Mirroring the reality

Graphic novel ‘Empire of Blood’, is a story of patriotism and love set in imaginary India, where British never left and are growing powerful by the day.

The English supremacy gets stronger in the reign of Elizabeth, the Empress of Blood – thanks to the magical potion called Aqua Vitae. The British army annihilates Germany and Russia, and rummages through the entire Europe with the help of Aqua Vitae, which gives them super human like strength making them the strongest brethren in the world. Every person from the English empire is commanded by the queen to have their dose of Aqua Vitae daily to continue their superiority.

The story is set in India, and here the resistance against British grows rapidly. The people demand that India is for Indians and British should leave their land. Thomas Lawrence, the prodigy kid, who is being raised in one of the affluent families of the Empire sans his mother, has all the qualities to be the ‘apple of the eye’ of the Kingdom.

The ‘pure bloods’ as they call themselves see Indians as lesser human and the children of the ‘high bred’ from their childhood are taught not to interact or be with the vermin of the human race. However, Tom (Thomas Lawrence) has a special attraction towards an Indian girl, Leela, daughter of their house maid. One day during the curfew, Leela, goes out the gate. Filled with curiosity, Tom sneaks out of the house during curfew, which is a strict no for the British, and follows Leela.

Leela goes to the township, where Indians live. Mild-natured Tom tries to see what Leela is up to and he is caught by the Indian and is almost killed. However, he is saved by the leader of the resistance, Azad. Leela escorts the righteous Tom to safety, by giving her blood to the sentinels. The blood is currency in the new empire and all the transactions which Indians have should be done by giving blood.

Their blood is rationed according to their needs by the Empire. On the way back Tom learns about the true conditions of the country. In the backyard the kids have an intimate moment oblivious of the fact that Tom’s father is secretly watching them. He reprimands Tom and banishes Leela and her family from the house.

The story is fast-forwarded five years and the golden boy of the empire, true to his traits, graduates from the school in flying colours. Tom becomes the First Colonel in 15 years to be accepted in Civil Service. His father is very proud of his ward and is filled with joy. In a protest, Tom spots Leela in the motley crowd and his ensuing passion and hate for the Empire makes him meet Leela.

He gives her the precious vials of Aqua Vitae and asks her to sell so that they can escape to Burma from the clutches of evil empire. However, he is reported to the Empire and Tom is banished from the Empire as he did the biggest crime, giving vials to an Indian. He is sent to ‘Kaala Pani’ along with other Indians from the resistance, he is again attacked by the indigenous clan and by fate he is saved by Azad again. Knowing the true feelings of Tom, Azad hatches a plan to obliterate the regime for once and all.

The story from there takes many twists and turns, making it a page turner. Can Azad and Tom destroy the Empire created by the powerful empress? This makes the reader stay glued to the book. Arjun Raj Gaind pens a piece of revisionism based around a simple question - What if the sun had never set on the British Empire in India? Along the way, it turned into something much more, a sort of surreal satire of the class system in our country.

The art is by Enrique Alcatena who used to draw Batman and Hawkman for DC and Conan and Spiderman for Marvel has penciled the emotions of the characters very well. The combination of the author and the artist weaves a hooking story in the era where graphic novel is still evolving.

The authors take on the modern society in the background set up in the struggle of Independence makes the reader think. The love story of an affluent boy and a poor girl who struggle to live for each day and the evil empire, which literally sucks the blood of Indians, is a mirror to the modern society.

By:Navin Pivhal