Graphic novel Mujib comes out in English

After the successful publication of the graphic novel on Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in Bangla, the English version of the first part of the novel series "Mujib" was unveiled at Dhaka Lit Fest yesterday.

The first three parts of the 12-volume series have already been published in Bangla. The Centre for Research and Information (CRI) published the graphic novel in an effort to present the life of father of the nation to people, especially children, in an interesting way.

The English version was launched for the readers of other languages at home and abroad.

Addressing a discussion at Bangla Academy where the three-day literary festival opened yesterday, Bangabandhu's grandson Radwan Mujib Siddiq said the aim of the graphic novel was to attract the younger generation who might not have knowledge about Bangabandhu.

"We wanted the younger generation to be interested in the memoirs [of Bangabandhu] and what better way to whet the appetite than a graphic novel,” he told the discussion titled "Mujib:  Taking History to the Next Generation”.

Radwan, also a trustee of CRI, said, “Graphic novel is something that has not been done before. I was brought up from a young age on graphic novel. I had seen graphic novel being written about other historical figures.”

“My grandfather's memoirs were published after his diaries were discovered. My aunt [Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina] and mother worked on it. What better script than his own words written by himself,” he said.

The novel tells the story of an ordinary young boy who grows up to lead his country. Based on "The Unfinished Memoirs" by Bangabandhu, the book series follows the journey of Bangladesh's founding father from childhood to political awakenings, reads the back cover of the novel.

The first volume of the series was launched in 2015. The graphic novel artist Syed Rashad Imam Tanmoy, UK-based literary magazine Grant's online editor Luke Neim, and ULAB teacher Arzoo Ismail talked different aspects of the novel, with journalist Jerry Pinto moderating the session.