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Even though most of the savarna continue to live in their privileged bubble of ignorance and denial, it is beyond a shadow of a doubt that casteism continues to be a major affliction pervading Indian society. Those who argue that caste-based violence is a thing of the past need only read the newspaper and find several instances of violence against Dalits all over the country — whether it be a Dalit woman lynched in Rajasthan for collecting water from the same well as upper-caste women, a Dalit man murdered by a mob for marrying a savarna woman in Tamil Nadu or even the Bhima Koregaon Violence, the instances are innumerable.
Years of Brahminical-sanctioned societal oppression have created an immensely strong wave of Dalit resistance in our country. Today, we want to explore how a contemporary collaboration through the fields of publishing and design is addressing the nation’s caste inequalities. After all what is the use of literature and art if we are not using to tackle burning social issues?
Since 2020, the partnership between Panther's Paw Publications (PPP), an anti-caste publishing house, and design studio 'November', has caused a revolution in the publishing and design industries due to their daring and innovative creations. PPP, being an independent publisher with radical inclinations, allowed its founder, Yogesh Maitreya, to take design and production risks that larger publishing houses would shy away from. This collaboration served as a platform for November to explore design, typography, and design narratives that challenge the traditional rules often found in publishing. As an example, they even released a book with no typography on its cover, a bold move that has paid off, with audiences responding positively. PPP has now become a well-known name in Ambedkarite circles and Yogesh has gained recognition in the mainstream. His memoir, Water in a Broken Pot, was published by Penguin Random House and was designed by November.
To commemorate their collective achievement and engage with the public about their methodology, Method Kala Ghoda is hosting Images & Words: Visual Strategies for Anti-Caste Narratives, a conversation on design and publishing by Yogesh Maitreya and Shiva Nallaperumal, co-founder of November. The duo will discuss the ideas, methods, and narratives that underpin their joint endeavor; diving into realms of graphic design, typography, visual exploration, and the broader visual culture associated with the anti-caste movement.
About the Speakers:
Yogesh
Yogesh Maitreya is an individual who wears many hats, including being a writer, poet, translator, and publisher. He is not only the founder but also the editor of Panther's Paw Publication, a platform that is committed to showcasing literature written by Dalit-Bahujan writers. This publication features works in English as well as translations from other Indian languages. Maitreya has authored several notable works, including Flowers on the Grave of Caste (2019), a compilation of short stories, Singing/Thinking Anti Caste (2021), a collection of essays that delve into music and memories, and Ambedkar 2021 (2021), a book of prose poetry.
Shiva
Shiva Nallaperumal is an individual who possesses multiple talents, including being a graphic designer and typeface designer. He is also a co-founder, along with Juhi Vishnani, of the design practice called November. Through November, Shiva has collaborated with a diverse range of clients, working on various projects such as identity systems, printed matter, interactive media, installations, and custom typefaces. As a typeface designer, Shiva has had his work published by prestigious entities such as Commercial Type, Typotheque, Grilli Type, Bold Monday, Lost Type, and Public Type. His accomplishments in the field have been recognized, as he became the first graphic designer to be featured in Forbes India's 30 Under 30 list in 2017. Furthermore, in 2019, he was honored with induction into the Alliance Graphique Internationale (AGI), a prestigious organization in the design community.
Images & Words: Visual Strategies for Anti-Caste Narratives
Date: April 5, 2024
Time: 6 PM
Venue: Method Kala Ghoda, Mumbai
The event is free for all and you can register here.
