Siddhesh Gautam releases anti-caste graphic novel ‘The Blue Book’

Siddhesh Gautam has released his debut graphic novel, ‘The Blue Book: An Anti-Caste Graphic Novel’, published by Penguin India. The work utilizes visual storytelling to explore the history and lived realities of India’s anti-caste movement.

Through a series of interconnected dreams, Gautam engages with historical figures such as Savitribai Phule, Guru Ravidas, and Dr. B. R. Ambedkar. The narrative contrasts the social reality of the caste system—described by the author as an instrument of social control rather than culture—with a vision for an equitable, casteless future. The book employs specific imagery, such as the color blue, to connect with Ambedkarite thought and themes of resistance and dignity.