Haddock, Obelix and the Algorithm That Failed

🖊️Samap Chatterjee

While digital distractions and streaming services abound, we continue to witness an annual magic at the ever-expanding International Kolkata Book Fair. Youngsters continue to read Tintin, laugh at Asterix’s antics and enjoy the shenanigans of Nonte Phonte in exactly the same way their parents maybe once did.

These comics are not just mere museum pieces; they are vibrant companions for a new generation. Walking through the comic area at the fair, one may come across a group of seven-year-olds debating whether Captain Haddock's insults are more amusing than Obelix's love for wild boars; or teens rediscovering the golden duo of Narayan Debnath and connect with their Kolkata street humour. Tinkle, Goyenda O Gogol and other well-known Bengali comic magazines remain permanently thumbed through, restocked and emptied again.

What allows these illustrated stories to endure despite today's rapidly diminishing attention span is their ageless craftsmanship. Hergé’s amazing research in creating his works makes readers believe they are being transported to either Tibet or the moon. The comic genius of Goscinny and Uderzo combined the use of humour and sophisticated elements of satire into Asterix creates something worth reading time and over. The unique flavour of Bengal, as captured in the comic Nonte Phonte, contains the narrow roads, food from the streets, and the inimitable tempo of the chatter in Bengali that cannot be duplicated by an algorithm.

While screens allow for a passive experience, comics continue to provide an interactive one. As young kids figure out the visual aspect of storytelling, read through the different layers of a story and develop vocabulary at an organic level. The stories about Professor Shonku and his scientific journey, as well as Bantul the Great and his heroic adventures, a child immersed in those stories develops an affection for narrative.

At the comic booths at the Book Fair, there is a vibe of connection between generations. The grandparents share their childhood comic book favourites, and kids share newer stories they are reading, while the collectors look for the rare editions. For the first time readers, there are decade-old stories that are strikingly fresh to them.

In an era of immediate satisfaction, comic books provide an interesting balance of depth, adventure, including a healthy dose of humour, and no trends. And they show that quality storytelling can be passed down through ages. The Kolkata Book Fair will always have comic books available to those who want to read them and will always have the opportunity to experience the magic that is immortalized in children's literature.