View source for Balamangalam

{{short description|Malayalam comic magazine published between 1980 and 2012}}
{{Unreliable sources|date=April 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2018}}
{{Infobox magazine
| title              = Balamangalam
| logo               = Balamangalam logo.jpg
| logo_size          = 200px
| image_file         = Balamangalam Cover.jpg
| image_size         = border
| image_alt          = 
| image_caption      = Cover of a ''Balamangalam'' issue
| editor             = Manu Prathap
| editor_title       = Editor in charge
| previous_editor    = 
| staff_writer       = 
| photographer       = 
| category           = [[comic book|Comic magazine]]
| frequency          = [[Fortnightly]]
| circulation        = 
| publisher          = Sabu Varghese
| founder            = 
| founded            = 1980
| firstdate          = <!-- {{Start date|df=yes|year|month|day}} -->
| finaldate          = 2012
| finalnumber        = 
| company            = [[Mangalam Publications]]
| country            = India
| based              = [[Kottayam]], [[Kerala]]
| language           = [[Malayalam]]
| website            = 
}}

'''''Balamangalam''''' ({{langx|ml|ബാലമംഗളം}}) was a [[Malayalam]] [[comic book|comic magazine]] published from 1980 to 2012. It was also published in [[Kannada]] under the title '''''Balamangala'''''.

== History ==
''Balamangalam'' was first published in 1980.<ref name=jk>{{cite web|title=Balamangalam|url=http://www.justkerala.in/media/magazines/balamangalam-magazine|work=Just Kerala|accessdate=3 October 2015}}</ref> The publisher was [[Mangalam Publications]] (India) Private Limited.<ref name=jk /> The [[Fortnight|fortnightly]] magazine featured, along with the comic strips, children's stories, rhymes and puzzles. Its target audience was children.<ref name=jk /> The headquarters of the magazine was in [[Kottayam]].<ref name=jk />

In October 2012, [[Mangalam Publications]], the owners of ''Balamangalam,'' announced that they would cease publication due to poor sales. Following an outcry on social media, the publishers stated that "the closure is just temporary and ''Balamangalam'' may return soon."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.deccanchronicle.com/channels/cities/kochi/pressure-mounts-dinkan’s-return-103 |accessdate=10 October 2012 |title=Pressure mounts for Dinkan's return|url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121011040949/http://www.deccanchronicle.com/channels/cities/kochi/pressure-mounts-dinkan%E2%80%99s-return-103 |archivedate=11 October 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://article.wn.com/view/2012/10/07/Pressure_mounts_for_Dinkan_s_return/|title = Pressure mounts for Dinkan's return}}</ref> However, the magazine remained closed.

== Kannada-language version ==
{{Infobox magazine
| title              = Balamangala in Kannada
| logo               = Balamangala-logo.jpg
| image_file         = 
| image_size         = 
| image_alt          = 
| image_caption      = 
| editor             = 
| editor_title       = 
| previous_editor    = 
| staff_writer       = 
| photographer       = 
| category           = Comic magazine
| frequency          = Fortnightly
| format             = Print ([[paperback]])
| circulation        = 
| website            = 
| publisher          = [[Mangalam Publications]]
| paid_circulation   = 
| unpaid_circulation = 
| circulation_year   = 
| total_circulation  = 
| founder            = 
| founded            = 
| firstdate          = 
| finalnumber        = 
| company            = Mangalam Publications
| country            = India
| based              = [[Kottayam]], [[Kerala]]
| language           = Kannada
}}

''Balamangala'' was the [[Kannada language]] edition of ''Balamangalam'' and was circulated in [[Karnataka]], [[India]].<ref>{{cite web
| title       = Government of Karnataka, Secretariat Library Collections
| url         = http://vslib.kar.nic.in/detail.htm
| publisher   = newskarnataka.com
| url-status     = live
| archiveurl  = https://web.archive.org/web/20100530073825/http://vslib.kar.nic.in/detail.htm
| archivedate = 30 May 2010
}}</ref><ref name="RNI">[[Registrar of Newspapers for India|RNI]] | Reg. No.44741/1989 | Name: BALAMANGALA | Link: http://rni.nic.in/registerdtitle_search/registeredtitle_ser.aspx</ref>
<ref>{{cite web
| title       = Mangalam Group of Publications to venture in to Television Space with GEC and News Channel
| date = 27 June 2016
| url         = https://tvnews4u.com/mangalam-group-publications-venture-television-space-gec-news-channel/
| publisher   = tvnews4u.com
| url-status     = live
| archiveurl  = https://web.archive.org/web/20180325233316/https://tvnews4u.com/mangalam-group-publications-venture-television-space-gec-news-channel/
| archivedate = 25 March 2018
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
| title       = Balamangalam Magazine
| url         = http://www.justkerala.in/media/magazines/balamangalam-magazine
| publisher   = justkerala.in
| url-status     = live
| archiveurl  = https://web.archive.org/web/20151004055411/http://www.justkerala.in/media/magazines/balamangalam-magazine
| archivedate = 4 October 2015
}}</ref> It was published by Mangalam Publication (India) Pvt. Ltd.,<ref>{{cite web
| title       = Group profile
| url         = http://www.mangalam.com/news/about-mangalam.html
| publisher   = mangalam.com
| url-status     = live
| archiveurl  = https://web.archive.org/web/20160616034448/http://www.mangalam.com/news/about-mangalam.html
| archivedate = 16 June 2016
}}</ref> located in [[Kottayam]], Kerala.<ref>{{cite web
| title       = Trademarks of Mangalam Publication (india) Pvt. Ltd.
| url         = https://www.zaubacorp.com/trademarks/proprietorid/207291
| publisher   = zaubacorp.com
| url-status     = live
| archiveurl  = https://web.archive.org/web/20180325232606/https://www.zaubacorp.com/trademarks/proprietorid/207291
| archivedate = 25 March 2018
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
| title       = Mangalam Publications India Pvt Ltd
| url         = https://www.justdial.com/Bangalore/Mangalam-Publications-India-Pvt-Ltd-Near-Metro-Station-Magadi-Road/080PK011516_BZDET
| publisher   = justdial.com
| url-status     = live
| archiveurl  = https://web.archive.org/web/20180325232548/https://www.justdial.com/Bangalore/Mangalam-Publications-India-Pvt-Ltd-Near-Metro-Station-Magadi-Road/080PK011516_BZDET
| archivedate = 25 March 2018
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
| title       = Kerala based Mangalam Group to launch TV channel
| date = 17 November 2010
| url         = http://www.afaqs.com/news/story/28805_Kerala-based-Mangalam-Group-to-launch-TV-channel
| publisher   = afaqs.com
| url-status     = live
| archiveurl  = https://web.archive.org/web/20170509222634/http://www.afaqs.com/news/story/28805_Kerala-based-Mangalam-Group-to-launch-TV-channel
| archivedate = 9 May 2017
}}</ref>

Along with comic strips, the magazine featured children's stories, rhymes, puzzles and crosswords,<ref>{{cite web
| title       = Crossword Compilers
| url         = https://www.betterworldbooks.com/product/detail/crossword-compilers-tom-driberg-leonard-dawe-roger-squires-jonathan-crowther-will-shortz-a-n-1155343204
| publisher   = betterworldbooks.com
| url-status     = live
| archiveurl  = https://web.archive.org/web/20180325233533/https://www.betterworldbooks.com/product/detail/crossword-compilers-tom-driberg-leonard-dawe-roger-squires-jonathan-crowther-will-shortz-a-n-1155343204
| archivedate = 25 March 2018
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
| title       = A. Nā Prahlādarāv
| url         = https://openlibrary.org/authors/OL6468602A/A._N%C4%81_Prahl%C4%81dar%C4%81v
| publisher   = openlibrary.org
| url-status     = live
| archiveurl  = https://web.archive.org/web/20180325233559/https://openlibrary.org/authors/OL6468602A/A._N%C4%81_Prahl%C4%81dar%C4%81v
| archivedate = 25 March 2018
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
| title       = Help your Child Learn a New Language, Magazines for Children
| url         = http://parentedge.in/Learning-systems/help-your-child-learn-a-new-language/2/
| publisher   = parentedge.in
| url-status     = live
| archiveurl  = https://web.archive.org/web/20180325233014/http://parentedge.in/Learning-systems/help-your-child-learn-a-new-language/2/
| archivedate = 25 March 2018
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
| title       = Mast Maja Traffic cop Shantappa Babu serves humorous delights!
| date = 24 January 2017
| url         = https://www.newskarnataka.com/features/mast-maja-traffic-cop-shantappa-babu-serves-humorous-delights
| publisher   = newskarnataka.com
| url-status     = live
| archiveurl  = https://web.archive.org/web/20180325232432/https://www.newskarnataka.com/features/mast-maja-traffic-cop-shantappa-babu-serves-humorous-delights
| archivedate = 25 March 2018
}}</ref> including the fictional characters [[Dinkan|Dinga]],<ref>{{cite web
| author      = Kiran Tom Sajan DC Kochi
| url         = http://www.deccanchronicle.com/channels/cities/kochi/pressure-mounts-dinkan%E2%80%99s-return-103
| title       = Pressure mounts for Dinkan's return
| work   = Deccan Chronicle
| date        = 7 October 2012
| accessdate  = 19 October 2012
| url-status     = dead
| archiveurl  = https://web.archive.org/web/20121012060205/http://www.deccanchronicle.com/channels/cities/kochi/pressure-mounts-dinkan%E2%80%99s-return-103
| archivedate = 12 October 2012
}}</ref><ref>{{cite news
| title       = BBC Trending, The mouse messiah bringing salvation to India's atheists
| work = BBC News
| date = 10 April 2016
| url         = https://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-trending-36001999
| publisher   = BBC
| url-status     = live
| archiveurl  = https://web.archive.org/web/20160515224422/http://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-trending-36001999
| archivedate = 15 May 2016
}}</ref> Shaktimaddu, Kaadina Kitta, Keraga, Pingala, Karingaada, Tuttu, Chenchu, Tiko, Chomu, Thangu Maama, Onti Salaga, and Chippu Delu.<ref>{{cite web
| title       = Audit Bureau of Circulation
| url         = http://www.auditbureau.org/notifications/view/44
| publisher   = auditbureau.org
| url-status     = live
| archiveurl  = https://web.archive.org/web/20180325232743/http://www.auditbureau.org/notifications/view/44
| archivedate = 25 March 2018
}}</ref>

Harsha, a 15-year-old boy's first short story, "Mola Matthu Nari" (meaning: Rabbit and Fox) was published in the magazine.<ref>{{cite news
| title       = Boy writes novel at the age of 15
| url         = https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mangaluru/Boy-writes-novel-at-the-age-of-15/articleshow/15479157.cms
| work   = The Times of India
| date = 13 August 2012
| url-status     = live
| archiveurl  = https://web.archive.org/web/20180609075612/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mangaluru/Boy-writes-novel-at-the-age-of-15/articleshow/15479157.cms
| archivedate = 9 June 2018
}}</ref>

== Dinkoism ==
{{Main|Dinkoism}}
Based on the magazine's fictional character, [[Dinkan]], a [[parody religion]] and a [[social movement]] called [[Dinkoism]] emerged and evolved on [[social network]]s organized by independent welfare groups in [[Kerala]], India.<ref>{{cite web
| author      = Express News Service
| date        = 21 March 2016
| work   = The New Indian Express
| url         = http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/Dinkoists-Gather-Under-a-Troll-Tree/2016/03/21/article3337791.ece
| title       = 'Dinkoists' Gather Under a Troll Tree
| accessdate  = 14 April 2016
| quote       = ...threatening calls and opposition from staunch religious followers... the social media religion, ‘Dinkoists’ here on Sunday. ... no official registration ... attention entirely through Facebook....
| url-status     = dead
| archiveurl  = https://web.archive.org/web/20160424184600/http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/Dinkoists-Gather-Under-a-Troll-Tree/2016/03/21/article3337791.ece
| archivedate = 24 April 2016
}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[List of Kannada-language magazines]]
* [[List of Malayalam-language periodicals]]
* [[Media in Kerala]]
* [[Media in Karnataka]]
* [[Media of India]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20121009032505/http://mangalam.com/publications/html/balamangalam.htm Official website]

{{Malayalam journalism}}

{{Media of India}}

[[Category:1980 establishments in Kerala]]
[[Category:2012 disestablishments in India]]
[[Category:Defunct magazines published in India]]
[[Category:Biweekly magazines published in India]]
[[Category:Children's magazines published in India]]
[[Category:Magazines about comics]]
[[Category:Magazines established in 1980]]
[[Category:Magazines disestablished in 2012]]
[[Category:Malayalam comics]]
[[Category:Malayalam-language magazines]]
[[Category:Mass media in Kerala]]
[[Category:Kannada-language magazines]]
[[Category:Mass media in Karnataka]]