, open sky, flat and endless land, shimmering sunshine—and in the midst of this men come and go, crossing to and f..more
'I was thinking, why is there such a deep note of mourning in the fields, ghats, sky and sunshine of our country? I think perhaps the reason is that Nature is constantly before our eyes: the wide, open sky, flat and endless land, shimmering sunshine—and in the midst of this men come and go, crossing to and f..more
3.5/5
I really enjoyed his style and was surprised by how modern his take was. His ability to describe Bengali life and cover the lives of several individuals, their beliefs and values, in that cultural climate in one sweep and without over sentimentality was great. Of course there were some stories I enjoyed more than others, also found it amusing that he too had his rendition of a ‘Freaky Friday’ story. The stories were well told, succinct, poetic yet dark, most ended with a hint of tragedy bu..more
I really enjoyed his style and was surprised by how modern his take was. His ability to describe Bengali life and cover the lives of several individuals, their beliefs and values, in that cultural climate in one sweep and without over sentimentality was great. Of course there were some stories I enjoyed more than others, also found it amusing that he too had his rendition of a ‘Freaky Friday’ story. The stories were well told, succinct, poetic yet dark, most ended with a hint of tragedy bu..more
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Panchatantra Stories In Bengali
Awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1913 'because of his profoundly sensitive, fresh and beautiful verse, by which, with consummate skill, he has made his poetic thought, expressed in his own English words, a part of the literature of the West.'
Tagore modernised Bengali art by spurning rigid classical forms and resisting linguistic strictures. His novels, stories, songs, dance-dramas, and ess..more
Tagore modernised Bengali art by spurning rigid classical forms and resisting linguistic strictures. His novels, stories, songs, dance-dramas, and ess..more
“Alas for our foolish human nature! Its fond mistakes are persistent. The dictates of reason take a long time to assert their own sway. The surest proofs meanwhile are disbelieved. False hope is clung to with all one's might and main, till a day comes when it has sucked the heart dry and it forcibly breaks through its bonds and departs. After that comes the misery of awakening, and then once again the longing to get back into the maze of the same mistakes.” — 8 likes
“One clings desperately to some vain hope, till a day comes when it has sucked the heart dry and then it breaks through its bonds and departs. After that comes the misery of awakening, and then once again the longing to get back into the maze of the same mistakes.” — 5 likes
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