Cartoon book to explore Ambedkar's ideas

Thiruvananthapuram: A group of Dalit activists, researchers and writers have come together for a project to bring out a cartoon book (Chitrakatha) for children based on the life and contributions of Babasaheb B. R. Ambedkar, who was instrumental in creating a constitution for the country based on the principle of human dignity. The plan is to bring out the Chitrakatha highlighting the issues of social justice on or around Ambedkar Parinirvan Divas which falls on December 6, V. B. Ajayakumar, executive director of the research group, Rights, and who is also actively involved in the conceptualisation of the project told Deccan Chronicle. 

The script for the book will be by poet M. R. Renukumar and illustration by graphic artist Banerjee, he said. The research for the project has been done by a team consisting of activists and researchers including E.V. Anil, Raghu Eraviperoor, Syamlal, Renjith Puthanchira, Santhosh Pattathil and Praveena Thali apart from Mr Renukumar, Mr Banarjee and Mr Ajayakumar. The idea was to introduce Ambedkar as a hero of democratic values, freedom and education to the children.

The cartoons would cover his childhood, youth, and the struggle he undertook at the individual level for getting educated and the personalities who stood with him during the period, Mr Ajayakumar said. Ambedkar would not be merely introduced as someone who was instrumental in creating the Constitution, but his role in ensuring a social justice component in the constitution will be highlighted. His quests, interventions and life among the people who were considered untouchables during the period, he said.