What do you think?
Rate this book
Suit
'Suit' is set in a Mumbai of the near future, when Safai Karamcharis have been provided with safety equipment, including a full-body safety suit which gives them the moniker of Suitwalas. The story explores stigma, social change and mobility through the eyes of Vikas, a young "Suitwala", as we follow him through a day in his life, flitting between incidents at work, moments he catches with his family and memories of his father.
The suit is hailed as a great leap in the right direction for the safety and dignity of Safai Karamcharis; however, has anything changed in reality or is the suit just a cover? The book speculates what change could look like in a profession so steeped in exploitation and exclusion, where the persistent stigma infuses every step towards betterment with a bitter aftertaste.
Samarth is a graphic novelist and researcher. His work borrows directly from the fieldwork he happens to do intentionally or accidentally. 'Suit' is his first graphic novel. Currently, he is working in the social and development sector to create learning experiences for children. Most of his independent work happens before and after work hours.
You can find him on instagram under the handle 'roeqin'.
The suit is hailed as a great leap in the right direction for the safety and dignity of Safai Karamcharis; however, has anything changed in reality or is the suit just a cover? The book speculates what change could look like in a profession so steeped in exploitation and exclusion, where the persistent stigma infuses every step towards betterment with a bitter aftertaste.
Samarth is a graphic novelist and researcher. His work borrows directly from the fieldwork he happens to do intentionally or accidentally. 'Suit' is his first graphic novel. Currently, he is working in the social and development sector to create learning experiences for children. Most of his independent work happens before and after work hours.
You can find him on instagram under the handle 'roeqin'.
- GenresGraphic Novels
66 pages, Paperback
Published January 10, 2022
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
August 15, 2022
India turned 75. I read "Suit" by Samarth, illustrated by him as well. A short graphic account of a day in the life of a manual scavenger. A account that must be read by all to see clearly, where we started, what dreams we had, and where we are today.
As Vandemataram plays in my housing society, I am disturbed and full of rage about what I have read, about what goes on daily - about the differences of class, caste, gender, religion, that certain people use beautifully to their advantage.
A country where a Dalit boy is beaten to death, for touching a drinking water pot. A society that refuses to acknowledge deaths that occur in the name of caste. Suit by Samarth addresses so many of these issues & more. Of the nature of dignity and how it should be for all
Suit makes you uncomfortable, as it should. A certain section society that looks the other way, because it knows of the comforts belong to it, needs to look at the other side. Suit shows us the mirror - of trauma, humiliation, and tragedy in the life of a sanitation worker
75 years and it feels nothing has changed. But perhaps there is more awareness of where we have failed, of what we haven't done, of who we have wrongly elected, though we don't know where to go from here. But maybe deep down we know how we got here.
Suit isn't just about one struggle. It made me think of the several struggles - ones that are forever ongoing, there is so much to unpack & think about the India that hasn't changed for certain sections of society. The India that is ridden with inequality & strife for some
Suit made me realize that we have lost our voices, but they will return. Our right to dissent may have gone temporarily but we shall overcome. I hope. Suit is also about loss of hope, about how dark, gloomy, and unfair it all is and it is one-hundred percent true.
We live in a country, where we do not know what might happen tomorrow in the name of religion. What new atrocity will be unleashed on the minorities. Of what unspeakable acts of crime and indecency shall be committed. We live in fear.
As I was reading Suit, I was reminded of November 2019, I think. Or was it October 2019, when we came out on the streets? We protested, we stood together, we were united by one goal - that of fighting injustice. That which continued and still does. I would like to believe.
India turns 75. It is hard to celebrate. It is hard to look around and feel proud. It is not easy to witness what is going on. But maybe some day we will come together again, as we should - against all the tyranny, to finally feel free, in the truest sense.
As Vandemataram plays in my housing society, I am disturbed and full of rage about what I have read, about what goes on daily - about the differences of class, caste, gender, religion, that certain people use beautifully to their advantage.
A country where a Dalit boy is beaten to death, for touching a drinking water pot. A society that refuses to acknowledge deaths that occur in the name of caste. Suit by Samarth addresses so many of these issues & more. Of the nature of dignity and how it should be for all
Suit makes you uncomfortable, as it should. A certain section society that looks the other way, because it knows of the comforts belong to it, needs to look at the other side. Suit shows us the mirror - of trauma, humiliation, and tragedy in the life of a sanitation worker
75 years and it feels nothing has changed. But perhaps there is more awareness of where we have failed, of what we haven't done, of who we have wrongly elected, though we don't know where to go from here. But maybe deep down we know how we got here.
Suit isn't just about one struggle. It made me think of the several struggles - ones that are forever ongoing, there is so much to unpack & think about the India that hasn't changed for certain sections of society. The India that is ridden with inequality & strife for some
Suit made me realize that we have lost our voices, but they will return. Our right to dissent may have gone temporarily but we shall overcome. I hope. Suit is also about loss of hope, about how dark, gloomy, and unfair it all is and it is one-hundred percent true.
We live in a country, where we do not know what might happen tomorrow in the name of religion. What new atrocity will be unleashed on the minorities. Of what unspeakable acts of crime and indecency shall be committed. We live in fear.
As I was reading Suit, I was reminded of November 2019, I think. Or was it October 2019, when we came out on the streets? We protested, we stood together, we were united by one goal - that of fighting injustice. That which continued and still does. I would like to believe.
India turns 75. It is hard to celebrate. It is hard to look around and feel proud. It is not easy to witness what is going on. But maybe some day we will come together again, as we should - against all the tyranny, to finally feel free, in the truest sense.
May 21, 2023
'Suit' is the most beautiful and poignant story I got to read this year!
It is a heart-touching story with realistic and relatable characters. It highlights the issues of the people we conveniently turn a blind eye to. That said, the book could have done without hinting at any particular political ideology in that one page, as it immediately acquits others from the collective guilt.
I noticed that most of the reviews only ramble about the sociopolitical commentary of this book and say nothing of (probably due to ignorance and lack of knowledge) the sublime usage of the graphic medium by its creator 'Samarth'. Each page in the book reads like lyrical poetry woven with panels, layouts, and text. This comes as a pleasant surprise at a time when graphic storytelling medium in India is waning. This book is a good reference point for comic book and graphic novel creators.
It is a heart-touching story with realistic and relatable characters. It highlights the issues of the people we conveniently turn a blind eye to. That said, the book could have done without hinting at any particular political ideology in that one page, as it immediately acquits others from the collective guilt.
I noticed that most of the reviews only ramble about the sociopolitical commentary of this book and say nothing of (probably due to ignorance and lack of knowledge) the sublime usage of the graphic medium by its creator 'Samarth'. Each page in the book reads like lyrical poetry woven with panels, layouts, and text. This comes as a pleasant surprise at a time when graphic storytelling medium in India is waning. This book is a good reference point for comic book and graphic novel creators.
May 5, 2022
Graphic novella Suit, written and illustrated by Samarth is a strikingly rendered and moving tale of Vikas, a "Suitwala" sanitation worker (Safai Karamchari) in Mumbai. In a near future setting, he and his colleagues are better equipped and protected to perform their onerous jobs in the city's sewers, but they are still socially excluded and treated with little respect. Suit is a beautiful and edifying reflection on human resilience and dignity.
March 9, 2025
"Stories that remain untold are forgotten, almost as if they never existed. 'Suit' is an attempt to bring the lives of manual scavengers and conservancy workers back into our imagination and subsequently into the purview of our active concern."
—Samarth, the author of 'Suit'
.
.
________
.
.
"Has anything really changed?"
'Suit' is set in the future when the people in power realise that safai karamcharis/sanitation workers, mainly manual scavengers, should be given a body suit for their safety. Consequently, they come to be known as the 'Suitwalahs'.
This short graphic novel follows the life of a safaai karamchari who lost his always miserable father to the same job. Through him we see the everyday struggles of this thankless job. In spite of the fancy monikar, the workers continue to be beaten down by the society both literally and morally through continuous casteist slurs. The story examines the tokenism by the seemingly 'caste-less' upper castes and shows us the disturbing reality of today's India. Vikas, the protagonist, eventually introspects how, given the situation, he would be remembered by his own family.
There's a touching moment in the book when some upper caste men beat up Vikas and his colleagues. When he comes back home, his little daughter innocently asks, "The suit didn't protect you?"
a recommend read
—Samarth, the author of 'Suit'
.
.
________
.
.
"Has anything really changed?"
'Suit' is set in the future when the people in power realise that safai karamcharis/sanitation workers, mainly manual scavengers, should be given a body suit for their safety. Consequently, they come to be known as the 'Suitwalahs'.
This short graphic novel follows the life of a safaai karamchari who lost his always miserable father to the same job. Through him we see the everyday struggles of this thankless job. In spite of the fancy monikar, the workers continue to be beaten down by the society both literally and morally through continuous casteist slurs. The story examines the tokenism by the seemingly 'caste-less' upper castes and shows us the disturbing reality of today's India. Vikas, the protagonist, eventually introspects how, given the situation, he would be remembered by his own family.
There's a touching moment in the book when some upper caste men beat up Vikas and his colleagues. When he comes back home, his little daughter innocently asks, "The suit didn't protect you?"
a recommend read
June 24, 2023
Wonderful art, and highlights a very shameful aspect of Indian society that we should all feel really angry about- it is great to see stark visuals depicting what we try to avoid confronting or imagining just to protect ourselves from guilt. It is a great concept as well, and I loved how emotionally evocative it is.
Just one thing I want to highlight- I picked this book up assuming it is an own voices DBA narrative but it is not. Nothing against the artist- I am so happy he chose to use his privilege to highlight this and he definitely seems to have done a lot of research and self reflection and unlearning, and he does a great job with the book. I am just a little discomfited by how casteism plays out even in who gets to tell what story and how it is accordingly received.
Just one thing I want to highlight- I picked this book up assuming it is an own voices DBA narrative but it is not. Nothing against the artist- I am so happy he chose to use his privilege to highlight this and he definitely seems to have done a lot of research and self reflection and unlearning, and he does a great job with the book. I am just a little discomfited by how casteism plays out even in who gets to tell what story and how it is accordingly received.
September 7, 2024
'Suit' is a masterful depiction of manual scavenging in India, with its black and white illustration really hammering the grim reality of its countrymen. Ironically, it depicts a much better situation of the sanitation workers in India. People who have access to suits, and other social securities, something which the present Indian sanitation workers do not. The book brings to light their plight, sorrows and fears. The exploitation inflicted on them, and their oppression and dehumanisation by upper castes. Would really recommend everyone to read it.
September 14, 2025
It is deeply disturbing and also shows how the solutions we think of coming up with in the near future are all not going to solve the discrimination and oppression faced by manual scavengers. I hope more people read this work before they think they can solve social problems.
September 9, 2022
Nothing's going to change..
March 7, 2026
Samarth’s art is so expressive, visceral, and dynamic.
The story asks some very pertinent questions. Do all forms of labor actually have inherent dignity? Why is cleaning up in India still labour of the lower castes? Why don’t upper castes clean the toilets they shit in? Does financial mobility necessarily come with social mobility?
The cycle of casteism is continued as the story ends. I wish it had done something else with it—though I am unsure what.
The story asks some very pertinent questions. Do all forms of labor actually have inherent dignity? Why is cleaning up in India still labour of the lower castes? Why don’t upper castes clean the toilets they shit in? Does financial mobility necessarily come with social mobility?
The cycle of casteism is continued as the story ends. I wish it had done something else with it—though I am unsure what.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews