Shakti is considered a part of Goddess Chandi, who has descended on earth to eliminate injustice and evil. The comic ‘Border’ (issue No. 988) is the story of a period when the situation on the border is extremely tense. This story is not just a superhero “power” fight, but also the story of doctors, soldiers, and innocent common people who get burned without any fault of their own in the fire of war.
Detailed description of the story
The story begins with a TV news bulletin. The news shows that the village of ‘Cheema’, along the border, is under heavy fire from the enemy. In this attack, an innocent farmer has been hit by four bullets, and his condition is very serious. There is no proper treatment system in the village, and the nearest city hospital is about twenty miles away.
The scene then turns to a conference room in a hospital in Delhi, where the Military Command Headquarters has requested that a team of doctors be sent to the border area. Hospital officials ask which doctors are ready to go on this dangerous mission, but no one dares to raise their hands due to the fear of death. At the same time, the hospital lift suffers a technical fault and starts falling rapidly. The people inside the elevator watch death right in front of their eyes when Shakti appears there.
Shakti, with her amazing strength, holds the falling elevator and saves the lives of everyone inside it. She explains to the doctors that it is human nature to feel afraid, but it is cowardice to step back from one’s duty. “Death can come anywhere, whether it’s a lift fall or a bullet flying at the border,” she says. Impressed by Shakti’s words, Dr. Atul and his entire team get ready to go to the border.
On the other hand, across the border, General Bashira and his agent ‘Khan’ are plotting an extremely dangerous plan. They are not limited to shelling alone, but are planning to push their 2000 trained infiltrators into Indian lines under the cover of the same shelling. General Bashira is confident that the continuous shelling will divert the attention of the Indian Army, and his men will easily cross the border.
A little girl ‘Chyna’ (in some dialogues, Sangma) is extremely upset about her injured father amid the shelling in Cheema village. She goes to the village temple and prays to God. At the same time, the enemy bombs an important bridge, completely cutting off the village from the rest of the world. Enemy fighter planes start raining bombs in the sky above. Airfield commander Mushtaq receives strict orders to destroy whatever appears.
Meanwhile, a missile (Hatf-0) is fired directly toward the innocent girl. Then Shakti reaches there and, with her divine powers, changes the direction of the missile. The missile overturns and hits the enemy aircraft, completely destroying it. Shakti takes the girl to a safe place and gives her courage.
Doctors try to operate on the injured farmer in a kutcha house in the village, but due to continuous bombing, the electricity goes out. It is impossible to operate without light. Then Shakti arrives and spreads bright light from her body, which looks like neon lights. In this supernatural light, the doctors successfully perform the operation, and the farmer’s life is saved.
Final conflict:
IAF MiG-28 aircraft also fly in retaliation, but they soon discover that many enemy aircraft have already been destroyed for “unknown reasons,” when in reality, Shakti is the power behind it. Now Shakti directly attacks the enemy base camp. She melts the enemy’s heavy guns and renders their machine guns completely useless.
General Bashira nervously resorts to rocket launchers and tanks, but everything proves to be a failure in front of Shakti’s powers. She welds the tank hatches in such a way that the shell explodes inside. Finally, Bashira tries to escape in a combat helicopter and fires missiles at Shakti. Shakti grabs those missiles in mid-air and turns them back toward the helicopter, ending General Bashira.
At the end of the story, the Indian Army either kills or arrests all 2000 infiltrators. Peace returns to the border once again. The injured farmer regains consciousness, and Shakti assures him that his fields will flourish again and life will return to its normal path.
Characterization
Shakti: In this comic, Shakti is shown not just as a warrior, but as a true guide and protector. The real source of her strength is compassion and justice. She not only destroys enemies but also removes fear from the minds of the doctors by giving them courage. This is what makes her different from a common superhero.
General Bashira: He is a typical “villain,” intoxicated with power and destruction. His thinking is extremely cruel, where the lives of innocent people are just “pawns” for him. His end symbolizes that pride and the power of weapons ultimately lose to humanity.
Chyna (Child): This character brings out the human aspect of war. Her innocent prayers and fears make the reader realize that those who have nothing to do with this fight suffer the most in war.
Dr. Atul: Dr. Atul is a symbol of the courage of a common man. He shows that a person can overcome even his biggest fear if he receives the right motivation. Shakti’s presence gives him the strength to stand up for his duty.
Art and portraiture
The art style that is the hallmark of Raj Comics of the 90s is clearly visible in this comic, where deep detailing can be seen in the illustrations. Scenes like Shakti flying, catching missiles, and fighter planes colliding look extremely impressive. Shakti’s blue skin and the yellow light emanating from her body create a striking color combination, which gives an ethereal feeling to the entire story. Additionally, the clear expressions of fear, anger, and determination on the faces of the characters, along with the depiction of smoke and devastation in the battle scenes, further strengthen the seriousness of the story.
Social and moral messages
This comic delivers a strong message of placing duty above everything else. No matter the profession, humanity and service to the country are paramount—this is beautifully demonstrated by the doctors as they overcome their fears. The story also highlights the futility of war, where it is not just a clash of borders, but homes are destroyed and fear settles into the minds of children.
Shakti’s character also proves that a woman can become the shield of the nation in both protector and destroyer forms. The presence of a temple and a mosque in the same panel delivers a deep message of religious harmony and love, which makes the story even more powerful.
Reviewed Conclusion
“Border” is not just a superhero fantasy, but a passionate and impactful story filled with patriotic emotion. The author has very intelligently connected a magical character—Shakti—with real-world problems such as war and the lack of medical facilities.
This issue of Shakti is inspiring for both children and adults. On one hand, it offers tremendous action and thrill, while on the other, it helps us understand the importance of respecting our soldiers and doctors. Through this story, Raj Comics delivers a clear message that when injustice crosses its limits, “Shakti” is bound to rise.
These comics still feel as effective and relevant today as they were at the time of their release. If you are fond of Indian comics and want to read a story that gives goosebumps and touches the heart, then “Border” is a must-read comic.
Rating: 4.5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐½
