The Wicked Dragon of Pelmel

Aditi Raychoudhury. Forest Fire. 2009. Adobe Illustrator CS.

Aditi Raychoudhury. Mother Owl. 2009. Adobe Illustrator CS.

“Whoo hooo, whoo hoooooo,
Has lost his grace utter-ly?
What can I do?
About this hullabaloo -
It wakes my chicks up early!

Aditi Raychoudhury. The Wicked Dragon of Pelmel. 2009. Adobe Illustrator CS.

There was a wicked dragon

And so wicked was he..

That every night
When all slept tight

He went on a burning spree..

(Excerpt from The Wicked Dragon of Pelmel by Aditi Raychoudhury)

Synopsis:

The Wicked Dragon of Pelmel Forest is a story about the addictive nature of power, and its potential to devastate, or to create. When the dragon accidentally discovers his ability to breathe fire, he uses it to terrorize the little creatures of Pelmel Forest. Disturbed by these developments, the little creatures make it their mission to find this monster who is destroying their forest and their lives with it. When they do, they are in for a big surprise! Not only is the dragon sleeping quietly, but looks terribly innocent. So they promptly include him in their circle of trust. What will this invitation to friendship beget? The scorching heat of his breath, or the gentle warmth of friendship?

The Bomb and The General V2.2009

Aditi Raychoudhury. Strawberries. 2009. 6" x 4". Adobe Illustrator CS.

The original ‘The Bomb and the General’ is a delightfully optimistic, anti-war children’s book – written by Umberto Eco (The Name of The Rose), and brilliantly illustrated by Eugenio Carmi. It was published in 1989 –

In Italian: By Gruppo Editoriale Fabbri, Bompiani, Sonzogno, Etas S.p.A.;
and
In English: By Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, Inc.

This version of “The Bomb and the General” weaves in some of the original text (italicized), which initially inspired this story. Like the original story, this version also maintains a naïveté to create an anti-war message for children, and for adults, a more complex tale about hegemony and insular faith.

Aditi Raychoudhury. Land of Plenty (In Green). 2009. 22" x 11". Adobe Illustrator CS.

The General of our story enjoys a life of utter ease and gluttony, till he is compelled to seek God, during a moment of personal crisis. This pivotal encounter awakens in him an unshakeable passion for God’s word. But his myopic obsession with the details of God’s message clouds its original intent, and provokes an ominous future. Will his country slumber on through the impending doom or will they arise to reclaim their right in a peaceful world?

Aditi Raychoudhury. Land of Plenty (In Pink). 2009. 17" x 14". Colored Pencils on Tracing Paper.

Aditi Raychoudhury. Land of Plenty (In Orange). 2009. 17" x 14". Colored Pencils on Tracing Paper.

Aditi Raychoudhury. Land of Plenty (In Orange). 2009. 17" x 14". Gouache on Paper.