River of Stories - Orijit Sen

Background of River of Stories

River of Stories (1994) is widely regarded as India’s first graphic novel, created by Orijit Sen, an artist, designer, and social commentator. The book emerged from Sen’s fieldwork in the late 1980s and early 1990s, during which he travelled through the Narmada Valley, interacting with Adivasi communities, environmental activists, and villagers affected by developmental policies.

The narrative is rooted in the socio-political backdrop of the Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA)—one of India’s most significant environmental and human-rights movements. The movement arose in response to the construction of large dams on the Narmada River, which threatened to submerge forests, farmlands, and settlements, leading to mass displacement.

Sen used the graphic novel form to blend journalism, oral histories, folklore, and artistic reportage. The story moves between perspectives: the displaced Adivasi communities, activists, government officials, city-based journalists, and the river itself, which becomes a metaphor for memory and continuity.

Stylistically, Sen drew inspiration from Indian folk art traditions, documentary realism, and political cartooning. The visual narrative immerses readers in landscapes, cultural practices, and the everyday life of the valley, making it both an artistic and anthropological document.

River of Stories thus stands at the intersection of environmental activism, indigenous rights, and experimental storytelling, marking a major moment in the evolution of graphic narratives in India.



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