Dr. Harvinder Mankad

Today the heart seems to be immersed in a deep silence.
Some people do not merely appear in life - they create an entire era.

Shri P. K. Bajaj was one of those rare personalities.
His passing is not just the loss of an individual; it is the quiet closing of a golden chapter in the world of Hindi magazines and journalism.

Standing shoulder to shoulder with his revered father, Shri A. P. Bajaj, he did not merely make Lotpot and Mayapuri successful magazines - he transformed them into a tradition, an identity, and a cultural legacy. Under his leadership, the magazines were not just a medium of entertainment; they became a kind of school where children learned while laughing, where creators shaped their dreams, and where imagination found its wings.

Everyone affectionately called him 'Chhote Bauji.'
The name itself carried a feeling.
There was a remarkable balance in his personality - between discipline and warmth, firmness and sensitivity. He could take tough decisions, yet his heart remained gentle. He understood the fine nuances of business, but always placed creativity above everything else. For him, writers, artists, and employees were not merely resources - they were members of a family.

There came a time when the world of illustrated stories seemed to be on the decline. New technologies, changing habits, and market challenges together suggested that this era was nearing its end. One by one, magazines began to shut down. Many prestigious publications gave up. The atmosphere was filled with disappointment. Creators felt uncertain, and the future seemed unclear.

But in that difficult time, 'Chhote Bauji' stood firm. He said, 'As long as I am alive, Lotpot and Mayapuri will never shut down.' This statement was not just confidence - it was the fire within him. He knew that children's laughter could never become irrelevant. He believed that imagination never grows old.
He was certain that the literature which had shaped generations might change its form with time, but it could never disappear.

When I look back today, I realize that if he had given up at that moment, if he had followed the crowd like many others did, then perhaps the history of Lotpot would never have been written - the history that eventually gave birth to characters like Motu Patlu, who later went on to achieve great heights on television and other children's broadcasting platforms.

My relationship with him for the past forty-seven years was not merely a professional association. It was a bond of trust, guidance, and affection. The courage to publish my first major creation - Motu Patlu - was shown by him.

When I was in the early days of struggle, when there was more hard work than recognition, when there were more questions than dreams, it was he who saw potential in me.

Often a person is not fully confident about himself, but when someone else recognizes the hidden strength within him, that very moment can change the direction of life.