BHIMAYANA

A truly Indian graphic novel

Over the past few years I have developed a liking for graphic novels. I love them for the experimentation in visual storytelling. I tend to believe that graphic novels are still the forte of the writer despite the visuals. The visuals are a delight when the storyteller can break the boundaries of merely illustrating the events and moves away into imagination.

Bhimayana is one of the graphic novels which I found on Snapdeal while buying other contemporary graphic novels. This is one work of art that challenges many of the conventions of graphic storytelling.

The story is about the experiences of Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar as a child and as an adult. The narrative begins as a discussion between two people waiting for a bus. They discuss the boredom of work and gradually veer into the sensitive topic of ‘reservations in jobs’.

They dwell on the incidents in little Bhim’s childhood which draw our attention to the severe injustices that we as a society inflicted on a certain class of people. These incidents help us understand the formation of the political ideology of Ambedkar as he grows up and seeks to fight for the upliftment of the untouchables in Indian society.

The writers do not pick historical incidents but show simple instances when basic necessities like water, shelter and dignity are denied to Bhim. They provoke us to question the injustice. This is what makes the book more effective and powerful. The book also dispels the myth that discrimination doesn’t exist today by quoting news incidents from recent years.

The wife and husband duo of Durgabhai Vyam and Subhash Vyam are Pardhan gond artists (from a tribal region in Madhya Pradesh)who have worked on the artwork. They do not follow any of the format of contemporary graphic novels.

“We shall not force our characters into boxes. It stifles them. We prefer to mount our work in open spaces. Our art is khulla (open) where there is space for all to breathe.”

There are no boxes in sequence. The layouts allow a free flow of imagery. Sometimes occupying the whole spread. The eye wanders freely through the entire space extracting its own meaning and associations. As a viewer you are often left wondering as to the significance of a fish shaped lake or loud speaker sprinkling water on people.

“Gond art does not represent, it signifies.”

The talk bubbles have their own meaning. The ones shaped as a bird signify sweet and soft spoken words. The talk bubble shaped like a scorpion means a person speaking harshly. The thought bubbles signify the inner eye.

A lot of credit has to go to the publishers for spending the effort to dedicate the last two chapters to introduce the artists and explain the making of the book. A more detailed explanation of the the visual grammar that these artists have invented can be found in the last chapter.

The book may seem to end quite abruptly but the message is conveyed. It is 100 pages of visuals that tickle your mind. An absolute joy and a must have for every graphic design student.