The Rights Collective has teamed up with Shalimar Books to bring you the online launch of Shaheen Bagh: A Graphic Recollection, a graphic account of one of the most famous political sit ins in recent times, which started in Delhi in December 2019 and continued until March 2020 when the nationwide lockdown was announced.

The book tells the story of the Muslim women who started the protest that became the catalyst for a pan-India political movement against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) and the proposed National Register of Citizens (NRC). Based on conversations and interviews with the women who were part of the protest, Ita Mehrotra's graphic narrative archives moments from a movement that spread like wildfire through the length and breadth of the country and continues to inspire voices of dissent.

This launch will include discussion with Ita Mehotra, Arpita Das of Yoda Press, and protestors and activists Atia Khursheed and Safoora Zargar, both of whom were involved in the Shaheen Bagh sit in and Anti-CAA movements.

Note about tickets: Tickets to this event are free, unless you would like to buy the book before the event. Books will be sent via first class post to ensure they reach you in time for the launch. Unfortunately, due to expensive shipping fees, we can only ship books to the UK.

Our speakers:

Ita Mehrotra:

Ita Mehrotra is a visual artist, researcher and educator. Her non-fiction graphic narratives and illustrated text engage with peoples movements, rights based activism and their particular histories, while examining modes of representation and visual narrative building. Her work has been published and exhibited by Zubaan Books, Goethe Institute, AdAstra Comix, Yoda press, Fumetto Festival, thewire.in and KHOJ, among others. Ita has led community arts projects with various grassroots organisations and rural schools across India and is currently Director of Artreach India, a not for profit that works at the intersections of art, inclusive education and community development.

Arpita Das:

Arpita Das is the Founder-Publisher of the award-winning indie publishing house, Yoda Press, based in New Delhi. She is Visiting Faculty and Senior Writing Fellow at Ashoka University and a Board member of PublisHer - www.womeninpublishing.org

Atia Khursheed:

Atia Khursheed, is a principal designer and Business Associate at Basira Studio. She is also involved with the creative reinterpreatation of Islam inspired art, architecture and design in a contemporary context at Minimal Muslim. She completed her graduation in architecture from Jamia Millia Islamia.

Resident of Shaheen Bagh for more than two decades. She was a witness to the start of the uprising, also due to her workspace's proximity to the protest site.

Safoora Zargar:

Activist and Student, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, India.

Charged with Sedition, conspiracy to cause disaffection against India, UAPA & other serious charges for her role in the anti-CAA protests.

Shalimar Books:

Shalimar Books is the leading distributor of Indian books in the UK. They supply books from Indian publishers to schools, libraries and bookshops, as well as selling directly to the public at their Indian bookshop in London, and through their online shop.

Their long association with Indian publishers and distributors in India enables them to provide an extensive range of Indian books on all subjects, and from a wide range of publishers, in the UK.

Their range includes books on Indian politics and human rights, Indian history, humanities and children’s books, novels and fiction by Indian authors, and much, much more.

Find Shalimar online at: https://indianbooksuk.com/shop/