Pran Kumar Sharma

Born: 15 August 1938

Died: 5 August 2014

He better known as Pran was an Indian cartoonist best known as the creator of Chacha Chaudhary (1971).
He also created other characters like Shrimatiji, Pinki, Billoo, Raman, and Channie Chachi.
He began his career in 1960 as a cartoonist for the Delhi-based newspaper Milap with comic strip Daabu.
Apart from Daabu, Indian comics scenario was largely based on reprints of The Phantom and Superman.
In 1969, He sketched Chacha Chaudhary for the Hindi magazine Lotpot, which made him famous.
He has also created other cartoon characters like Shrimatiji, Pinki, Billoo, Raman, Channi Chachi and others, which are regularly published in Indian magazines.
He reached lakhs of Kannadigas through his Putti, Raman that were published in Kannada daily Prajavani and Shrimathi which publishes in Kannada magazine Sudha.
He was included in People of the Year 1995 by Limca Book of Records for popularizing comics in India.
In 1983, the then Prime Minister of India, Mrs. Indira Gandhi released Pran’s comics “Raman – Ham Ek Hain” which promoted national integration.
He received a Lifetime Achievement Award 2001, from Indian Institute of Cartoonists.
He has also given lessons in cartooning at the Pran’s Media Institute, run by his son Nikhil.
Maurice Horn notes that Pran has been given the title of “Walt Disney of India” in The World Encyclopedia of Comics.
The Chacha Chaudhary strips find permanent place in International Museum of Cartoon Art, United States.