Malik Sajad
Born
Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India
Alma materGoldsmiths University of London
OccupationGraphic Novelist
Known for Munnu: A Boy From Kashmir.
Notable work Short stories such as Identity Card, The Posterman, Endangered Species, Facebooked, Gulberg Society Massacre Timeline, Side Effects of Fairness Cream and , A Wedding Under Curfew. .
Websitehttp://www.maliksajad.com

Malik Sajad is a graphic novelist[1][2][3] based in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir.[4][5]

His debut graphic novel, Munnu - A Boy from Kashmir[6] was released with critical acclaim and won the Verve Story Teller of The Year award.[7] The debut novel was made a part of the permanent collection (Artists' Books) at the Brooklyn Museum in New York and his sketches have been compared to the work of Art Spiegelman such as Maus[8] and work of Marjane Satrapi such as Persepolis.[9]

Sajad's debut novel was released in 2015 in Britain, but it took another six months for it to come out in India. The publisher, Fourth Estate, told him that the authorities were slow to provide the ISBN that all published books must have.[10]

Recognitions

Malik is an Inlaks Scholar (2011) and OMI Francis Greenburger (2013) fellow.[11][12]

As a cartoonist

Sajad was 14 when he started working as a cartoonist, for a regional newspaper, Greater Kashmir. It was a lead story in 2005-06 by journalist, Arif Shafi Wani about endangered Kashmiri deer in Kashmiri forests, from where he drew inspiration, for his debut novel, by comparing Kashmiris with Hanguls as humanoids.[13][14]

Influences

Graphic novels such as Relatively Indolent But Relentless by Matt Freedman, Fun Home by Alison Bechdel. Among others, Sajad also likes works of Käthe Kollwitz, Lynd Ward, Keith Haring, and work of Betye Saar.[15]

Positions on Kashmir conflict

Sajad believes that the conflict in Kashmir has 'shaken people like an earthquake'. He says, "everyone witnessed and felt the devastating tremor; some houses fell and the families were buried, some houses developed cracks and some stayed unharmed. This changed the face, structure and traditional landscape of Kashmir forever."[16]

References

  1. ^ Gajarawala, Toran. Kashmir Stories. Dissent Magazine. Retrieved 13 October 2018.
  2. ^ Kashmiri cartoonist Malik Sajad's graphic novel, Munnu, unveils life in the valley. Indian Express. Retrieved 13 October 2018.
  3. ^ Shah, Fahad. Munnu A Boy from Kashmir review: Around barbed wires, many lives. Hindustan Times. Retrieved 13 October 2018.
  4. ^ Recchia, Francesca. Malik Sajad's Munnu: a Graphic Novel From Kashmir. The Warscapes. Retrieved 13 October 2018.
  5. ^ Malik Sajad's debut graphic novel portrays what it's like growing up in Kashmir. Dawn. Retrieved 13 October 2018.
  6. ^ Bhanot, Kavita. Munnu: A boy from Kashmir by Malik Sajad, book review: A habitat under threat. The Independent. Retrieved 13 October 2018.
  7. ^ Sahjwani, Natasha. Meet Verve Story Teller of the year winner Malik Sajad. Verve Magazine. Retrieved 13 October 2018.
  8. ^ Chakraborty, Rohit. A Citizen of War: On Malik Sajad's 'Munnu: A Boy From Kashmir'. The Million. Retrieved 13 October 2018.
  9. ^ Tagat, Anurag. Sketching a life in black and white. The Hindu. Retrieved 13 October 2018.
  10. ^ Kashmiri writer Malik Sajad's graphic novel 'Munnu' retells horrors of Kashmir insurgency. First Post. Retrieved 13 October 2018.
  11. ^ Foundation for Indian Contemporary Art. THE AMOL VADEHRA ART GRANT 2017-18. MALIK SAJAD. Retrieved 13 October 2018.
  12. ^ Presentation by Malik Sajad. Retrieved 13 October 2018.
  13. ^ Bhattacharya, Chandrima. Artist of the Line of no Control. The Telegraph. Retrieved 13 October 2018.
  14. ^ Gulati, Sumegha. Why 'Munnu' is the Most Haunting Comic on Kashmir You Will Read. The Quint. Retrieved 13 October 2018.
  15. ^ Ranka, Ayush. "I Want Readers to Share the Experience of Growing up in Kashmir". The Wire. Retrieved 13 October 2018.
  16. ^ Candice. MUNNU: 'Life is precious in Kashmir just like it is everywhere else'. Fourth Estate. Retrieved 13 October 2018.
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