ItemArticle

Borne dreamily along the River of Stories: polyphony, anthropoharmonism and the search for indigenous epistemologies in Orijit Sens graphic novel

Title
Borne dreamily along the River of Stories: polyphony, anthropoharmonism and the search for indigenous epistemologies in Orijit Sens graphic novel
Creator
Varkey, Elizabeth
Description
This paper offers a close reading and analysis of Orijit Sens The River of Stories (1994), often hailed as the first Indian graphic novel. Based on the historical events of the 1990s, Sens work revolves around the Narmada Bachao Andolan, a milestone movement in the annals of Indian environmentalism that resisted the construction of dams across the Narmada River. This project led to the displacement of the tribal population residing along the river bank and destroyed their livelihood. The paper employs Bakhtins concept of polyphony to explore the richly layered nature of Sens graphic novel. The graphic novel calls upon its readers to constantly navigate the diverse, often conflicting perspectives offered by different characters as well as the complex interplay between words and images. Drawing upon the works of posthumanist philosophers like Braidotti, Hathaway and Scharper, the paper argues that, through characters like Malgu gayan, The River of Stories presents a passing vision of anthropoharmonism, i.e. harmony between mankind and the natural world. However, the overarching presence of the influential and corrupt State officials, blindly seeking progress and development underscores that it is only through the relentless quest to uncover and preserve indigenous epistemologies, comprising lost tribal cultures and folk traditions, that this harmonious vision can be realised. 2025 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
Source
Journal of Graphic Novels and Comics;
Date
01-01-2025
Publisher
Routledge
Subject
anthropoharmonism; environment; Graphic novel; Orijit Sen; polyphony; River of Stories
Coverage
Varkey E., Department of English and Cultural Studies, Christ University, Bengaluru, India
Rights
Restricted Access; Hardcopy may be available in the library
Relation
ISSN: 21504857;
Format
online
Language
English
Type
Article

Citation

Varkey, Elizabeth, “Borne dreamily along the River of Stories: polyphony, anthropoharmonism and the search for indigenous epistemologies in Orijit Sens graphic novel,” CHRIST (Deemed To Be University) Institutional Repository, accessed June 18, 2026, https://archives.christuniversity.in/items/show/22770.

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