Forty years ago, on the night of December 2, 1984, 40 tonnes of methyl isocyanate gas leaked from the Union Carbide plant in Bhopal, spreading death and destruction through the city. But the tragedy didn’t end when dawn broke over leafless trees and streets lined with corpses. It has lingered, poisoning generations, leaving in its wake congenital deformities, failing organs, and a battle for justice.

At the heart of this continuing nightmare lies the culpability of Union Carbide and its owner, Dow Chemicals. This is the story that 'Eyes Wide Shut', by Kokila Bhattacharya, a hauntingly illustrated zine, refuses to let fade into history’s passive voice. With its vivid colours, poignant artwork, and unflinching narratives, the zine cuts through corporate doublespeak to demand accountability for the world’s worst industrial disaster.

Kokila rejects the numbing effect of grisly documentary photography. One page, dominated by the portrait of an elderly woman etched in fiery hues, asks, “Are we voiceless, or have our voices been snatched away?” It challenges us to question not just what was done to Bhopal, but what continues to be denied — justice, reparations, and the dignity of being heard.

The minimalist black-and-white cover design starkly contrasts with the interior's explosion of colors. It maps Bhopal as a bleeding wound on India’s heart, a red dot amidst sterile, geometric lines. The juxtaposition reflects the zine’s purpose: to simplify the labyrinthine narrative of corporate greed, government complicity, and survivor resilience while retaining its emotional weight. Denied by publishers unwilling to antagonize corporate and political powers, the zine found its audience in grassroots activism.

The zine’s strength lies in how it collapses time, presenting the Bhopal disaster not as a single night of horror but as an ongoing atrocity. Through its pages, it becomes clear that the tragedy was a calculated outcome of cost-cutting, negligence, and corporate impunity. Union Carbide's executives coined the term 'Bhopal Gas Tragedy' to neutralize culpability. “Gas” softened the idea of mass poisoning + “tragedy” made it seem like an act of God. This deliberate reframing was reinforced by legal manipulations that shielded Union Carbide from real accountability.

In its pages, Eyes Wide Shut carries the weight of 40 years of unresolved grief. The poisoning of Bhopal did not end in 1984. It persists in the water, the soil, and the genetic codes of its people. Dow Chemicals has the resources and expertise to remediate the contaminated site but has refused to act. It reminds us that memorialization is not enough.

By choosing illustrations over photographs, the zine draws us into active engagement with the narrative. It demands that we look, feel, and respond. The saturated colours and unflinching compositions make it impossible to distance yourself from the pain and injustice it depicts. And in doing so, it ensures that Bhopal remains not just a tragedy of the past but a call to action for the future.

In a world of slow violence, where tragedies like Bhopal are rendered invisible over time, Eyes Wide Shut is an act of radical remembrance. It translates the incomprehensible scale into something deeply human. It leaves us with a simple but powerful message:

"Never forget."

But remembering is not enough. We must amplify survivor voices, demand action from Dow Chemicals, and push for stronger safeguards.

Follow Kokila here.

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