Drawing Attention

Growing up in Biswanathchariali,a small town six hours from Guwahati,Singh was greatly influenced by her grandmother Durgamoni Saikia,to whom the book is dedicated. “She would tell the usual animal tales but then go on to include family members and historical events as well,with heaps of masala and several asides. I picked up the characters from those folk tales but have told a new story about them,in my own way,” says Singh,who decided to become a comic-book artist after stumbling on Art Spiegelman’s Maus: A Survivor’s Tale.

Currently working with the NGO Pratham,Singh juggles her day job with her graphic journeys. “After Kari by Amruta Patil,mine is possibly the second graphic novel by an Indian woman,but our work and storytelling are completely different. I wouldn’t call my book a graphic novel,though,it is too boring a term for such an exciting medium,” says Singh,who began her book over three years ago and is hoping that in spite of her reservations of how the book is labelled,it should sell. “I consider myself a storyteller,people should enjoy the stories.”