Graphic novels have always felt like the overlooked middle child of the literary world. Theyâre often dismissed as childrenâs books or treated as something less serious than a novel, when, in reality, they ask readers to slow down in a way few books do. Every page is both literature and artwork. That is especially true with Absolute Jafar, Sarnath Banerjeeâs latest graphic novel. Moving between Delhi, Karachi, and Berlin, the book follows Brighu as memories, friendships and family histories blur into stories of migration, belonging, and the people who shape us. The titular Jafar, Brighuâs son, appears much later in the narrative, but his presence anchors the entire book.
While the book isnât autobiographical, its emotional centre is deeply informed by Banerjeeâs relationship with his teenage son, Mir Ali Banerjee. As he spoke about co-parenting, the endless school runs that once structured his days, and the quiet rituals that now feel precious in hindsight, it became clear that his idea of home has less to do with an address than with the lives lived inside it. âWhen people ask me what home means,â he said, âI think less about a physical place and more about the geography my son and I shared.â Below, excerpts from the interview.
