Dinkan

Dinkan
Publication information
Publisher Balamangalam
First appearance 1983[1]
Created by N. Somashekharan (concept)
Baby (design)
In-story information
Species Mouse
Place of origin Pankila forest
Supporting character of Mittu
Abilities
  • Superior strength
  • enhanced senses
  • Flight

Dinkan (മ: ഡിങ്കൻ) is a fictional anthropomorphic superhero mouse who appear in an eponymous Malayalam comic story series in children's magazine Balamangalam. Modern day secular Keralites use Dinkan to mock organized religion and religious intolerance.

History

Dinkan (ഡിങ്കൻ) was created by story-writer N. Somashekharan and artist Baby in 1983. Dinkan was one of the earliest superhero characters created in India and it quickly became popular among children. Like Terrytoons created Mighty Mouse and several other superhero characters, Dinkan too borrowed a few traits from the iconic DC Comics character Superman.

Balamangalam Magazine

Dinkan was originally published in the Balamangalam children's magazine of Kerala in India. Later Nambolan, another superhero character was introduced to Balamangalam and it too became very popular. From later 1990's, Balamangalam suffered from high competition from other children's publications in Malayalam. The magazine still had a strong market share and they expanded out with a kindergarten kids magazine Kalicheppu and a comics book Balamangalam - Chitrakatha.[2] But Dinkan continued to be Balamangalam's most popular comics series. In October 2012, Mangalam Publications, owners of Balamangalam announced that the magazine will stop publication due to poor sales. The news created a furore in social media websites and prompted the publishers to clarify that "the closure is just temporary and Balamangalam may return soon."[3][4]

Character biography

Dinkan was born in Pankila forest, somewhere in Kerala, India. He was a naughty mouse, who wasn't disciplined. During one of his escapades, Dinkan was abducted by aliens from an unknown planet. They conducted experiments on him which ended up giving him superior strength, enhanced senses and the ability to fly. Somehow Dinkan found himself back in Pankila forest and he decided to use his powers for the well-being of animals in the forest.

Dinkoism

A satirical depiction of religious art and scripture
Main article: Dinkoism

Dinkoism has emerged as a parody religion on social networks organized by independent social welfare groups in Kerala, India. This religion celebrates Dinkan as their God in an attempt to bring awareness of the fallacies and practices of traditional religions.[5]

Restaurant March

On 30 January 2016 a group of Dinkoists, under the banner of Mooshikasena (Rat army) held a mock protest in front of Dhe Puttu restaurant owned by popular Malayalam actor Dileep alleging that his upcoming film 'Professor Dinkan' hurt their religious sentiments. It was a mockery on similar protests happening worldwide.[6] Earlier Dinkoism was in news when an NRI Dinkoist from California had obtained a licence plate with the inscription DINKAN for his car, out of his devotion for Dinkan.[7] Recently, noted author J Devika has written an article on how the concept of Dinkoism is in tune with the logic of the market.[8] New Age Dinkoists are very rigorous in their criticism of mainstream religions. They oppose child marriage, patriarchy and polygamy. They are against a narcissist Abrahamic God.[9]

Calicut Conference

Dinkoists of Kozhikode organized a conference at the Sports Council Hall, Mananchira on 20 March 2016. They organized a variety of entertainments based on Tapioca theme. Rationalists like E.A.Jabbar said that Dinkoism was a religion worth following.[10]

BBC coverage

British Broadcasting Corporation covered the Dinkoist religion in its BBCTrending Programme. BBC reported Dinkoism as an atheist movement with significant growth in the social media. The report was presented by BBC video journalist Alvaro A Ricciardelli.[11]

References

  1. ↑ Kiran Tom Sajan DC Kochi (2012-10-07). "Pressure mounts for Dinkan's return". Deccan Chronicle. Retrieved 2012-10-19.
  2. ↑ "Mangalam Publications". Mangalam.com. Retrieved 2012-10-19.
  3. ↑ "Pressure mounts for Dinkan's return". Archived from the original on October 11, 2012. Retrieved October 10, 2012.
  4. ↑ http://article.wn.com/view/2012/10/07/Pressure_mounts_for_Dinkan_s_return/
  5. ↑ "The mouse messiah bringing salvation to India's atheists". BBC News. 11 April 2016. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
  6. ↑ http://www.onlookersmedia.in/latestnews/protest-upcoming-dileep-film-named-professor-dinkan
  7. ↑ http://www.marunadanmalayali.com/scitech/cyber-space/dinkan-car-license-plates-i-got-a-special-license-plate-in-the-name-of-my-god-36456
  8. ↑ J Devika. "If You Can't Beat Them, Join 'em – Or, Ente Dinkeswara!". Kafila.org. Archived from the original on 11 February 2016. Retrieved 11 February 2016.
  9. ↑ http://www.folomojo.com/dinkoism-not-a-spoof-but-an-eye-opener/
  10. ↑ http://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/current-affairs/210316/they-gather-in-the-name-of-great-dinkan.html
  11. ↑ http://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-trending-36001999

http://www.asianetnews.tv/dinkan

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