What TINKLE taught me

TINKLE!!! Or Tingkol (As we Assamese people say)

TINKLE pohi paisila ne?

TINKLE was not just a comic book, it was and still is a teacher, a guide, a friend.

I owe so much to it —

For teaching me English in the gentlest of ways,

For opening windows to a world far beyond my own,

For awakening creativity in my young mind,

And for quietly shaping how I look at life.

√ Suppandi taught me that no matter how many jobs you are thrown out from or how many times life knocks you down, you will always have another chance! (PS. I suppose, somehow, somewhere, I can attribute my dream of 30 jobs to this legend)

√ Kaalia the Crow taught me to love crows that are otherwise hated and shooed away according to societal norms, made me see beauty in what the world ignores. Kaalia's group taught me friendship and being together at times of need!

√ Shikari Shambu taught me that being scared is OKAY! We all have our fears, and we can live with those!

√ Raja Hooja taught me about innocence and trust, and that with a pure heart, you are always safe from all evils! A pure heart can be its own kind of protection in a world that isn’t always kind.

√ Pyarelal and Lajwanti taught me about Love! They taught me that finding solutions is easy; all you have to do is - Try!

√ "It happened to me" taught me how children from across the nation were alike and grew up in a similar environment!

√ Doob Doob taught me sticking to one's buddy even after numerous failures!

√ Tantri the Mantri taught me how one can be evil and at the same time, unknowingly, a saviour! But hey, God works in mysterious ways!

TINKLE moulded a part of my life! Botaahe. . . Botaahe…