Beyond superheroes: 4 Indian graphic novels that tackle social issues

Indian Express

2 days ago

(Written by Taniya Chopra)
Once seen as entertainment only for children, graphic novels in India have come a long way. They are no longer confined to only superhero stories or children's comics, they are now being embraced by a new wave of writers and artists who are using it to shed light on social issues.
By blending graphics and text, these narratives delve into complex issues, in ways that traditional formats often struggle with. They raise awareness, shedding light on the nation's social realities and spark conversations that challenge the status quo. More than just stories on a page, they push the boundaries of what art and narrative can achieve united, in shaping the society.
A picture is worth a thousand words. Hush, by Pratheek Thomas and illustrated by Rajiv Eipe, proves this with heart-wrenching clarity. It is a silent graphic novel that addresses the trauma of child sexual abuse without using a single word. The absence of words shows the way abuse usually goes unspoken in Indian families, where stigma surrounds such issues. The graphic novel, frame by frame, makes readers pay attention to small, haunting details, making it extremely personal and unsettling. The young girl who is abused in the novel is depicted with such realism that one can feel a deep connection to her plight. Reading Hush feels like a direct hit- before you even realise it, it's over, but it leaves a lasting impact in your heart.
Begins with a double suicide attempt by two women, an act of desperation in a society that refuses to accept them as they are. Amruta Patil's graphic novel follows the life of a queer woman, Kari, in Mumbai, coping with heartbreak and the weight of social expectations that are usually tied to gender. Though legal, homosexuality is still considered a taboo in India, yet to be fully recognised and accepted. The graphics in the novel become Kari's second voice, showing her inner life beyond what words alone could convey. They show her emotional state in black and white, with colour appearing only in moments that reveal her desires and fantasies. The sewer in the novel is used as a metaphor for the lives and identities that society refuses to recognise. 'I was saved by a sewer, by the stinking river of effluents that snakes past our neighbourhood, the one our buildings avert eyes from'. Amruta Patil's Kari depicts the experiences of those whose voices go unheard. It attempts to show the drastic reality of what it means to be a homosexual in a heteronormative India.
Written by Srividya Natarajan and illustrated by Aparajita Ninan, it tells the story of Jyotirao Phule, earliest anti-caste reformer, and his wife, Savitribai Phule, a pioneer of women's education in India. This graphic novel shows their resistance to caste-based discrimination and their fight for the education of oppressed communities. Drawing heavily from Jyotirao Phule's seminal work Gulamgiri, the novel uses graphics to sharpen its critique of caste-based oppression. The power imbalance is clearly depicted in several panels, by showing Brahmins as larger figures compared to the smaller figures of Shudras. This throws light on the oppressive social hierarchy of the varna system. By placing Phule's and the Brahmins' perspectives side by side of ancient Indian myths, it makes readers question the dominant narratives. Through these carefully woven graphics, A Gardener in the Wasteland brings the forgotten voices to the forefront, challenging the history we learn today and planting seeds of change.
Illustrated by Durga Bai Vyam and Subhash Vyam, and written by Srividya Natarajan and S. Anand, it tells the tale of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar's lifelong battle against caste discrimination. It is about incidents from Ambedkar's own life. It shows how systemic exclusion shapes everyday experience for Dalits in India. What truly makes Bhimayana standout is its artwork. The graphics are inspired by traditional Gond art, they do not use rigid panel structures and replace them with flowing forms. The graphics are scattered across the page, resisting uniformity. It is the art in this graphic novel that shapes how the story is experienced, giving it emotional depth and cultural texture. Bhimayana is not just a tale told, it is a reality that is felt in every line and curve of its art.
(The writer is an intern with indianexpress.com)