It started on October 1, 2009, when Jake Parker, comics’ short-story creator and illustrator from the USA, started Inktober as a challenge to improve his inking skills. Back then, 10 people joined him. In 2013, he introduced the hashtag #Inktober and the initiative went viral.

The rules are simple: draw in ink, and post it online using the hashtag. In Mumbai too, artists are sharing their work on social media. Some are sticking to the prompt words put out on Parker’s website, while others are creating their own daily themes.