Amar Chitra Katha #117
"Dhruva" in Amar Chitra Katha #117 (1976) tells the timeless tale of Ashtavakra, born with a curse from his father Kahoda, whose journey from childhood adversity to intellectual triumph unfolds in a story of wisdom, redemption, and divine revelation. Written by Shailaja Ganguly and Malati Shenoy, and brought to life with unified art by Ram Waeerkar across pencils, inks, colors, and letters, this issue presents a powerful narrative rooted in ancient Indian lore. The striking cover by C. M. Vitankar captures the intensity of Ashtavakra’s destiny, making this a standout entry in the series.
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While still in the womb, Ashtavakra is cursed b his father Kahoda and is born deformed. Kahoda challenges the sage Bandhi to a debate and loses and is drowned in the river as a result. While still a young boy Ashtavakra gains his revenge by defeating Bandhi in a debate. Bandhi then reveals that he is the son of Varuna and that the sages he defeated were sent to perform a yagna for his father. He goes to the river and all the sages including Kahoda return alive. On his return home Ashtavakra is cured of his deformity.
Plot details indexed by the Grand Comics Database (CC BY-SA).