Chandamama

Moon or Chaand has different connotations for various people at different times. The beautiful face of the beloved has been often compared to Moon or Chaand and young men the world over have dreamed about having a moon-faced beauty for a life partner. It is another matter that the beloved who eventually becomes the darling wife is Chandramukhi for a brief while and as the charm wears off, turns into a Surajmukhi or Jwalamukhi. Again, since times immemorial this celestial body has been a witness to romance sprouting in young hearts. A moonlit night is the most suitable time for the lovers to take vows to live and die together. To a young mother, the newborn is her Chanda so good-looking that she has to put a dark spot on its face to ward off the evil eye. A finger is pointed towards Chandamama to divert the attention of a weeping child.

But this is in a different context that I am writing about Chandamama.A recent write-up in a prominent English Daily tells me that “Chandamama”, the most popular teenage magazine of our time has completed fifty years. I remember the good old days when as a school going kid I was introduced to this popular monthly magazine. At that time more than the stories, it was the illustrations that looked more appealing. The King and the Queen, the common man, a boy or a girl were typically drawn. I particularly remember Vikram & Baital, Paropkari Panna Lal- the good Samaritan, and the serialized story of Durgeshnandini. It was a family magazine and anyone of any age group could enjoy reading it.