For over four decades Tinkle has blended education and entertainment for young readers. Its simpleton Suppandi and accidental hero Shikari Shambu remain household names across generations.
Tinkle is an Indian children's magazine first published in November 1980, with its founding editor being Anant Pai, the same Uncle Pai who created Amar Chitra Katha. Published from Mumbai, it combines comics, stories, puzzles, quizzes and contests aimed at school children, though its readership has long included adults too. It appears in English and is syndicated into several Indian languages, including Hindi, Bengali and Malayalam.
The magazine began under Pai's syndicate Rang Rekha Features. Originally owned by India Book House, the Tinkle brand was acquired by ACK Media in 2007, linking it formally to Amar Chitra Katha. Anant Pai edited Tinkle from 1980 until 2010, and the magazine has since been led by editors including Rajani Thindiath, Kuriakose Saju Vaisian and, most recently, Gayathri Chandrasekaran.
Tinkle's publishing rhythm has changed over the years. It was a monthly for most of its life, moved to a fortnightly schedule in July 2016, and has been published weekly since June 2020. As of 2019, the magazine reported a circulation of about three lakh copies, roughly 300,000, per issue, a sign of its continued reach.
Its most enduring character is Suppandi, a village simpleton whose literal-minded misunderstandings cost him one job after another, providing the comedy. Suppandi was created in 1983 and has been drawn over the years by artists including Ram Waeerkar, Sanjiv Waeerkar and, currently, Archana Amberkar. His cheerful incompetence has made him one of the most recognizable faces in Indian comics.
The other standout is Shikari Shambu, a cowardly and lazy hunter who is somehow seen by the world as fearless. He constantly tries to flee from dangerous animals but, through sheer luck, keeps ending up a hero. Created in 1983 by Vasant B. Halbe and Luis Fernandes for Tinkle, Shambu has since been adapted into animation and mobile games.
Tinkle's roster runs far wider than its two stars. Long-running features include Kalia the Crow, Tantri the Mantri, the scheming minister forever plotting against a trusting king, Nasruddin Hodja, Kapish the monkey, and the silent cat-and-mouse strip Mooshik. Many of these characters trace back to early creators such as Subba Rao and Prasad Iyer.
The magazine has also kept inventing. During her decade as editor, Rajani Thindiath created new series including SuperWeirdos, about teenagers with odd powers, and YogYodhas, about siblings who summon spirit animals through yoga poses. She also introduced Tinkle superheroes such as Wingstar, a 13-year-old girl from Aizawl in Mizoram.
Much of Tinkle's character comes from its readers, who send in story ideas and features for possible printing, keeping a direct line between the magazine and its audience. That participatory spirit, combined with characters like Suppandi and Shikari Shambu, is why Tinkle has remained a fixture of growing up in India.
Reported from Wikipedia (Tinkle and Shikari Shambu entries).
