In addition to developing materials for training medical professionals on public health impacts of air pollution under the Climate and Health Air Monitoring Project (CHAMP), the team at PGI Chandigarh and PU have also been developing ideas that would reach the message of air pollution and health to the masses. The team led by Dr. Ravindra Khaiwal (School of Public Health, PGI) and Dr. Suman Mor (Department of Environmental Studies, PU) zeroed in on children between the age groups of 6-14 years based on discussions with their children aged 8 and 14 and the CHAMP team members.
The idea of the comic book shaped up over dinner time: the superhero Vaayu (Sanskrit for wind) would play the protagonist while Smokey the antagonist. Vaayu was to be accompanied by Megha (rain-bearing clouds) and Surya (the sun). The message of air pollution and health would be delivered with the help of human characters: Doctor Aunty on health, Chatur Nani (clever grandma) on biomass and indoor air pollution, and Kisan Kaka (farmer uncle) on crop burning.