Translate 
Abstract
Graphic narratives in South Asia have foregrounded critical inquiries and insights into the ingrained hegemonies, hierarchies, and power structures through their diverse visual patterns. While cultural productions from India have been extensively studied in modern graphic narratives, those from Pakistan and Sri Lanka have received very little attention. The present article delves into the spatial and temporal aesthetics of the graphic novel Vanni: A Family’s Struggle through the Sri Lankan Conflict, examining injustice through the lens of epistemic schema and fostering a critical consciousness among readers for radical social change. Drawing insights from Fricker’s (2007) theory of ‘epistemic injustice’, the present article seeks to portray the unheard voices and stories of people and explores the notion of testimonial and hermeneutical injustices, as well as how the families of the common man were unable to share their horrified experiences of trauma, suffering, and violence incurred upon them. It finally chronicles how comics like Vanni play a crucial role in enunciating a new graphic epistemological dimension in South Asia and can serve as a relevant expression for portraying and critiquing the injustices that hinder the attainment of human welfare and justice at large.
Published Version
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
