Kids Comics Pitchfest Showcase

The Thief of Joy

A smart, creative, and twice exceptional kid believes his self worth is based on academic achievement after being bullied at school.

This matches the pressure Indian kids face, as their success proves that mom and dad made the right choice by coming to America. With constant plaudits for his academics, his belief increases - and so does his ego.

After ending his junior year of high school with his best grades and test scores ever, the stress overwhelms him. His world falls apart as he wonders what he’s doing and why, and continues to spiral in college.

But a chance Hinduism class opens his eyes, and time away from school, friends, and family helps him decide to turn his back on everything he thought he’d wanted and drop out of school.

My Why:

This project started as a way to share my memories of growing up in 1970s India with my kids. It’s evolved into a study of the struggle Indian-Americans (and others) experience between fulfilling cultural expectations and being true to themselves.

Comparison - the thief of joy - is rife in academics and Indian society. Our lives are not better for it, and I hope that the story will help others make healthier and personally fulfilling choices.

The shoulder angels are my favorite part. They illustrate the struggle between external influences and internal needs - and make things more fun and creative. They're not strictly good and bad, but flawed and mismatched partners.

I want to draw this book, but I’m not married to the idea.