10
THE TELEGRAPH MONDAY 29 APRIL 2019
BHIMAYANA by artists
Durgabai Vyam, Subhash
Vyam and writers Srividya
Natarajan and S. Anand
One of the most revolutionary
graphic novels created in India,
this book talks about the life and
struggles of B.R. Ambedkar, the
oppression he faced as a Mahar
caste untouchable and his
lifelong crusade to annihilate the
caste system from the fabric of
Indian society. Delightfully written
and drawn, the book uses the
mnemonic idiom of modern Gond
art and talks fearlessly about
some of the most important
issues of Indian society, namely,
the caste system, oppression of
women and Dalits, and the
ransacking of democracy.
KARI by
Amruta Patil
Kari, which is the
maiden graphic novel
of Indian writer and
artist Amruta Patil,
talks about a queer
protagonist whose
lover has abandoned
her. The tale further
unfolds to weave a
sombre, dark and
gritty tale about two
women who come
from the more
disadvantaged parts
of society. These
women as young and
vulnerable as they
walk into the wide
world to find their
fate. The novel
beautifully portrays
their chaotic yet soul-
searching journey of
finding themselves
and their worth in a
thankless world.
YOUNG METRO
TECE
STORYTELLING
IN PICTURES
Here are seven Indian graphic novels that are
scoring big with young Indian readers
I t would be an understatement to
say that graphic novels are just
as a new mode of storytelling;
they have revolutionised the concept
of storytelling and, needless to say,
RIVER OF STORIES by
Orijit Sen
One of the first ever graphic
novels written in India, River
DELHI CALM by
Vishwajyoti Ghosh
of Stories is set in a time Set in one of the most turbulent
they are here to stay. times in the history of the country,
during which the controversy
Touted as the one of the most in- this novel takes us back to 1975,
surrounding the infamous
novative and captivating methods of during the times of the
Narmada Dam was at its peak
storytelling and communication ever
and it weaves a delightful semi- Emergency declared by the then
devised, graphic narratives have in-
fictional account of the social, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
troduced new gateways and dimen-
sions through which a particular environmental and political Vishwajyoti Ghosh talks about a
story can be conceived and relayed. issues built around the entire time when all civil liberties had
Readers today are heavily inclined issue. Orijit Sen tells a gutsy yet gone for a toss and human rights
towards reading graphic novels, fas- poignant tale based on the were at stake and the country had
cinated by the exquisite use of controversy around the dam seen democracy at its worst.
colours and sketches and illustra- while paying equal importance Even though labelled as a work of
tions employed in the narrative and consideration to all sides of fiction, Delhi Calm is also a great
along with the narrative, of course. the issue. work of non-fictional graphical
Authors such as Neil Gaiman, narrative in contemporary times.
Alan Moore, Frank Miller, Craig
Thompson, Marjane Satrapi and CORRIDOR by
Sarnath Banerjee
Guy Delisle have pushed all
possible frontiers and boundaries Regarded as the first graphic novel
there are in writing graphic ever written in India, Corridor can
novels and have authored the most be safely considered as one of the
coveted and admirable works in best as well. It transports us to the
infamous lanes and bylanes of Old
literature ever.
But enough with them. Today, Delhi, talking out loud about some
we are going to talk about how our of the most burning sores of man
very own Indian graphic novels — alienation, loneliness and
have taken bibliophiles from all existentialism.The characters
over the world by storm. These can be identified with the most
Indian writers have adopted the common people around you —
graphic narrative as their own from tea vendors to bookstall
and have made readers from ages owners. It talks about people
10 to 80 sit up and take notice of and themes that normally goes
their awesome work. unnoticed every day.
MUNNU by KASHMIR PENDING by
Malik Sajad Naseer Ahmed and
Set in strife-stricken Saurabh Singh
Kashmir, this novel, Written by Naseer Ahmed and
written by Malik Saurabh Singh, this novel is one
Sajad, is one of the of the most definite and elaborate
most important accounts of life in Kashmir,
contemporary graphic shedding light on the severity of
novels published in the trials, hardships and violence
India. It chronicles the experienced by people living
story of seven-year-old there on a daily basis. Kashmir,
Munnu, who grows up in as it is today, has never been
the Indian part of described in such a poignant,
Kashmir and the very beautiful and painfully accurate
fabric of his entire way in a graphic novel ever
childhood is made up of before. Kashmir Pending
violence. His family and encompasses perspectives and
neighbours fall prey to the strife created by the accounts of various people
division of Kashmir and its militarisation, residing in Kashmir in an
leaving his entire childhood to nothing but audacious manner with most of
gunshots, blood and dust. Hindus and the story narrated from the
Muslims are terrorised alike, schools are perspective of a militant
closed down and communities break apart in who is rotting in jail.
the most beautiful valley on earth which is
passionately depicted by
Sajad in his art and his narrative, making Text by Rounak Bose. Do you
the book one of the most engrossing reads have a favourite graphic novel? Tell
among Indian graphic novels. us at youngmetro@abpmail.com