Drawn to Change: Image-Text Interplay in Indian Graphic Journalism

A Photo Essay

Abstract

This article introduces Indian graphic journalism by exploring the general dynamics of
the interplay of text and sequential visual narrative within this medium. A close reading
of a selected work—a graphic feature on the suicide of the Dalit student Rohith
Vemula in 2016, published on the Indian news platform The Quint—shows that the
genre's success is driven largely by three key factors: the accessibility of images, their
captivating nature, and their ability to convey additional layers of meaning. An overview
of the current landscape of Indian graphic journalism will contextualize the findings,
emphasizing the diversity of genre within the format. The article demonstrates
that graphic journalism spans various genres with reportage, feature stories, and opinion
pieces standing out as the most prominent within the Indian context. Across these
genres, the inherent subjectivity of the drawn image is employed deliberately to challenge
dominant narratives and bring marginalized voices to the forefront, giving rise to
diverse forms of “visual activism” and creating valuable archives of protest and social
commentary.