Graphic Reflections

This graphic tries to portray the weight or pressure that India’s billion strong (and growing) population exerts on the development process of the country. To develop the country or to ‘uplift’ such a huge population, India’s development process will have to be that much stronger, weightier and tougher.

A perspective of looking at the concept of sustainable development: the process of development should give equal regard or consideration to nature and natural resources!

Is India’s population eating up the country is the question this graphic (based on the famous computer game Pac-Man) tries to ask. While many say India’s workforce will be younger than China’s in the next few decades (right now China is world’s fastest growing major economy) and give China a run for its money, a few relevant questions that nevertheless arise in ones mind are: Will India be able to provide food, healthcare, education and employment for such a huge population? Will the (already crumbling) infrastructure in Indian cities be able to cope up with the demands of a rising population and urbanisation? Will India’s already-under-pressure natural resources be able to sustain the requirements of a mega population? And most importantly, which socio-economic classes do most current newborns in India belong to, what kind of education and healthcare are they likely to receive and how likely are they to get a piece of the economic growth pie?

Religious clashes deface and destabilise the country is what this graphic (based on the Gujarat riots of 2002) tries to portray. No religion teaches hatred, senseless destruction or killing; riots are often fueled by sly political agendas and usually result in loss of life, peace and property among other things. Riots are almost always a setback to the development process.

Created for a group show of posters titled ‘Invasions’ (held at Palm Court, India Habitat Centre, New Delhi, in May 2003), this illustration attempts to question modernisation and wonders if it is necessary to adopt western ways of living in order to develop.

This typographical graphic attempts to portray the negative impact corruption has on the growth of a country. Instances of rampant corruption hampering developmental projects / economic growth / progress / business plans / ambitions are far too many in India and even today, corruption here remains largely unchecked.

This graphic puts terrorism and war on the same plain. Eventually, both result in the loss of many innocent lives. (A special thanks to Geeta Krishna for giving me this insight.)

This typographical composition tries to portray the loss to Manhattan after the September 11, 2001 terror attacks. With the Twin Towers gone, a change in the skyline of the world financial capital perhaps also symbolised a change in the way the world was to look at terrorism and security. This graphic was originally created on September 13, 2001.

This graphic tries to portray the horror of September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on Manhattan. (It was created on September 12, 2001, after watching the terrible event live on CNN.)

Based on the Do Not Litter symbol often found on food packaging, this graphic attempts to portray the ‘litter bin-like’ treatment given to India by a majority of its citizens (educated or uneducated), as if the country is a large trash-bin. People litter almost anywhere or everywhere in India; their littering habit perhaps reflects their lack of interest in the upkeep of their own country and more importantly, lack of education or awareness about the necessity of keeping the living environment clean.

Some people have expressed their dissatisfaction with this graphic so it must be mentioned that the graphic is about the ‘act’ or ‘ignorance’ of treating India like a waste bin, and has been created to express the feelings of sadness and disgust upon seeing India so profusely littered. Free of litter, with its unparalleled diversity, India could be one of the most beautiful (if not the most beautiful) countries in the world.