Unshackling And Guiding The Minds Through - Bhimayana - A Counter-Narrative Of Untouchability

Aug 28, 2026

Bhimayana examines how graphic biography can transform public understanding of caste discrimination in India. Centered on BR Ambedkar’s struggle against untouchability, the narrative uses visuals to confront prejudices and advance social justice and equality. The paper argues that mainstream upper-caste literature often concealed Dalit trauma, while graphic storytelling reveals what words fail to convey and builds awareness through counter-narrative power.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryLiterature

FormatPDF

Pages14

Reading Time22 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

Counter-narratives and graphic narratives

From comics to graphic narratives and graphic novels

Unshackling And Guiding The Minds Through “Bhimayana” Ms Manjari Pandey Department of English Graphic Era University (Deemed), Dehradun-248002, Uttarakhand, India Dr Shabana Singh Assistant Professor, Department of English ML&JNK Girls College, Saharanpur-247001, Uttar Pradesh, India Abstract Bhimayana explores the transformative power of a graphic biography that sheds light on the experiences of caste discrimination in India. It is a poignant narrative that delves into the life of BR Ambedkar, a key figure in the fight against untouchability. Through the visual representation of Ambedkar's journey, Bhimayana aims to unshackle minds from deep-rooted prejudices and guide them towards a more inclusive understanding of social justice and equality. The medium of a graphic novel helps to portray the trauma of Dalits that was brushed under the carpet by the mainstream literature of the upper castes. Moreover, the visuals echo what the words could not express. This paper attempts to shine light on the immortal Evil of Untouchability in India, and the power of graphic narratives in creating awareness about such social issues. Keywords: Untouchability, Ambedkar, Bhimayana, Graphic Biography, Counter-Narrative, Gond Art | JETNR2402020 | Journal of Emerging Trends and Novel Research ([www.jetnr.org](www.jetnr.org)) | a148 | | --- | --- | --- | Introduction Literature becomes a vehicle that helps to take the heavy luggage of the traumatized victims to society. Such works that include the experiences of the survivors and are filled with their pain, troubles, fears, and broken dreams are known as counter-narratives. They aim to narrate the exploitations of the victims and locate them within the dominant discourse. Graphic narratives have begun to take the spotlight for depicting such traumatic issues since the latter part of the twentieth century. Often deemed as junk and useless, comics in the form of graphic narratives have become the best source to unearth the hidden, to portray the indescribable. The term graphic narrative has evolved from the term comic and is used for word-and-image hybrid books that are comparatively longer and are not serialized like comics. The graphic narratives aim to address serious issues that linger like ghosts in the lives of the victims. A more occurring and perceptible term than graphic narrative is the graphic novel. It was used as a merchandise term around the 1960s. It acquired momentum due to the publications of the clandestine press that wanted to make a difference through the comic medium. The term was publicly used for the first time by Richard Kyle in 1964. It is a misconception that Will Eisner coined the term because he used it in a mercantile way for the sale of his book “A Contract with God”. However, using the term graphic novel for such comics could be wrong and misleading because a number of these works are not fictitious Over time, the comic medium has shifted and developed as a result of many cultural influences, creative movements, technical breakthroughs, and socioeconomic changes. Visual storytelling was common in ancient cultures, which is where graphic narratives got their start. Early examples of sequential art include the Egyptian Book of the Dead, which tells stories through a series of pictures, and the Bayeux Tapestry, a history of the Norman Conquest. However, it wasn't until the late 19th century that the comic strip the way we know currently truly originated. The initial newspaper comic strip with frequent characters and speech bubbles was Richard F. Outcault's “The Yellow Kid” in 1895. It made a big advancement in sequential art and enthralled readers with its humour.“The Adventures of Obadiah Oldbuck” of 1829 by Rodolphe Topffer is also among the earliest American comics. Starting in the 1930s and continuing into the 1950s, comics saw their authentic golden period. During this time, superhero comics began to gain popul

FAQs

What is Bhimayana about?

Bhimayana explores the transformative power of a graphic biography centered on BR Ambedkar’s experiences in the fight against untouchability and caste discrimination.

Why does the paper emphasize graphic narratives?

Graphic narratives are presented as effective word-and-image forms that uncover hidden experiences and depict trauma that mainstream literature often overlooks.

How does the paper describe the role of counter-narratives?

Counter-narratives are described as works that narrate victims’ exploitations and position them within dominant discourse, helping society recognize their lived pain and broken dreams.

Aug 28, 2026

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