Pran Kumar Sharma (15 August 1938 – 5 August 2014), popularly known as Pran, was an Indian cartoonist and writer best known as the creator of the legendary comic character Chacha Chaudhary. Regarded as the father of Indian comics, Pran revolutionized the comic landscape in India by creating relatable, witty, and endearing characters that resonated deeply with Indian readers across generations. His storytelling was centered around everyday Indian life, marked by humor, simplicity, and social commentary. Posthumously awarded the Padma Shri in 2015, Pran remains one of the most influential figures in Indian popular culture.
Pran Kumar Sharma
Name: Pran Kumar Sharma
Born: 15 August 1938, Kasur, British India (now Pakistan)
Died: 5 August 2014 (aged 75), Gurgaon, India
Nationality: Indian
Occupation: Cartoonist
Known for: Creator of Chacha Chaudhary, Shrimatiji, Pinki, Billoo, Raman, Channi Chachi
Spouse: [Not publicly documented]
Children: Nikhil Pran
Awards: Padma Shri (2015, posthumous), Limca Book of Records People of the Year (1995), Lifetime Achievement Award from the Indian Institute of Cartoonists (2001)
Early Life and Education
Born in Kasur, now in Pakistan, into a Punjabi Hindu Brahmin family, Pran spent his early childhood in Gwalior, surrounded by an environment that nurtured creativity and artistic curiosity. After the partition of India in 1947, his family moved to Delhi, where he began to develop a deep interest in visual storytelling. As a child, he was fascinated by the vivid paintings of his elder brother, often experimenting with leftover paint and materials to sketch on walls and household items—a mischievous habit that often earned him scolding from his mother. Yet, these early acts of creativity would lay the foundation for a remarkable artistic journey.
Pran completed his Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Punjab University, while simultaneously pursuing a Fine Arts course from Sir J.J. School of Art, Mumbai, as a private student. Although he eventually discontinued formal art training due to financial and personal constraints, his passion for drawing and character development never waned. He spent countless hours observing people in marketplaces, at tea stalls, and in neighborhoods—keenly documenting the nuances of ordinary life that would later inspire his iconic characters. His informal art education was supplemented by a voracious curiosity and self-driven practice, turning everyday experiences into the building blocks of Indian comic history.
“Each family has its own wise old man. He solved his problems with common sense, but with a touch of humor. Humor is the basis of my cartoon.”
– Pran Kumar Sharma, late Indian Comic Writer
Early Life
Pran Kumar Sharma was born in Kasur near Lahore in Pakistan in 1938 and then his family moved to Gwalior and after the separation of India & Pakistan in 1947, he moved to Delhi. He grew up in the environment that instigated the artiste inside him as he learned painting seeing his brother and used to practice with the leftover colors of the elder one. His mother found it more like ‘vandalism’ as Pran used to paint on the walls in their home. But as always, in that mess lied one of the greatest talents in the history of art & culture. He passed away on August 5, 2014, after a long battle against cancer, at the age of 75.
As a private student, he studied Fine Arts at the Sir Jamsetjee Jeejebhoy School of Art, Mumbai. While honing his childhood talent even further at this institution, he also pursued Political Science at Punjab University at the same time. But it was sketching that got his intent attention and brought him to the world of comics. He always appreciated cartoonists over writers & painters, for only the cartoonists get to do both writing and painting in one single field.
The Beginning
“No one has the time to listen to lectures. All my characters are common people — Pinki is a naughty 5-year-old girl, Billoo is a cricket fan and Shrimatiji is a middle-class housewife.”
– Pran Kumar Sharma, late Indian Comic Writer
When Phantom, Superman were ruling the Indian culture along with the bellbottom pants and The Beatles, at that period Pran introduced a character that was not associated with physical power or muscle, rather got recognized for outstanding street-smartness and wit- Chacha Chaudhary. Chacha never made any hasty decision or a complicated one. He took life as it was and solved all his issues just like any other regular Indian- simple & easygoing. This is where Pran made the difference, presented to the Indian people a hero that was of average height and medium build and didn’t have any superpower whatsoever except for his (Chacha’s) brain.
However, there was one otherworldly factor along with the very everyday Indian life of Chacha and that was his alien companion from planet Jupiter, a giant- ‘Sabu’. Sabu filled in on the muscle power that Chacha lacked. His (Sabu’s) each meal consisted of 108 chapatis, 20 liters of lassi (an Indian drink made with ice & curd) and 12kg of halwa (a type of Indian sweets). Chacha Chaudhary was given a twin brother too- ‘Chajju Chaudhary’.
This brother was once abducted by the aliens from Mars mistaken to be Chacha. The very first issue of this comic series became an instant hit among the Indians, in fact, the first slot was sold out within a week, and the first Indian Comic Hero was born.
Pran started his career in 1960 with the Delhi based newspaper ‘Milap’ as a cartoonist, writing a comic strip consisting of two characters- ‘Daabu’ & ‘Professor Adhikari’. He invented Chacha in 1969 for the Hindi magazine ‘Lotpot’. But he actually created ‘Shrimatiji’ in 1968 i.e. one year before Chacha was put to real life.
And that’s how his career, spanning over 50 years, was started and during this long period, over 400 comic books and 200,000 drawings for comics by Pran were published. He was approached by Diamond Comics in 1981. The publication wanted to compile his comic strips into books.
“Pran was making small cartoons for newspapers when I first contacted him in 1981. At that time there were no Indian comics, it was all reproductions of foreign titles. For the last 35 years, we have been the sole publisher of his cartoons,”
– Mr. Gulshan Rai, publisher of Diamond Comics (2014)
The other famous characters created by this cartoon genius were Billoo, Pinki, and Raman. Pran created his characters keeping in mind a certain section of the society e.g. Shrimatiji represents the average Indian housewives, Chacha is that wise old man of the community or joint family, Billoo represents those typical boys playing ‘gully cricket’ with others in the neighborhood, Pinki reflects the chattering little girl and Raman belongs to the working class.
Two very interesting facts regarding these characters are (i) nobody ever saw Billoo’s eyes for those are always covered with his hair and (ii) Chacha’s pet dog ‘Rocket’ is the only vegetarian dog in the world.
Career and Creation of Chacha Chaudhary
The Early Years
Pran’s career began in 1960 as a cartoonist with the Delhi-based newspaper Milap, where he introduced a comic strip titled Daabu. This was a significant shift in the Indian comics landscape, which at the time was heavily dominated by Western superheroes like The Phantom and Superman. Through Daabu, Pran laid the groundwork for an entirely new genre of indigenous comic storytelling—one that revolved around everyday Indian experiences, humor, and socio-cultural idiosyncrasies.
In 1969, Pran launched what would become his magnum opus—Chacha Chaudhary. Debuting in the popular Hindi magazine Lotpot, Chacha was the embodiment of Indian wisdom and simplicity. With his trademark red turban, walking stick, and moustache, he symbolized the wise elder in every Indian family. The character’s signature line—“Chacha Chaudhary ka dimaag computer se bhi tez chalta hai” (“Chacha Chaudhary’s brain works faster than a computer”)—became an enduring cultural catchphrase.
Pran added further depth and contrast by introducing Sabu, a friendly giant from the planet Jupiter. Sabu’s towering presence and immense strength complemented Chacha’s cerebral problem-solving style, creating a dynamic duo that appealed to readers of all ages. Over time, Chacha’s universe expanded to include memorable supporting characters: his feisty wife Channi Chachi, his fiercely loyal vegetarian dog Rocket, and even his twin brother Chajju Chaudhary, who was once abducted by Martians mistaking him for Chacha.
The overwhelming popularity of these characters prompted Diamond Comics to begin publishing Chacha Chaudhary in book format starting in 1981. The series quickly rose to become a staple in Indian households and a cultural phenomenon, influencing generations of comic lovers and sparking the growth of the Indian comic book industry.
Other Iconic Characters
In addition to Chacha Chaudhary, Pran created a host of other characters that reflected the Indian middle-class experience:
- Shrimatiji – A middle-class Indian housewife who represents family life and domestic humor.
- Billoo – A cricket-loving teenage boy always surrounded by friends and comical situations.
- Pinki – A five-year-old mischievous girl known for her innocent yet hilarious antics.
- Raman – A working-class professional used to promote national integration.
- Channi Chachi – Chacha’s no-nonsense wife, often involved in neighborhood disputes and domestic drama, adding comic tension and balance to Chacha’s wise persona.
- Putti – A curious little girl with an appetite for adventure, primarily featured in regional stories to appeal to younger readers.
Characters like Putti and Raman appeared in Kannada publications, making Pran’s work accessible to regional audiences and broadening his reach across linguistic boundaries. His comics reached millions of readers across India, with his characters being featured in over 30 newspapers and magazines, often serialized for years. His stories became integral to middle-class households and were often read aloud in families, fostering intergenerational appreciation.
Recognition and Impact
Pran was named “People of the Year” by Limca Book of Records in 1995 and hailed as the “Walt Disney of India” by Maurice Horn in The World Encyclopedia of Comics. In 1983, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi personally released his comic Raman – Ham Ek Hain, which was created to promote themes of national integration and cultural unity across India’s diverse population.
Two of his Chacha Chaudhary episodes were inducted into the International Museum of Cartoon Art in the United States, a rare honor that solidified his contributions on a global platform. Pran’s work resonated with diaspora communities, making his characters ambassadors of Indian culture worldwide. His comics were translated into multiple Indian languages, further amplifying their reach across linguistic and regional barriers.
He also founded Pran’s Media Institute, an educational initiative aimed at nurturing young talent in the fields of cartooning and visual storytelling. Run by his son Nikhil Pran, the institute offers courses in comic art, character design, and storytelling, ensuring that his legacy continues through future generations of Indian artists.
Appreciation
Pran Kumar Sharma was the pioneer of Indian comics that got popularity beyond borders. Over 30 different newspapers and periodicals in India have published his comic strips. International Museum of Cartoon Arts, USA, has acquired two episodes of Chacha Chaudhary. For his contribution to the Indian Comics Industry, he was awarded the ‘People of the Year Award’ by the ‘Limca Book of Records’ in 1995. During early 2014 Pran was anointed the ‘Walt Disney of India’ by the ‘World Encyclopedia of Comics’. In 2001 he was awarded the ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ by the Indian Institute of Cartoonist.
Over the period of over five decades, Pran Kumar Sharma entertained the Indian people as well as comic lovers in many other countries with his simple style of art and unadulterated sense of humor. He created a family of characters that could be easily related to real-life people. That’s how he himself became a superhero to the readers without giving any superpower to his characters.
Artistic Vision and Philosophy
Pran believed that “each family has its own wise old man,” and that humor—rather than violence—could be a powerful tool in storytelling. His stories did not rely on supernatural powers but on common sense, humor, and moral lessons.
“No one has the time to listen to lectures. All my characters are common people.” – Pran Kumar Sharma
This approach made his characters accessible and beloved. His work taught that intelligence, kindness, and wit were more potent than brute strength.
Death and Legacy
Pran Kumar Sharma passed away on 5 August 2014 at the age of 75, after battling colon cancer. He was posthumously awarded the Padma Shri in 2015, India’s fourth-highest civilian award.
His characters continue to be published and republished in books and magazines, and animated adaptations of Chacha Chaudhary have reached new generations of children.
Through his simple drawings and clever storytelling, Pran created an Indian comic universe that lives on in homes, schools, and libraries across the country. His creations were never just cartoons—they were reflections of Indian life and culture, rendered with warmth and wit.
Pran Kumar Sharma was a trailblazer who democratized Indian comics. He gave readers heroes they could identify with and laugh with. His commitment to simplicity, social realism, and humor has secured him a permanent place in the pantheon of Indian pop culture. Chacha Chaudhary, Pinki, Billoo, and Shrimatiji are not just comic characters—they are family.
Pran’s legacy continues, reminding us that a comic strip can be much more than entertainment—it can be a mirror to society, a classroom of values, and a friend to generations.
Read in Bengali: প্রাণ কুমার শর্মা: ভারতীয় কমিক্সের যুগান্তকারী স্রষ্টা
FAQ about Pran Kumar Sharma
Q: Who is Pran Kumar Sharma?
A: Pran Kumar Sharma was an Indian cartoonist and creator of popular comic book characters such as Chacha Chaudhary, Sabu, and Billoo.
Q: When was Pran Kumar Sharma born?
A: Pran Kumar Sharma was born on August 15, 1938.
Q: Where was Pran Kumar Sharma born?
A: Pran Kumar Sharma was born in Kasur, Punjab, now part of Pakistan.
Q: What are some famous characters created by Pran Kumar Sharma?
A: Pran Kumar Sharma is best known for creating characters like Chacha Chaudhary, Sabu, Billoo, Pinki, and Raman.
Q: When did Pran Kumar Sharma start his career as a cartoonist?
A: Pran Kumar Sharma started his career as a cartoonist in the 1960s.
Q: What was Pran Kumar Sharma’s inspiration for creating Chacha Chaudhary?
A: Pran Kumar Sharma was inspired to create Chacha Chaudhary after seeing an older man with a white beard on a train. He wanted to create a character that reflected older people’s wisdom and problem-solving skills.
Q: What are some notable achievements of Pran Kumar Sharma?
A: Pran Kumar Sharma received several awards and honors during his career, including the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Indian Institute of Cartoonists in 2001. He also held a Guinness World Record for the most number of comic book characters created by a single cartoonist.
Q: How did Pran Kumar Sharma contribute to Indian comics?
A: Pran Kumar Sharma played a significant role in popularizing Indian comics and bringing them into the mainstream. His characters and storytelling style resonated with readers of all ages and helped create a strong foundation for the Indian comic book industry.
Q: Did Pran Kumar Sharma work on other forms of media apart from comics?
A: While comics were his primary focus, Pran Kumar Sharma’s characters, especially Chacha Chaudhary, were adapted into television series and animated films, expanding their reach to a broader audience.
Q: When did Pran Kumar Sharma pass away?
A: Pran Kumar Sharma passed away on August 5, 2014, in New Delhi, India, at 75.
