Shaheen Bagh

Shaheen Bagh: A Graphic Recollection is a graphic account of the extraordinary political sit-in led by Muslim women which started on one side of a public thoroughfare in Delhi in December 2019 and continued till March 2020 when it was cleared by the police after the government declared a nationwide lockdown to contain the spread of COVID-19.

The book voices stories of women who were part of 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, it archives moments from a movement that spread like wildfire through the length and breadth of the country and continues to inspire voices of dissent.

Through the portrayal of women's stories in image and word, we re-enter poignant dialogues, debates and questions that were raised about citizenship, democracy and minority rights, over the course of the movement. Shaheen Bagh: A Graphic Recollection brings alive the protest that lasted 101 days and forever changed the way women's role in movements would be seen and understood.

Praise for Shaheen Bagh: A Graphic Recollection

'Shaheen Bagh: A Graphic Recollection captures a critical moment in the history of Indian Muslims through the bold and unique protest launched by Muslim women across India. In this beautifully and sensitively illustrated representation of Shaheen Bagh, Ita Mehrotra provides a simple and accessible personal account that re-creates the spirit of Shaheen Bagh while conveying the political, personal and emotional complexity of this significant event and its imprint on the popular imagination and the idea of India.'
- Farida Abdulla Khan

'Ita Mehrotra's book provides a fantastic street-level view of the iconic women's protest against the Indian government's show-me-your-papers legislation for its citizens. Shaheen Bagh reminded me of the fearless strength people can find in solidarity.'
- Joe Sacco

'Ita's liquid style of telling a visual story is outstanding. This is graphic reportage for sure, but it also has an uncanny way of opening up the inner world.'
- Sarnath Banerjee

'In this moving, loving tribute to the women of Shaheen Bagh, Ita Mehrotra reminds us of the flame of courage that ordinary people can ignite in extraordinary times. At the darkest hour, it is this memory of light that keeps hope alive.'
- Amita Baviskar