Ode to an Indomitable Spirit

Grit: The Vishwas Story will nestle comfortably in the burgeoning space that graphic fiction now occupies in Indian bookstores. A genre that is neither new to children nor young adults, visual narrative be it in comic books or full length illustrated novels feeds on generations that have grown on Amar Chitra Kathas whose reach is evident in the vast number of languages it is published in. Even in its full-length avatar with a focused lens on themes beyond the voracious need for mythology, graphic novels no longer qualify as nascent and upcoming as mainstream publishers ensure that supply meets the readers’ growing demand. The trajectory of this genre evinces sophisticated visuals, at times using advanced digitalized software with contemporary pertinent themes such as the socio-political turmoil during the emergency in Delhi Calm (2010) by Vishwajyoti Ghosh who then went on to publish the anthology, This Side, That Side, Restorying Partition (2013). There are several which focus on the urban landscape in all its beauty and ugliness, Corridor by Sarnath Banerjee (2004), Hyderabad: A Graphic Novel by Jai Undurti and Harsho Mohan Chattoraj, Kashmir Pending (2007) by Naseer Ahmed and Saurabh Singh and a collaborative anthology Bangalore: A Graphic Novel (2017) to name a few. Biographies are yet another popular domain world over and India is no exception. Bharath Murthy’s The Vanished Path (2015) on Buddha, Gandhi: My Life is My Message (2014) by Jason Quinn and Sachin Nagar, and Ambedkar: India’s Crusader for Human Rights (2019) authored by Kieron Moore with illustrations by Sachin Nagar are testimony to the popularity of memoirs. Bhimayana: Experiences of Untouchability (2011) by artists Durgabai Vyam and Subhash Vyam, and writers Srividya Natarajan and S Anand is unique as the graphics are in the Gond tradition, a beautiful osmosis in visual storytelling, a form that is as ancient as folklore itself.
Amidst this evolving and bustling literary space, Hachette India came up with a winner in 2019, Grit: The Major Story based on the life of the much ‘acclaimed, admired and applauded’ Major Devender Pal Singh whose patriotic aspirations were martyred due to the tragic loss of a limb in the Kargil war, which did not stop him though from subsequently becoming India’s first blade runner and athlete. This highly inspiring memoir penned by VR Ferose with graphics by Sriram Jagannathan evocatively charts the poignant journey from dismay and dread to confidence and success. The overriding mantra, ‘conquer yourself and you will conquer the world’, is not just at the core of this inclusive memoir but also leads the way to many more such lives that need to be brought to the forefront.
Seemingly formulaic, this success is repeated in Grit: The Vishwas Story in 2022. This non-linear narrative in five parts charts the indomitable spirit of Vishwas KS who loses his arms, his childhood, his identity and dignity in a split second of child play as his fall both literally and metaphorically spirals him into a whirlpool of blackness evocatively portrayed in bold strokes of black and white by Sriram Jagannathan. Part one opens with ‘I’m Vishwas. I’m a swimmer’, deliciously cryptic as the overpowering visual of the cover page belies such a possibility, this is followed by further such determinate affirmations, to his being a martial artist and then a dancer too. The narrative becomes intense and gripping in part four as the visuals take over the writing, and screams become louder, laden with angst and anguish. The isolation of a young child with amputated arms sitting alone in the black and grey classroom speaks volumes of his deep sense of loneliness accentuated by guilt. The struggle is real, and neither of the three collaborators are squeamish about bringing it to the fore. The reliance on others for the most basic tasks—going to the bathroom, the uselessness of heavy prosthetics, the internalization of shame and pity, the subsuming darkness after he loses his main support in his mother—all of this and much more springs louder than words from the pages forcing the reader to reckon with the daily debilitating struggle for normalcy and acceptance.
It is part five which is the dominant script, ‘I’m Vishwas. I’m a Survivor.’ His journey from survival to success was not without several obstacles, each one a learning experience. The momentum gathers as he continuously challenges himself, determined not to ‘fall into that pit again’. Medals in swimming, belts in martial arts and more importantly, the love and admiration of the audience in his dance result in greater fame and success effectively portrayed in the use of ‘Trring Trring’, in bold and large font, an indicator of his demand on TV as both the telephone and cash registers ring continuously, which he effectively capitalizes to fund his other passions. The seamless move from black and white to colour marks the transition from the past to the present; Vishwas is now a married man and blessed with a daughter. He has run marathons, been on a micro flight, scuba dived in Goa and even acted in a movie. The novel asserts that it is neither sympathy nor pity that he wanted but opportunities, to be treated with dignity which he deserved just like anyone else.
The graphic novel is unique in the collaborative impulses of both the writers and the illustrator as their synergies mark the success of their literary endeavour; in this case VR Ferose and Sriram Jagannathan have struck the right balance in both scripting and the graphic visualization. In the Grit series however, the third dimension is even more significant as it is autobiographical and furthermore charts a territory which is inclusive and motivational. The common element is grit and determination, the ability to rise above all odds, to fight not just the system but oneself, to create an affirmative identity amidst overpowering forces of normative hegemonic forces. The difference though is in the individuated lived reality of the subject. Vishwas comes alive forcefully, a visual that forces us to rethink of how we deal with disability; he rightfully points out several times—we fail because we don’t have the experience to deal with it. The purpose of such narratives is not just to motivate and inspire but also to blur the boundaries and to sensitize readers, both young and old.
Looking forward to the next in the Grit series.
(Vishwas KS is an international para-swimming champion, motivational speaker, dancer, and martial artist. He has represented India in prestigious para-swimming competitions and has secured numerous medals.

VR Ferose is an author, columnist, and inclusion evangelist. Founder of India Inclusion Foundation, he has co-authored Gifted: Inspiring Stories of People with Disabilities (2014) and The Invisible Majority (2021).

Sriram Jagannathan is writer, illustrator and designer from Chennai. He has authored two graphic novels: Mai published by Notion Press in 2018 and Grit: The Major Story in 2019.)
Gitanjali Chawlais Professor of English at Maharaja Agrasen College, University of Delhi, Delhi. She is also a folklorist and materials producer and has dabbled in translation. She is the editor of several seminal anthologies, the latest being Indian Popular Fiction: Redefining the Canon (Routledge, 2021). She has also been the Presidential International Visiting Scholar, Wheelock College, Boston University, USA.[/ihc-hide-content]