The Real Mr Barkotoki, a graphic novel by Shisir Basumatari, will be officially released at the North East Book Fair on Thursday, stated an official release.
To be released by Padma Shri Arup Kumar Dutta, the novel is based on the life of eminent critical journalist of Assam Munin Barkotoki.
The launch will be followed by a panel discussion, which will be hosted by North East Writers Forum on Friday at Nehru Stadium, Guwahati.
“Munin Barkotoki had terrible handwriting,” the author said while speaking about the book.
“The scattered information, which I could decipher from his handwritten diaries, got me hooked into the project,” he added.
“After dabbling with the idea of making a movie and then a biography, I eventually felt that the graphic novel would be an appropriate medium to tell a complex story,” he added.
“I hope this book finds acceptance despite its unusual yet entertaining form,” Basumatari said.
“My father would have been very proud of this beautiful book,” said Meenaxi Barkotoki, managing trustee of Munin Barkotoki Memorial Trust.
“He would have been especially thrilled that his terrible handwriting was what got the ball rolling,” she added.
“I hope this very special book will get the attention of the readers as well,” he reiterated.
The author, Shisir Basumatari, is an artist who works with body painting and photography.
He has exhibited his work at the Delhi Photo Festival in 2011 and was the art director of the short film Seven Hundred Zero Zero Seven.
The short film starred Assamese writer Ranju Hazarika and it went on to win the Golden Conch for best documentary at the Mumbai International Film Festival in 2014.