NEW DELHI (India CSR): Jatin Varma, the founder of Comic Con India, has officially announced the launch of The Comic Book Trust of India, a non-profit initiative dedicated to documenting, acknowledging, and elevating the comic book medium in the country. As the Trust’s initial corpus, Varma has pledged INR 1 crore from his personal earnings to support initiatives that empower creators, preserve comic culture, and build long-term institutional support for the medium.
This marks his first formal public venture and announcement following his exit from Comic Con India, signalling a renewed focus on purpose-driven, sector-building work. The Trust’s vision, mandate, and charitable objectives are detailed. Varma is joined by renowned names who formulate the advisory council of The Comic Book Trust of India including Ashish Kulkarni (Chairman of FICCI for Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming and Comics Forum and Chairman of MCCIA Animation & Gaming committee), Akshat Rathee (co-founder and MD of NODWIN gaming), Manoj Satti (Head of Sales, Product, and Marketing at Penguin Random House), and Mayank Shekhar (Entertainment head at a publication). Sonal Varma has also joined The Comic Book Trust of India as a trustee alongside Jatin.
The Trust’s first major initiative is the Indian Comic Book Awards, a national platform designed to celebrate excellence in Indian graphic storytelling. The inaugural awards ceremony is scheduled to take place in Mumbai on 9th May 2026. The awards will honour Indian creators across various categories, including Best Writer, Best Artist, and Best Webcomic, with a distinguished jury panel featuring International Emmy-nominated filmmaker & animator Vaibhav Kumaresh, and Archie Comics legend Dan Parent. Submissions for the awards are now open, with entries accepted until 31st March 2026.
Commenting on the launch, Jatin Varma, Founder, Comic Con India and Chief Trustee, The Comic Book Trust of India, said, “For over a decade, my focus was on building the stage where fans and creators could meet. However, sustainable growth for Indian comics requires more than just events; it demands an ecosystem that values the art form intrinsically.” He added, “Indian comics have always had extraordinary creative energy, but creators often build in isolation, without long-term support systems. The Trust is my way of helping create that missing infrastructure, one that values craft, continuity, and cultural relevance. This is not about scale or spectacle, but about giving Indian comics the seriousness, respect, and institutional backing they deserve.”
Commenting on the launch, Ashish Kulkarni, Former Chairman – FICCI AVGC Forum, Director – Indian Institute of Creative Technology (IICT), said, “India’s AVGC-XR ecosystem is undergoing a significant transformation and needs focused action to nurture original IP and empower creators. The Comic Book Trust of India is a step in the right direction towards building infrastructure, recognition, and industry collaboration for comics. By investing in talent and celebrating excellence, we can accelerate India’s rise as a global hub for storytelling. I look forward to collaborating with Jatin Varma and the council to build, nurture and champion India’s comic book culture. This effort will help us establish Indian stylization in AVGC-XR.”
Commenting on the launch, Sonal Varma, Trustee, The Comic Book Trust of India, said, “The Comic Book Trust of India will be the next step forward in positioning India at the forefront of the global comic book industry. We look forward to encouraging creators of all kinds to come forward and benefit from the trust and provide them with opportunities and a stage to showcase their creativity.”
The launch of The Comic Book Trust of India comes at a pivotal time, aligning seamlessly with the Government of India’s AVGC (Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, and Comics) policy and the Make in India narrative. By focusing exclusively on work created by Indian talent for the Indian market, the Trust aims to strengthen the indigenous intellectual property (IP) pipeline. This initiative seeks to foster a culture of critical appreciation and professional growth, ensuring that Indian comic books are recognized as a significant cultural export and a vital part of the nation’s creative economy.
(India CSR)
