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Will graphic novels and comics ever be considered real literature, asks someone in the audience. “Yes. But who cares,” says Samit Basu, writer of books, films and comics. Amruta Patil, author of graphics novels Kari and Adi Parva too, does not seem to mind if her books aren’t taken seriously.
“If you are going to dismiss me because my books have pictures in them, then what can I do? If it’s a well-told story, how does it matter how it is told,” says Patil, matter-of-factly, at a discussion on the slowly evolving graphics novels genre in the country, at The Hindu Lit for Life fest.
These new-age young Indian authors do not carry a chip on their shoulders. They just want to tell an engaging story… and hopefully, also make some money, as Basu jocularly adds.
Building on the foundations laid in 2010, the two-day lit fest aims to celebrate the spirit of story-telling the Indian way, bold and even irreverent, and appreciate the nuances associated with it.
This year’s edition, which began on Saturday, has a host of Indian writers and speakers discussing a range of topics from the power of poetry and pop fiction to short fiction and writing for children.
Panel discussion
Day one began with a reading of the letters between Rajaji and Mahatma Gandhi, by actor Rahul Bose and theatre personality Yog Jagpee. This was followed by a discussion on stories from the South and a poetry reading.
Digressing a bit from fiction to reality, next was a panel discussion on ‘No country for Women: Some truths about rape’ where actor Rahul Bose raised the issue of remorse and retribution.
“This does not mean the guilty go scot-free. But can we start a conversation about reformation of the guilty and forgiveness?” asked Bose.
The day ended with an interactive reading session by writers Jerry Pinto and Nilanjana Roy (her debut novel The Wildings is about a band of cats in Delhi’s Nizamuddin neighbourhood) and a session on what makes a champion by sports writers and Michael Ferreira, former billiards champion.
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