The People of the Indus: A Graphic Narrative on the Rise and Fall of the Harappan Civilization [Hardcover] Nikhil Gulati

Nikhil Gulati (Author)
Nikhil Gulati is an author and illustrator of graphic novels. He believes in telling stories that inspire wonder and foster compassion.

Jonathan Mark Kenoyer (Author)
Jonathan Mark Kenoyer is one of the foremost authorities on Indus history and is a professor of archaeology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Who were the people of the Indus?
Why didn't they build pyramids like the Egyptians?
And ultimately what happened to them?

Supported by extensive research from a leading Indus archaeologist, this graphic novel seeks answers to precisely these questions. It is not history in the form of a dull record of dates and events but a beautifully illustrated glimpse into the lives of the people of the Indus civilization, dating all the way back to 3200 BCE. The People of the Indus is a rare account of how one of the most unique and enigmatic civilizations of the ancient world changed the course of human history. It is sure to enthral young adults and older readers alike.

The book takes you on a visual tour of the Indus Valley civilisation detailing several interesting facets from architecture and craft to the political structure and geography. While the story is completely rooted in non-fictional history, it finds a human voice through a narrator who plays the part of a tour guide.

Apart from the friendly escort, it is the picture-only sections that I found mesmerising. As if looking at a movie storyboard, the no-speech panels manage to share information and tell a story with no interruption from words. That being said, the novel also hosts panels that are rich in information. I found myself engrossed in the unique seals (that acted like the signatures of today), the decentralised power and the conversation on language. Nikhil, however, shares that it was the lack of weapons that fascinated him.

The book is educational in intent, but not in the way that mainstream Indian audiences are used to. Facts aren't stated, they're suggested. Theories are offered, considered, and even contradicted. Academic discoveries aren't presented as the finish line; they're the starting point of an investigation into the recesses of human history. Along with historical facts, the narrator asks fundamental questions. If the sites found along the Indus River was the birth of civilisation in South Asia, why were we so drastically different from the Egyptian and Mesopotamian civilisations? Why didn't the Harappans ever build pyramid-like structures? How did they maintain order without warfare? These questions settle into a corner ofyour mind and keep the most discerning reader riveted to the book.

Overall, the presentation is clean, classic, and conventional. The reader will not find it difficult to traverse the landscape that Gulati lays down. And this book has a far wider audience than the handful of graphic-lit enthusiasts who will pick it up. Such a clean presentation can come in very useful in introducing complex concepts, histories, and analyses to younger audiences.

Gulati and Kenoyer collect and present a real treasure trove of facts, but they manage to do so without making the reader feel burdened by them. For me, the silent interludes between the long didactic chapters are the clincher. They are also the aspect of the book that lifts it away from the shadow of graphic scholars like McCloud and others.