Comic Strip on Naxalism

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NEW DELHI: The history of Naxalism in India beginning with the Naxalbari revolt of 1967 to the present day Maoist movement in Chhattisgarh has been captured in a graphic novel, released at this year's Comic Con here.     

Cartoonist Sumit Kumar uses humour and satire in 'Amar Bari Tomar Bari Naxalbari', to tell the story of the movement with reference to recent developments and incidents.          

The comic takes a leaf out the famed George Orwell's book 'The Animal Farm' to narrate the rise of naxalism in the country. Author Kumar considers it to be an easier way to narrate the history which otherwise he says "can become very boring."   

"The story is not told directly but through a group of characters from an animal farm who are informed about the conditions of Naxalbari by an owl," says Kumar.    

The book has instances and information from the various places like West Bengal, Hyderabad, Kolkata etc giving facts about the rise of naxalism in those places.    

Besides this the comic also portrays the story of policemen who are deployed in the red corridor area.            

Kumar who began the comic as a web-based one says he was approached to do a print format by the publisher.     

The cover of the book has been designed by Bhanu Pratap and the designs of the book were given by Sikhant Sablania.   

The book quotes peppy songs from the Bollywood movies to explain a serious topic.     

Also the distress of the farmers and the atrocities inflicted on them has been presented.           

Other comic books penned by Kumar include "The Itch you can't scratch" and an e-comic "Kashmir ki Kahani" which narrates the story of conflict in Kashmir in the words of a couple resembling the movie "Kashmir ki Kali."  

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