View source for Dinkan

{{short description|Fictional anthropomorphic superhero mouse}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=September 2019}}
{{Infobox comics character
<!--Wikipedia:WikiProject Comics-->
| character_name = Dinkan<br>ഡിങ്കൻ
| image = [[File:Dinkan, the Malayalam comics character.jpg|250px]]
| imagesize = <!-- default 250 -->
| caption =
| publisher = ''[[Balamangalam]]''
| debut = 1983<ref name= Deccan>{{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 |publisher=Deccan Chronicle |date=2012-10-07 |accessdate=2012-10-19 |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=2012-10-12}}</ref>
| creators = N. Somasekharan (concept)<br>Baby (design)
| alter_ego =
| full_name =
| species = Mouse<!-- optional -->
| homeworld = Pankila forest<!-- optional -->
| alliances = <!-- optional -->
| partners = <!-- optional -->
| supports = Mittu
| aliases = <!-- optional -->
| powers =
* Superior strength
* Enhanced senses
* Flight
* High endurance
| cat = super
| subcat =
| hero = y
| villain = Nambolan
| sortkey =

}}
<!-- Commented out: [[File:Balamangalam Cover.jpg|thumbnail|Balamangalam is the holy book of the Dinkoist religion]] -->

'''Dinkan''' ([[Malayalam]]: ഡിങ്കൻ)  is a fictional [[anthropomorphic]] [[superhero]] [[mouse]] who appears in an eponymous [[Malayalam]] [[Comics|comic story series]] in children's magazine ''[[Balamangalam]]''.<ref name= NIE>{{cite web |url= https://www.newindianexpress.com/magazine/2016/mar/12/playing-the-cat-and-super-mouse-game-910872.html |title= Playing the Cat and Super Mouse Game |work= [[The New Indian Express]] |author=  Shevlin Sebastian |date= 14 March 2016 |access-date= 23 December 2019}}</ref><ref name=Dictionary>{{cite book |title= Oxford: A Dictionary of Atheism |last1= Lee |first1 =Lois |last2= Bullivant |first2= Stephen |publisher= [[Oxford University Press]] |no-pp= yes |page= Dinkoism |isbn=  9780192520135 |date= 17 November 2016}}</ref> Some modern day [[Rationalism|rationalists]] of [[Kerala]] use Dinkan to mock [[organized religion]] and [[religious intolerance]].<ref>{{cite news | title=You like to outrage? Learn from Kerala's religious group 'Dinkoism' targeting actor Dileep | url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/you-outrage-learn-kerala%E2%80%99s-religious-group-%E2%80%98dinkoism%E2%80%99-targeting-actor-dileep-38366 | date=31 January 2016 | access-date=10 January 2020 | archive-date=8 November 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108093833/https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/you-outrage-learn-kerala%E2%80%99s-religious-group-%E2%80%98dinkoism%E2%80%99-targeting-actor-dileep-38366 | url-status=dead }}</ref>

==History==
Dinkan (ഡിങ്കൻ) was created by story-writer N. Somasekharan and artist Baby in 1983.<ref name= Deccan/><ref name=BusinessLine>{{cite web |url= https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/blink/cover/all-hail-the-mighty-mouse/article8418442.ece |title= All hail the mighty mouse |author= Jinoy Jose P |work= [[Business Line]] |date= 20 January 2018 |accessdate= 22 December 2019}}</ref> Dinkan was one of the earliest superhero characters created in [[Indian comics|India]] and it quickly became popular among children. Like [[Terrytoons]] created [[Mighty Mouse]] and several other superhero characters, Dinkan borrowed a few traits from the iconic [[DC Comics]] character [[Superman]]. He also had characteristics of [[Iron Man]].

==Character biography==
Dinkan was born in Pankila forest, somewhere in [[Kerala]], [[India]].<ref name=BusinessLine/> He was a naughty mouse, who wasn't disciplined. During one of his escapades, Dinkan was abducted by aliens from an unknown planet.<ref name= Deccan/><ref name=ScrollIn>{{cite web |url= https://scroll.in/article/805475/dinkan-worship-hundreds-attend-kerala-conclave-of-mock-religion-that-reveres-a-superhero-mouse |title= Dinkan worship: Hundreds attend Kerala conclave of mock religion that reveres a superhero mouse |work= [[Scroll.in]] |author= TK Devasia |date= 22 March 2016 |accessdate= 22 December 2019}}</ref> 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 the Pankila forest and he decided to use his powers for the well-being of animals in the forest.

==Dinkoism==

{{main|Dinkoism}}

Dinkoism has emerged as a [[parody religion]] on social networks organized by some atheists in [[Kerala]], India. This religion celebrates Dinkan as their God in an attempt to bring awareness of the fallacies and practices of traditional religions.<ref name= BBCTrending>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-trending-36001999|title=The mouse messiah bringing salvation to India's atheists |author= Alvaro A. Ricciardelli |work= [[BBC News]] |date= 11 April 2016 |accessdate= 22 December 2019}}</ref><ref name=BusinessLine/>

[[BBC]] covered the Dinkoist religion in its ''BBCTrending'' Programme. 
BBC reported Dinkoism as an atheist movement with significant growth in the social media.<ref name= BBCTrending/>

== Growing recognition ==
On January 3, 2016, a group of dinkoists, calling themselves Mooshikasena (the Rat Army), went to protest in front of actor [[Dileep]]'s Dhe Puttu Restaurant to protest his film titled ''Professor Dinkan'' on the grounds that it offended their religious sentiments. This was a mockery of similar protests around the world, especially in [[India]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Webdesk |date=2016-01-30 |title=Protest against upcoming Dileep film named Professor Dinkan |url=https://onlookersmedia.in/latestnews/protest-upcoming-dileep-film-named-professor-dinkan/ |access-date=2022-10-26 |website=onlookersmedia |language=en-US}}</ref>

Also in January 2016, a Dinkanist in [[California]] won the right to have a license plate for his car with Dinkan written on it, in recognition of his belief.<ref>{{Cite web |title=കാലിഫോർണിയയിലെ മലയാളിക്കു ഡിങ്കന്റെ നാമത്തിൽ നമ്പർ പ്ലേറ്റ്; ഡിങ്ക ഭഗവാനു സ്തുതി പാടി... |url=https://www.marunadanmalayalee.com/scitech/cyber-space/dinkan-car-license-plates-i-got-a-special-license-plate-in-the-name-of-my-god-36456 |access-date=2022-10-26 |website=www.marunadanmalayalee.com|date=18 January 2016 }}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20160227051848/http://www.asianetnews.tv/dinkan News on Dinkan] {{in lang|ml}}
* {{cite web |url=https://www.asianetnews.com/magazine/interview-with-samusa-thrikonadhyaya-on-dinkoism-split |title= ഡിങ്കോയിസം ശരിക്കും പിളര്‍ന്നോ; സമൂസ ത്രികോണാധ്യായ തുറന്നുപറയുന്നു... 
 |author= Rasheed KP |work= [[Asianet News]] |date= 29 Jun 2016 |accessdate= 24 December 2019 |language= ml |trans-title= Did Dinkoism really split up; The samosa triangle is frank ...}}<!-- AUTHOR'S name in ml is By വിപിന്‍ പാണപ്പുഴ -->

[[Category:Atheism activism]]
[[Category:Comics characters introduced in 1983]]
[[Category:Hindu new religious movements]]
[[Category:Indian comics titles]]
[[Category:Indian comics characters]]
[[Category:Malayalam comics]]
[[Category:Religious parodies and satire]]
[[Category:Parody religion deities]]
[[Category:Animal superheroes]]
[[Category:Comics characters with superhuman strength]]
[[Category:Anthropomorphic mice and rats]]
[[Category:Parody superheroes]]
[[Category:Male characters in animation]]