Pran Kumar Sharma, creator of the famous comic book character Chacha Chaudhary, died on Wednesday, a little over a week before his 76th birthday.
Chacha Chaudhary, the venerable Jat tau, whose brain runs faster than a computer, first made his appearance amongst impressionable adolescents growing up in the late 60s in a Hindi magazine called Lotpot. Born in Kasur in pre-Independence India, Pran Kumar Sharma pursued a distance learning course in Fine Arts from Mumbai's prestigious JJ School of Art. His first comic Daabu was for Delhi-based newspaper Milaap; his second character Chacha Chaudhary was published exclusively by Diamond Comics since 1981.
Pran’s first drawing of him was for the Hindi magazine Lotpot in 1969. He continued drawing the character for them until Diamond Comics approached him in 1981, where he worked until his death. Pran's cartoons were translated to more than 10 Indian languages.
Pran used to sign off every issue with the line, "If I can make one person happy, will consider my mission complete."
"When I first spoke to him, there were no Indian comics. We were not sure it would work, but it did. We published everything that Pran made over the last three decades," said Gulshan Rai, founder of Diamond Comics. Diamond Comics has a few unpublished Pran comics.
Chacha Chaudhary, the venerable Jat tau, whose brain runs faster than a computer, first made his appearance amongst impressionable adolescents growing up in the late 60s in a Hindi magazine called Lotpot. Born in Kasur in pre-Independence India, Pran Kumar Sharma pursued a distance learning course in Fine Arts from Mumbai's prestigious JJ School of Art. His first comic Daabu was for Delhi-based newspaper Milaap; his second character Chacha Chaudhary was published exclusively by Diamond Comics since 1981.
Pran’s first drawing of him was for the Hindi magazine Lotpot in 1969. He continued drawing the character for them until Diamond Comics approached him in 1981, where he worked until his death. Pran's cartoons were translated to more than 10 Indian languages.
Pran used to sign off every issue with the line, "If I can make one person happy, will consider my mission complete."
"When I first spoke to him, there were no Indian comics. We were not sure it would work, but it did. We published everything that Pran made over the last three decades," said Gulshan Rai, founder of Diamond Comics. Diamond Comics has a few unpublished Pran comics.
Prime minister Narendra Modi, too, paid his condolence on twitter, saying that Pran was "a versatile cartoonist who brought smiles on the faces of people through his rich work."
His cremation was held in Delhi late Wednesday afternoon. He is survived by his wife Asha, son Nikhil Pran, daughter-in-law Jyoti Pran and daughter Shaily Pran.
Reactions:
If you've never been exposed to a Chacha Chaudary comic and Pran's genius, take today, do some browsing and find one. You won't regret it.
—Virr Das
If you've never been exposed to a Chacha Chaudary comic and Pran's genius, take today, do some browsing and find one. You won't regret it.
—Virr Das
The man who gave us the legendary Chacha Chaudary is no more. This is clearly the end of an era. A true superstar; RIP Pran Sharma.
—Madhur Bhandarkar
—Madhur Bhandarkar
RIP Pran. Thank You for all the smiles in the form of Chacha Chaudhary, Shrimatiji, Pinki, Billoo, Raman, and Channie Chachi.
—Aam Aadmi Party
—Aam Aadmi Party
Coach of Indian superman "Chacha Chaudhary " Pran Saheb is no more ...my heartfelt condolence .....
—Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi
—Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi
RIP Cartoonist Pran, creator of ChachaChaudhary.You enriched childhood of millions with your comic strips
—Sanjay Nirupam
—Sanjay Nirupam
Zaroor Jupiter mein koi jwalamukhi phata hoga! R.I.P pran sir. You were a big part of my childhood. Thank you.
—Raghu Ram
—Raghu Ram
Feeling sad on demise Sri Pran famous Cartoonist, who created characters like Chacha Chaudhary etc. May thedeparted Soul rest in peace.
—Venkaiah Naidu
—Venkaiah Naidu
Introduction to Chacha Chaudhary & Co.
Chacha Chaudhary An old man who looked like a Haryanvi Tau blessed with a brain which works faster than a computer.
He was accompanied by a 15-foot tall alien, Sabu, who wore a kachcha (briefs), ear rings and gumboots, and causes volcanic activity on Jupiter if you rubbed him the wrong way.
Sabu travelled abroad by sitting on top of planes, and if you are late for something, he could send you flying to your destination with a gentle kick. His war-cry was “hu-huba”. He consumed 108 rotis and 20 litres of lassi for lunch.
Chacha Chaudhary had a completely vegetarian dog named Rocket, a nagging wife, lovingly called Bhaagyawan, who loved to cook halwa and mattar pulao, and a twin brother named Chhajju Chaudhary, who not as bright, but was useful when it came to dodging enemies. Once, aliens abducted Chhajju, mistaking him for Chacha, and took him to Mars. (According to Diamond comics, there are three planets with intelligent life in this solar system.)
There was a worthy villain, named Raaka, a dacoit who turned into an immortal giant after drinking a magic potion made by Chakram Acharya. He was mostly a T Rajender clone.
Dhamaka Singh and Gobar Singh, the fierce dacoits, were forever trying to outsmart Chacha Choudhary, armed just with his stick, his turban and assisted by his dog Raaket.
He was accompanied by a 15-foot tall alien, Sabu, who wore a kachcha (briefs), ear rings and gumboots, and causes volcanic activity on Jupiter if you rubbed him the wrong way.
Sabu travelled abroad by sitting on top of planes, and if you are late for something, he could send you flying to your destination with a gentle kick. His war-cry was “hu-huba”. He consumed 108 rotis and 20 litres of lassi for lunch.
Chacha Chaudhary had a completely vegetarian dog named Rocket, a nagging wife, lovingly called Bhaagyawan, who loved to cook halwa and mattar pulao, and a twin brother named Chhajju Chaudhary, who not as bright, but was useful when it came to dodging enemies. Once, aliens abducted Chhajju, mistaking him for Chacha, and took him to Mars. (According to Diamond comics, there are three planets with intelligent life in this solar system.)
There was a worthy villain, named Raaka, a dacoit who turned into an immortal giant after drinking a magic potion made by Chakram Acharya. He was mostly a T Rajender clone.
Dhamaka Singh and Gobar Singh, the fierce dacoits, were forever trying to outsmart Chacha Choudhary, armed just with his stick, his turban and assisted by his dog Raaket.
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