Graphic Novel in India

Abstract: The graphic novel has emerged as a distinctive form of cultural expression that bridges visual art, literature, and social commentary. Rooted in the evolution of the comic strip and comic book, the medium has been redefined in the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries through theoretical insights and critical recognition. Scholars such as Will Eisner and Scott McCloud established the theoretical vocabulary of sequential art, while more recent critics like Hillary Chute and Frederick Luis Aldama have emphasized its role in feminist, postcolonial, and multicultural contexts. In India, the graphic novel has developed in dialogue with indigenous storytelling traditions and contemporary social realities, producing innovative works such as River of Stories, Bhimayana, Kari, and Delhi Calm. This paper combines historical overview with critical analysis to show how the graphic novel has evolved into a medium of both entertainment and social critique. This paper draws on such perspectives to examine the development of graphic literature both globally and in India. It argues that the graphic novel should not be understood merely as an extension of print culture, but rather as a cultural form deeply tied to debates around identity, politics, and social resistance. Keywords: Graphic Novel, Sequential Art, Indian Comics, Visual Storytelling. Title: Graphic Novel in India Author: Dr. Jyotsna Pathak International Journal of Social Science and Humanities Research ISSN 2348-3156 (Print), ISSN 2348-3164 (online) Vol. 13, Issue 3, July 2025 - September 2025 Page No: 437-442 Research Publish Journals Website: www.researchpublish.com Published Date: 23-September-2025 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17184200 Paper Download Link (Source) https://www.researchpublish.com/papers/graphic-novel-in-india