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Introduction:
Book Name: Bhimayana:
Experiences of Untouchability
Author Name: Srividya
Natarajan and S. Anand
Genre: Graphic
novel
Language: English
Bhimayana chooses the iconic dialectical approach
of storytelling through a conversational style. This has been used by Plato in
his ‘Republic’ and Gandhi in ‘Hind swaraj’. This is no coincidence. Neither is
it a choice to make the story most accessible. It is a symbolic statement regarding
the historical significance of the story of Bhim’s life.
Review:
Bhimayana: Experiences of Untouchability is a graphic novel inspired by the incidents in Bhimrao Ramaji Ambedkar’s life. The novel was written by Srividya Natarajan, Durgabai Vyam and Subhash Vyam.
The
graphic biography focuses on the struggles faced by the Dalit community. The
story is a combination of both visuals as well as literary devices. The novel
discovers the harsh reality of Ambedkar in his childhood and the struggles he
faced while working for the cause of Dalits Rights.
The story starts with a conversation between an
upper-caste man and a Dalit woman. The man, who is in search of a new job, is
sulking about the reservation and that gets the woman started.
The book is divided into three major chapters:
Water, Shelter, and Travel. As an ordinary human being would, these are the
things Ambedkar seeks in his life. As the young Bhim becomes conscious of his
identity, the struggle for these basic need translates into something bigger:
the struggle for Equality.
Each chapter is layered with metaphors. In the first chapter, a thirsty child in school is made to like a fish who pleads to his teacher for water. Among the upper castes in the classroom, Bhim is clearly a fish out of water. When the young Bhimrao returns to Baroda from Columbia, his search for a shelter is also a search for companionship, comfort, and spiritual recognition.
Rejected by the
Parsis at their inn, turned away by a Christian friend, and later insulted by a
Muslim, Bhimrao learns that no religion is willing to accommodate Dalits as
equal practitioners. This search for Shelter lasts all his life until he finds
solace in the Buddha just before his death.
The book is unapologetically political in its approach. It is unsparing of Hinduism, the Brahmins, and Gandhi. At the same time, it is uniquely innovative in its narrative style. While Ambedkar is quoted throughout, there are several references to significant personalities from his life like his professor at Columbia, John Dewey. The poets Namdeo Dhasal and Dilip site find a place in innovative ways as their poetry introduces the reader to the modern-day children of Ambedkar. The storyboard itself breaks into poetry now and then.
The story culminates into the most important events of Ambedkar’s life towards the end of the book. Namely, the confrontation with Gandhi over separate electorates for Dalits, the drafting of the Constitution for independent India and the mass conversion to Buddhism led by Ambedkar towards the end of his life.
However, the most beautifully captured
moment from Ambedkar’s life remains the Mahar Satyagraha of 1927. As S.Anand
has written, this is possibly the most innovative use of gutter space in the
history of graphic art. The struggle for access to water results in the water
becoming a panacea for Dalits. Ambedkar’s words of wisdom fall on Dalits like
water from sprinklers.
But the most symbolic metaphor in the book
remains the use of hands in it. Hands of all kinds can be found in it. The hand
that refuses to touch and hence leaves behind an echo of casteism is a recurring
element. Whenever a character makes a casteist remark, he is shown having a
progressing trail of hands that point at the oppressed.
This book is an autobiographical version of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s life, which provides insight into his distressful life. The use of graphics in the novel depicts the brutal oppression and subjugation of untouchables. Pradhan Gond's art is used in the novel. The use of these art forms glorified the sentiments that have been expressed by the writer.
The graphics
used are visuals metaphors and symbols referring to different situations and
people. The representation flowed freely on the pages having no frames, which
showcased a more expressive approach to the novel. In this novel, there are 90
pages and a total of 171 graphics are used. The lines and language used by the
writer give the account of struggles in the life of Dalits.
The book is best suited for all generations, as
it provides them with the value to respect every human regardless of their
religion, caste, or class. This book is an inspirational work that offers the
value of human life. It makes us realize the power of unification. The book
gives us the message of celebrating the diversity of caste present in our
society.
My rating for the book 5/5
You can buy this book easily from Amazon: Bhimayana
Written By – Prachi Mann
Edited By - Anamika Malik
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