Get punched and get healthy (Ghunsa Khao Sehat Banao) is a memorable and funny creation of the golden era of Indian comics, which was published under the banner of Manoj Comics. It is a pure comic-satire comic, with the story written by Tikaram Sippy and illustrations by Kadam Studios. The name of the comic itself makes its entire idea clear, a world where to maintain health one has to take direct punches, not hard work, rules or exercise. It’s such a strange and stupid idea in itself that it is what makes it a strong satire.
This comic takes a direct dig at the habit of society, where people run after ‘shortcuts’ and ‘miraculous remedies’ to avoid hard work and patience. A shop named ‘Punch Khao Sehat Banao’ opens in the city and within no time it becomes a topic of discussion. The story progresses in several simultaneous streams—on one side there are domestic problems of Cookbond and Motu, while on the other side there is a looming threat to traditional exercise halls and arenas, which has arisen because of this new shop. Its original idea is so new and funny that it captivates the reader from the very first page.
This comic was published as a special issue, priced at just ₹16.00. It is reminiscent of the period when comics were not only entertainment but also an effective means of making light comments on the strange habits of society.
Detailed analysis of the plot
The very beginning of the story strongly holds its strange but interesting idea. We meet a guy who wants to be ‘Mr. Universe’ and for that he is willing to take punches from sumo wrestlers by paying two lakh rupees. He is confident that these punches will make his health so wonderful that he will win the title of Mr. Universe. It becomes clear here that the main claim of the comic—eat the punch, make health—is not just a joke, but the rule of the real world of the story.
After this, the atmosphere of the city seems to be changing. People leave morning walks, exercise and running, and rush to a new shop—“eat the punch”. The publicity of the shop is so strong that the line outside has been described as “Hanuman ji’s tail”, which does not seem to be ending. The shop claims even more surprising things—
“Take a guarantee in writing. If your health does not improve after taking our punches, the money will be returned. Including punches!!”
The success of this shop is shown by the example of a customer who looks very weak while going inside, but has the courage to face Dara Singh as soon as he comes out. This sudden change fills the story with mystery and curiosity.
Also, the second part of the story runs on Cookbond and Motu. Both inspectors are upset with the strict rules of Dhamaka Singh. Dhamaka Singh makes them hold five hundred penal meetings in the name of a healthy mind. Cookbond and Motu feel that with so much exercise their soul will leave their body. Meanwhile, Dhamaka Singh’s wife/sister Gulabo announces stopping exercise at home. The happiness of both of them does not last long, because Gulabo tells them that now their health will be improved by taking punches and making health in the shop. Out of fear, both of them run to the office, where by mistake they start being worshiped by the shop devotees instead of the landlord’s goons. This scene adds more humor to the story.
The third story stream is connected to Lallan, the owner of the city’s famous gym “Body Temple”, and his assistant Kallan. The punching shop has completely ruined his business. No one is ready to come to the gym. To solve this mystery, Lallan himself tries punches on his disciple Kallan. The result is that instead of becoming healthy, Kallan’s bones start doing “awakening”. This leads Lallan to conclude that simple punches do not improve health, and he decides to learn the real secret of the shop. This is where the investigation angle gets added to the story.
The juxtaposition of these three story streams makes the comic a unique blend of mystery, action, and humor.
Themes and social satire
“Get punched and get healthy” is not just a laughing story, but also a deep social comment.
This comic takes a direct dig at the desire to avoid hard work and get immediate results. Something like health, which requires regular hard work, has been linked here with a magical punch. This shows the same thinking of today’s society, where people rely on supplements, quick diets and miraculous treatments, just so they don’t have to sweat.
The comic also shows how powerful advertising and promotion can be. There is so much noise about the shop all over the city that people believe it without thinking. The new thing is made shiny by calling old and tried methods useless.
The conflict between traditional exercise versus new thinking is also clearly visible here. Gyms and arenas, which are symbols of hard work, suddenly seem useless. The comic jokingly raises the question—is every new thing really better?
Humor and exaggeration are the life of this comic. The image of a weak man becoming a wrestler, the awakening of bones, and the soul leaving the body during a penal meeting make it more fun. The language is simple and colloquial, to which the reader gets immediately attached.
Characterization of characters
Cookbond and Motu are the real comic heroes of the comic. They are lazy, timid and want to run away from every trouble. They run away from Dhamaka Singh’s exercise and are also afraid of the punching shop. Their ignorance and mistaken respect are a very interesting part of the story.
Inspector Dhamaka Singh is a symbol of discipline and old values. His intentions may be good, but the method is more strict than necessary. Gulabo’s willingness to be punched at his request shows that she too can easily believe in new miracles.
Lallan and Kallan represent the old fitness system. Their restlessness and anger are linked to their deteriorating condition. They are the ones who take steps towards solving the mystery in the story.
Gulabo is a character who brings a big twist to the story. She shows the way of thinking that goes with society’s trend, which relies on new fashions without reasoning.
Writing and Illustration Style
Tikaram Sippy’s writing style is fast, fun and straightforward. The use of desi idioms in dialogues makes the comic more spicy. He has maintained interest by dividing the story into small parts.
Kadam Studio’s drawing is the hallmark of that period—strong lines, action-filled scenes with clear expressions and gestures. The scenes of long queues, wrestlers showing muscles and punches coming to light bring the story alive.
Conclusions and expectations
“Punch Khao Sehat Banao” is a high-concept comic, which is still remembered today because of its unique idea. The initial parts make it clear that in the future the mystery will be revealed and the claims of the shop will be exposed. This comic proves that even a very strange and stupid idea can become a funny and effective story if presented correctly. It is a must-read comic for those who love light humor and social sarcasm.
