VISHWAJYOTI GHOSH
Vishwajyoti Ghosh is an Indian graphic novelist and cartoonist working mostly on social and political topics.
In 2009, he put together a series of graphic collages reinterpreting classified ads in a collection of postcards
‘Times New Roman and Contrymen’.
His most ambitious has been the graphic novel ‘Delhi Calm’ (2010). In it Ghosh brings together realistic comic
passages with political commentaries and fantastical elements in order to remember a particularly incisive and
controversially discussed period in more recent Indian history, the state of internal emergency from 1975 to 1977,
referred to in India as ‘The Emergency’.
His most recent book publication was the group project curated by him ‘This Side That Side: Restorying
Partition’, an anthology of graphic narratives by 48 illustrators and authors from southern Asia. With this
collection, Ghosh said in an interview with the New York Times that he wanted to show young readers in
particular the consequences of partition.
“This astounding collection of talent from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh examines the human need
for some for something other than what history and its makers dictate”, praised US illustrator Joe Sacco, pioneer
of modern comic reporting. The collection, he added, is “beautiful, moving and unforgettable”. Till recently,
Ghosh also published weekly cartoons on current political issues in the ‘Full Toss’ section initiated by him in
The Hindustan Times. In addition to this, many of his cartoons have been published in magazines and
anthologies in India and abroad.
Ghosh has worked together on many occasions with other comic artists across the globe. With the Pao Collective,
for example, of which he is co-founder, he has published several collections of short stories.
‘The Comics Journa ‘The Comics Journal’ described Ghosh as an “original and talented comic illustrator with a serious interest in social
matters”, who also knows how to mobilise people as an editor and political activist.
Ghosh lives in New Delhi.
Publications:
Times New Roman and Countrymen / Blaft, Chennai, 2009
Delhi Calm / Harper Collins, New Delhi, 2010
This Side That Side: Restorying Partition / Yoda Press, New Delhi, 2013
Exhibitions:
Paris: Mysteries, Mythologies, Memories / Alliance Francaise India, 2005
Times New Roman and Countrymen / Chennai, 2010
Sarai City as a Studio / New Delhi, 2012
Zameen (curated by Ranjit Hoskote) / New Delhi, 2014
ANTI MEMOIRS (curated by Ranjit Hoskote) / Goa, 2018
Fellowships/ Residencies:
Sarai Independent Research Fellowship / New Delhi, 2002
Egide Fellowship / Govt. of France, 2003
Vasl Residency / Lahore, 2008
Pro Helvetia Residency / Zurich, 2011
Prince Claus Fellowship / Amsterdam. 2011
Sarai City as a Studio / New Delhi, 2012
