Uprooted : A Graphic Account Of The Struggle For Forest Rights

Uprooted: A Graphic Account of the Struggle for Forest Rights is a graphic non-fiction work by Ita Mehrotra that documents the lived experiences of the Van Gujjars and the Taungyas in the forests of the Uttarakhand Terai. Combining illustrations with first-hand conversations, the book explores how these forest-dwelling communities have navigated changing relationships with their environment while facing displacement, exclusionary conservation policies and development-driven encroachment.

Drawing on notes and sketches created between 2021 and 2025, the book traces the historical and contemporary struggle for forest rights in India. It offers readers a visual and narrative account of resilience, identity and community, while introducing the legal and political developments that continue to shape these ongoing movements.

About This Book

The narrative spans a broad historical timeline, examining the impact of British forest laws that disrupted traditional forest communities and the significance of the Forest Rights Act, 2006, which offered new possibilities for recognising their rights. Through carefully observed storytelling, Ita Mehrotra presents the voices of people whose lives remain closely connected to the forests of the Uttarakhand Terai.

Uprooted: A Graphic Account of the Struggle for Forest Rights also focuses on a younger generation negotiating life within forests and resettlement colonies as they seek new ways to continue long-standing struggles and shape their own identities. Combining expressive artwork with documentary research, the book serves as both a visual record and an accessible introduction to India's forest rights movement.

What You'll Discover

• The experiences of the Van Gujjars and the Taungyas in the Uttarakhand Terai.
• The historical impact of British forest laws on forest-dwelling communities.
• The significance of the Forest Rights Act, 2006.
• Perspectives on conservation, resettlement and development.
• Conversations with communities across forests and resettlement colonies.
• Illustrated reportage created from notes and drawings made between 2021 and 2025.
• A graphic introduction to the forest rights movement in India.

Perfect For

• Readers of graphic non-fiction.
• Those interested in environmental and social issues.
• Readers exploring forest rights in India.
• Students and enthusiasts of contemporary Indian history and public policy.

Why You'll Love This Book

Uprooted: A Graphic Account of the Struggle for Forest Rights combines documentary storytelling with expressive illustration to illuminate the experiences of forest-dwelling communities in India. It provides valuable context on the history, politics and people behind the country's forest rights movement, making it an insightful read for anyone interested in contemporary social and environmental issues.