Kolkata witnesses a vibrant exhibition that celebrates the legacy of comics in Bengal

An ongoing exhibition titled Comics in Bengal, at the Kolkata Centre for Creativity highlights the evolution of comics in Bengal. The initiative is in collaboration with Comics Culture Collective and will be on till March 9. The exhibition aims to bring forth the rich heritage of Bengali comics and the key artists who helped popularise it. The month-long program, apart from the exhibition, also features several talks and workshops with notable figures like Sandip Ray, discussions with popular visual artists and comics artists like Sarbajit Sen, as well as a comics collectors’ meet to gather serious comics enthusiasts from around the city.

Prof Abhijit Gupta of Jadavpur University, in his inaugural speech at the exhibition shared how comics in Bengal could be traced back to the 1920s, but it started gaining popularity post-independence. Inspired by the likes of Lee Falk, they started to flourish through artists like Narayan Debnath, Tushar Chattopadhyay, Mayukh Chowdhury, Sailya Chakraborty, Sufi, Pratul Bandhopadhyay, among others. They would be available to the readers in different formats, mostly in children’s and entertainment magazines and newspapers, such as Shuktara, Sandesh, Nabakallol and Kishore Bharati. “Over time, after the 1980s, there was a significant rise in magazines and newspapers translating comic strips from abroad rather than continuing with local authors’ original stories, and that would be seen with the rise of Anandamela and subsequently, Tintin, Asterix, Henry, and the like,” he said.

This exhibition is focused on tracing the journey of Bengali comics, from its inception to the current scenario, where one can find reprints of rare newspaper strips and magazines, comic books and some original artworks. It also aims to create a timeline for the same, so that people are more familiar with them. Illustrator and cartoonist Debasish Deb said, “When we read comics, we follow the story. We don’t care about the quality of the picture or the artwork as long as the story is solid. A lot of times, in recent days, I have found that the artwork is all right, but the story keeps you hooked till the end, and that is where the artist wins in keeping the audience engaged.” He further added, “You have to be extremely caring when it comes to comics, and extremely passionate, because every frame tells a story. Comics is an intense medium of art.”

Richa Agarwal, chairperson of KCC concluded by saying, “I’m delighted to announce that we are presenting this exhibition. It aims to uncover the vibrant legacy of storytelling, adventure, and creativity that has shaped the comic culture in Bengal. From the early 1920s to the present day, the showcase features rare newspaper strips, magazines, comic books, and some original artworks. It not only brings to life the rich history, creativity, and artistry that have woven comics into the cultural narrative of Bengal, but also pays homage to the brilliant minds behind the iconic characters and captivating stories.”