Comics at book fair bring out the child in grown-ups

LUCKNOW: For 40-year-old Dr

Ahmed Siddiqui

, a dermatologist, it wasn't easy to make a decision when his 16-year-old son asked him to come along to visit the book fair. The 14th National Book fair organised at the

Motimahal

lawn is drawing crowds since its inauguration on Friday.

Ahmed returned with two bags full of comics after spending two hours at the fair. "I thought I would just let

Junaid

, my son, buy whatever he wanted and we would leave quickly. But, when I spotted Pinki, Billu and

Chandamama

at a stall, I don't know how two hours flew away," said Ahmed.

From 80-year-olds to their grandchildren, all walked towards stalls displaying series of Champak, Chandamama, Chacha Chaudhary, Billu, Pinki, Akbar-Birbal, Panchtantra and Doga. For

Vishwash Bajpai

, a 68-year-old retired army officer, who had brought his grandson to the fair, it was like revisiting childhood. "The moment I picked up a

Chacha Chaudhary

comic, I was reminded of the days when we used to hide the comic books in between our textbooks and read them on the sly," he giggled. "I visit this fair every year just to grab my favourite Billu-Pinki comics, which I don't get at any bookstall in the city now," said VishalShankhwar, an IAS aspirant.

Not only comic books, stalls selling old magazines at throwaway prices are finding a lot of takers too. Magazines on health, photography, fashion, décor and wedding, are selling at up to 90% off. "I had no idea I would find the July edition of my favourite lifestyle magazine which I had missed buying," said

Abhishek Kumar

, a businessman.

The craze, however, was not limited to those born in the 1980s and '90s. "I've watched Chacha Chaudhary on YouTube and now I'm going to read his stories," said 9-year-old Honey.