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Ms. Mouli Chaudhuri
Visiting Faculty, Department of Basic Science and Humanities,
Dr. Sudhir Chandra Sur Institute of Technology and Sports Complex (SurTech)
540 Dum Dum Road, Surermath
Kolkata-700074 West Bengal (affiliated by MAKAUT)
ORCID iD: https://orcid.org/0009-0005-1486-1690
Abstract— This study explores how contemporary Indian graphic novels represent the 1947 Partition of India and how these visual narratives affect readers’ understanding of historical trauma. Employing a mixed‐methods design, the research combines in‐depth content analysis of five seminal graphic novels with a structured survey of 150 readers. Content analysis examines thematic depiction, visual style, narrative strategies, and cultural contexts, while the survey assesses emotional engagement, historical comprehension, perceived authenticity, and pedagogical value. Findings indicate that graphic novels employ a blend of personal memoir, allegory, symbolic imagery (notably trains, borders, fragmented panels, and metaphoric animal motifs), and intertextual references to oral and folk traditions to convey the dislocation, violence, and resilience associated with Partition.
Survey results reveal high levels of empathetic engagement (mean = 4.2/5), enhanced historical awareness (mean = 3.9/5), and strong perceptions of authenticity (mean = 4.1/5). Qualitative feedback underscores the power of color palettes, panel transitions, and multimodal juxtaposition in evoking trauma, memory, and hope. The study concludes that graphic narratives not only serve as a vital medium for transmitting collective memory of Partition but also open new pedagogical avenues in history and literature curricula, fostering intergenerational dialogue and critical reflection on one of South Asia’s defining events.
Keywords— Partition; Indian graphic novels; collective memory; visual narrative; trauma; reader engagement
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