Graphic Novelist Maps Loneliness, Love, and Culture

Graphic novelist Sarnath Banerjee recently engaged in a discussion, weaving together diverse themes from cricket and Japanese art to loneliness and folklore. He described 'rich loneliness' as a specific quietude found in urban landscapes like College Street after daily bustle, a feeling he associates with contemplative afternoons.

Banerjee recounted his own cross-border marriage to a Pakistani woman, humorously referring to it as a 'lifelong problem' and a 'popular new disease.' This union brought together varied cultures and relatives, ultimately inspiring stories for his work, including his son's amusing requests for a salary.

He clarified that his artistic process is not driven by nostalgia. Instead, Banerjee collects everyday objects and memories to 'historicize emotion.' He believes comics are uniquely suited to capture the seen and unseen, mirroring life's evolution through the interplay of text and image.