Ladybird picture books were my childhood pals even before I learned to read a single word. I warmly recall cozy winter afternoon siestas spent right next to my mom, wondrously poring over lives of Snow White, Thumbelina, Rapunzel, Hansel & Gretel, Red Riding Hood, Sleeping Beauty…
My friendship circle widened over time, and I had many historical adventures with gods and kings in Amar Chitra Katha’s, accompanied with laughs in the company of Chacha Chaudhary, Sabu and Suppandi.
I also added Noddy, Casper the friendly ghost, and Richie Rich (the poor little rich boy), to play in far away wonderlands.
In 6th grade, my grandfather took me to a book exhibition in Pragati Maidan, and I got a bunch of new middle school buddies with Enid Blyton’s: Famous Five, Secret Seven, Adventure series, and The Naughtiest Girl In School.
Tell Me Why played the role of an old wise uncle who knew everything there was to know about the world, from why volcanoes erupt to why we have lightening.
Teen years came with superhero friends: Superman, Batman, Fauladi Singh, and Green Lantern. Thrilling crime detective adventures were a joy to traverse with Hardy Boys, Nancy Drew, and Hercule Poirot. Intense jungle jaunts with Tarzan made for a lifelong thirst for the exotic. Finally, I hung out with Archie, Jughead, Betty, Veronica, and Reggie to make my awkward high school years angst bearable.