Indian War Comics (IWC) to be available on Aakash tablet

In a valiant effort to make sure that kids of today’s digital revolution in India are fully aware of the brave deeds that took place in India’s history, Indian Army Chief, V K Singh has launched a digital version of Indian War Comics (IWC). These comics that depict our brave Indian Javaans in all kinds of war and military-type situations will be made available on Datawind’s Aakash tablet and the corresponding UbiSlate 7 device as well.

V K Singh is reported to have said, "This particular idea itself is not only laudable, but I think each one of us must realize that there is something which will make a tremendous difference. Those of you who have been lucky to read the Amar Chitra Katha and know what it did to you, to know your own history, I think these war comics are going to make a fantastic difference. Specially when they are loaded on to the Aakash tablet.”

Since the very affordable, Aakash tablet is designed primarily for students, the app designed to present the comics will surely appeal to the users. The comics will be available for free on the Android-powered device. The digital versions and app will be preloaded onto the devices and should be available for download for those who already own the tablets. In the first half of last year, JiniLabs launched the IWC comics on their iPad version of their eBook reader, JiniBooks (available on the Apple App store here).

Stories of the brave now on the Aakash tablet

The titles included :

Braveheart of Mumbai-26/11 - based on Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan, a major in the Indian Army serving in the elite Special Action Group of the NSG, he was killed in action, while fighting terrorists in the November 2008 Mumbai attacks. He was honoured with the prestigious Ashok Chakra.

The True Maratha - based on Col. N. J Nair, the only soldier who has been awarded both the Kirti Chakra and the Ashok Chakra making him the most decorated soldier (for bravery) in India.

Yeh Dil Maange More - based on Capt. Vikram Batra, an officer of the Indian Army, posthumously awarded the Param Vir Chakra, for his actions during the 1999 Kargil War. and

Frozen Fury - based on Capt. Bana Singh- A living legend.

The digital comics were the first to make it out followed by their printed counterparts and were exclusively available via the JiniBooks app for iOS devices. JiniLabs was slated to have donated all the revenue that they made from the Braveheart of Mumbai 26/11 edition to the NSG (National Security Guard) welfare fund.

For now, the comics will be made available only in English, however, according to Aditya Bakshi, a promoter of IWC, who’s also a Merchant Navy officer, Hindi and other language versions should be available within the next few months.

With all the attention Datawind is currently getting, promoting these comics right now may prove to be a good move. With the impending arrival of the slightly refurbished version of the Aakash, digital comic book fans are in for a treat. Hopefully the comics will also be made available for all other Android device owners.