The Father of the Nation through graphic novels

"The challenge was in finding references for the people in Bangabandhu's life whom we knew nothing about. In such cases, we gathered as much information as we could from the Internet and anecdotes. We used our imagination, and created a balance between fact and fiction. The Prime Minister provided us with feedback herself. Our job was to keep the facts right while making the characters believable."

As I sifted through the pages of "Mujib", the graphic novel series depicting the Father of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's life, I could not help but think of how many generations of children could have benefited from this remarkable portrayal of the Father of the Nation.

The series, based on the unfinished memoirs of Bangabandhu, is now available at Ekushey Boi Mela. It has been translated to English and Japanese.

Published by CRI under the initiative of Radwan Mujib Siddiq, Trustee, CRI, and grandson of Bangabandhu, and Nasrul Hamid, State Minister for the Ministry of Power, Energy, and Mineral Resources, the series is the first of its kind in the country to sketch the life of a political figure in the form of comics.

Each of the 10 episodes of the novel features a handful of interesting events of Bangabandhu's life.

The series features intense portrayals of his unwavering stance for his ideals, imprisoned times, hunger strike and release from jail, followed by victory in provincial elections and the historic six-points movement.

A dedicated creative team of artists, editors, and scriptwriters worked on "Mujib" over a period of seven years, starting from 2015.

"Growing up, I read graphic novels about Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr. But they were leaders of different races and nationalities. I never came across graphic novels about Bangladeshi heroes," says Syed Rashad Imam Tanmoy, the cartoonist behind "Mujib".

"As I did not have any local examples to relate to, I used to think foreign heroes are better and more powerful. Now, through this series, I hope the younger and future generations are inspired by the courage and honesty of our hero, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman."

Portraying the journey of an ordinary boy with extraordinary dreams, the graphic novels invite readers to discover Bangabandhu as a human being, outside of the larger than life image many of us have of him in our minds. They depict his flaws, dilemmas, regrets, and bond with his family.

"Although his heroic characteristics are evident in the stories, they are never over-the-top. Mujib, as a protagonist, is very relatable," adds Siddiq Ahmed, the scriptwriter of the novels.

"Now, through this series, I hope the younger and future generations are inspired by the courage and honesty of our hero, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman," says Tanmoy.

In keeping the narration light and breezy for kids and young adults, the stories in  "Mujib" do not lose their authenticity, as well as their historical and political messages.

"CRI gave us access to plenty of resources, including the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum and photo archives," shares Tanmoy.

"The challenge was in finding references for the people in Bangabandhu's life whom we knew nothing about. In such cases, we gathered as much information as we could from the Internet and anecdotes. We used our imagination, and created a balance between fact and fiction. The Prime Minister provided us with feedback herself. Our job was to keep the facts straight while making the characters believable."

Shibu Kumer Shill, the editor of "Mujib", explains that the subject matter lends itself very well to the format of graphic novels, as they wanted to bring history into focus in a simple, yet exciting way.

"It is wonderful to see that 7-year old children who read the first issue of the series are now waiting outside the Boi Mela stalls for the last instalment, as 14-year-olds. They have grown up with these novels," he adds. 

All 10 instalments of the series are available in the fair at stall 735 of Centre for Research and Information (CRI). Visitors with student ID cards can purchase the entire set for BDT 750, and a single instalment for BDT 100 only. Baatighar is the official distributor of the series, and it is also available on Rokomari.com.