A couple of months ago, I blogged about “The India Project”, which was then renamed to “The Great Indian Comic Project”. It is time to disclose a little more about this project.
I have had this concept for about 5-6 months now, when I was grappling with my anger and frustration post-26/11. I thought about many things but nothing seemed practical and when it did, I realized I didn’t have the means, skills, energy and maybe the motivation to pull it off.
I was also shocked by how short public memory was, how quickly we forgot the previous tragedy only to be hit by the next one. How easily we ignored the good things and focused on the bad ones. How we chose to only see “truths” that represent a point of view that was close to our hearts, our ideology, justified our prejudices and trashed the others as nonsense even when it wasn’t.
This was also a time for me to reflect upon what I knew, what I believed in, the gap between truth and news, facts and propaganda. I realized that events that dominated the minds of an earlier generation were not as relevant to me and how issues relevant to me would be less relevant to those born a few years later. I either chose to dismiss the past or to have a selective memory of it, at times giving it more importance than it deserved and at other times, trivializing it.
The past, these events, are important but should they dictate everything we do or believe in? When I look around, that’s the strongest vibe I get. And the more I look, I realize that we cannot afford to be prisoners of the past, that we must move on. But before that, we need to understand what we are moving on from, and why. And if it is really possible to break these chains.
So, what does all this have to do with The Great Indian Comic Project?
The Great Indian Comic Project is a quest to retrace my steps, re-examine what I think I know, confront my own prejudices. It is … personal and it’s not. My limited knowledge of India has been through books, newspapers, television, the Internet and comics (Amar Chitra Katha). The Great Indian Comic Project will attempt to use two of the mediums – The Internet and Comics – to tell stories about events that changed our lives, for better or for worse.
These events are what I like to call – Game-Changers - Events that gave us hope, made us leap with joy, filled us with pride and events that made us sad, weep, feel ashamed of ourselves and what we stood for.
And what will this look like?
To be honest, this is ambitious and looks like more than I can handle. I am not an artist, I don’t draw, paint and so I will use images, screenshots, etc. to recreate these events to the best possible extent. I am not a writer and there is no suspense as we already know about these events, but I will try to tell these stories anyway. I am not the academic type but I will do my best to research well enough to be accurate. Assumptions, opinions will be stated as such, and sources revealed whenever available.
These are not disclaimers, only facts and limitations. At some point, if it looks unfeasible, I will have to give up.
How is this relevant to the reader?
I am not really sure but I can only hope that you will hop along with me on this ride, challenge the stories I tell, contribute your thoughts in retelling a piece of our history.
Finally, when and where will this be available?
More details very soon. Including the scope, format, etc. Promise :-)
15 comments:
Thanks for a well thought-out post. Almost all the thoughts you expressed occurred in my mind too but you are doing something about it - I am not! Good luck with your efforts and look forward to reading the next post.
Very thoughtful post TCP. As Srikanth said, these were all the things which were bugging my mind too, to record about the events which have passed through us, so that we can look back at it sometime in future. I couldn't make the efforts on that line, and now happy that you have started the initiative, where we could all take part.
Looking forward for your first post on The Indian Project.
ÇómícólógÝ
Eagerly waiting for it!
My opinion matches with Srikanth, ÇómícólógÝ & you. Eagerly waiting your post.
In all honesty, ALL comtemporary historians (including so called "real" ones like Darymple and Guha are highly subjective and selective. So exactly why would your own, individual eccentric particular take, (important though it is to you), be of interest to the general public?
You *ARE* one amongst many, many Brahms posting on the internet. If yours was a muslim viewpoint, for eg then that would have the true advantage of coming from an under-represented area.
Just my honest two cents. :)
@Srikanth: Looking forward to put out the next post :-)
@Comicology: Thanks for the vote of confidence :-) Going to need more than that.
@Rockus: Me too!
@Prabhat: Scripted part 1 of episode 1, now to turn it into a comic. Taking longer than expected when it's actually nothing much.
@kk: You don't want me to convert to Islam, just for the sake of a different POV, do you? :-) Hell, I can't even represent a Hindu or any such perspective.
But like I said, it's personal..and it's not. I am not a historian or even trying to be one. My perspective is that of a person who only has 2nd or 3rd hand information, in that sense, it is a rather naive view and therefore less interesting to those looking for something original. Thanks for your comment - considering that 99% will have a perspective similar to yours, those 2 cents add up to a lot of money that I won't have..grr
Ok, how about a *gay* perspective? ROTFL. Nay, the important thing is to have a dialogue, so if your views are deeply felt, by all means put them across. After all, that is what the internet is all about, isn't it?
@kk: Now that will require too many changes to handle in a lifetime :-)
God Speed. May the force be with you.
I echo to whatever has been said in comments posted earlier...very thoughtful indeed...
Hi TCP, I am posting a comment after a very long time, after someone stole my account and started commenting using my id.
Bravo for your efforts and trust you to do something different again...
Its a very nice thought, I too feel bad about all these issues like the one happened in Mumbai but don't know why with the time these events bury somewhere deep inside my heart may be because time can heel worst of the wounds. But would it be same to me if it had happened to any of my close relative. I don't have an answer to this right now but I really agree that these things should remain alive in our hearts, souls and even our thoughts. Its a very good initiative, I would definitely contribute and would like to contribute as and when required.
Go for it! And good luck :)
Well, at last someone took the initiative.I've also been pipedreaming about such a project.Seeing it come to life;i am more than excited.Ready to contribute anytime.I grew up on the original Indrajals,Amar Chitra Kathahs,Deewana .....
-Neelabh,Kanpur.
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