RAS question
The Amar Chitra Katha (ACK) warehouse fire of October 2025 destroyed a significant portion of India's popular cultural heritage. Which of the following correctly describes the founding and significance of Amar Chitra Katha?
Correct answer: (A) Founded in 1967 by Anant Pai, ACK published Indian mythology and history comics in 20+ languages with over 100 million copies sold.
Amar Chitra Katha was founded by Anant Pai in 1967 and became a major Indian comics publisher by retelling Indian mythology, history and literature for children across 500-plus comics in 20-plus languages, with over 100 million copies sold.
Explanation
Amar Chitra Katha fits option A because its identity rests on Anant Pai's 1967 founding and on the comic-book retelling of Indian heritage for young readers. Amar Chitra Katha says Pai wanted to acquaint Indian children with their heritage and used comics to tell stories from Indian history, mythology and literature. Amar Chitra Katha also records the scale that made ACK culturally important: 500-plus comics in 20-plus languages and over 100 million copies sold. The October 2025 Bhiwandi warehouse fire destroyed around 6 lakh copies and lakhs of positives and negatives, including positives for about 200 early ACK comics, showing why ACK is treated here as popular cultural heritage rather than just a publisher.
Why the other options are wrong
- (B) ACK was not founded in 1947 as a government literacy initiative; the verified founding was by Anant Pai in 1967.
- (C) R.K. Laxman and 1975 do not match the verified founder and date, since ACK was founded by Anant Pai in 1967.
- (D) ACK was not a 1955 Sahitya Akademi arm; its official story places it as Anant Pai's comics project for Indian mythology, history and literature.
Concept
This tests modern carriers of Indian cultural memory within the History and Culture syllabus. RAS often asks how mythology, history and folklore move beyond formal texts into popular media that shape public understanding.