Six years, two minds, one graphic novel

‘Guru, Girls & A Dude Without A Plan’, a vibrant graphic novel by Derek Almeida and illustrator Fabian Gonsalves follows a young man’s unpredictable ride through love, luck, and life in contemporary India

RAMANDEEP KAUR | NT KURIOCITY

Picture Credit: Hemant Parab

After more than 30 years in journalism, Derek Almeida wanted to explore a new creative path. Writing a traditional novel felt overwhelming, so he turned to graphic novels—a format he had enjoyed as a child reading comics like Panther and Mandrake. This idea grew into ‘Guru, Girls & a Dude Without a Plan’, a quirky graphic novel created in collaboration with Calangute-based artist Fabian Gonsalves.

The story follows Jag, a drifting, relatable character who “just goes with the flow”. While not based on anyone specific, Almeida says the character reflects bits of himself. “Jag represents the kind of people who don’t have a fixed direction,” he explains. “Most of us are like that—we finish school, maybe college, and figure things out along the way. Jag is for those people.” Jag’s look, however, was purely Gonsalves’ creation.

The idea for the book first came together around six or seven years ago, during national debates surrounding Gaurakshaks (cow vigilantes). Almeida wanted to explore the issue—not through a serious lens, but with a satirical twist. That’s when he reached out to Gonsalves, a long-time acquaintance whose illustrations he admired.

Gonsalves, who has worked as an illustrator for various publications and now works as a diorama artist, recalls being excited when he first read the script. “I’d been reading Derek’s articles for years—my mother is a fan! So when this opportunity came up, I jumped in.”

The duo began building the story piece by piece. Sometimes the writing influenced the art, and at other times, the sketches shaped the storyline. “There was no fixed plot,” admits Almeida. “I started somewhere in the middle and let the characters guide the way. Themes emerged naturally.”

But the process was anything but simple. “I assumed it would be easier than writing an article. It wasn’t,” says Almeida. A comic writing guide helped him understand the panel-by-panel format—but only after 20 pages were already done, prompting rewrites.

Even the title underwent several changes. “At first, I thought of calling it Gauraksha, with a character named Ganesh Baba,” shares Almeida. “But we felt it needed to be more universal, and less polarising. My wife—who’s also my toughest critic—helped brainstorm until we landed on the final title.”

The project moved slowly, partly due to the remote nature of their collaboration. With Gonsalves balancing a full-time job and Almeida working from home post-retirement, long gaps and detailed back-and-forth were common. “Sometimes I’d get stuck for months. Luckily, Fabian was patient,” says Almeida, adding that he has since learned how to write more efficiently for this medium. “If we create another graphic novel, it’ll be with greater confidence and skill.”

Gonsalves too admits that he had to steal hours whenever he could. “I’d lock myself in my room and focus for an hour at a time. It was tough. There were days I’d stare at the same panel for hours, or scrap and redraw entire pages after edits,” he recalls. “Every page took time—there are six to nine panels on most, and I’d experiment with layout and flow.”

However, his familiarity with Almeida’s writing made the visual storytelling smoother. “The first sketch of Jag just came together naturally,” he says. “From there, the characters and the city started to form.” Their visual style was inspired by European classics like Asterix and Tintin.

Gonsalves brought his personal experiences into the artwork, especially in designing the city. “It’s set in an Indian city, and I’ve lived in many cities and villages myself. So I added little details—a crow flying by, someone walking with a cow, everyday moments. Those nuances helped make the world feel real.”

But one of the biggest challenges, he says, was illustrating crowded scenes.  “I wasn’t used to fitting so many people into a single frame while leaving space for dialogue,” says Gonsalves.  But over time, he began to enjoy the process. “I started appreciating the energy in those chaotic scenes and balanced them with simpler, open panels to give readers visual relief.”

He adds that Derek’s support made things easier. “His feedback and understanding really helped me push through when things got tough.”

Almeida, too, faced his share of hurdles. “Writing wasn’t the hardest part—it was the give and take,” he says. “Conveying my vision to Fabian, and learning to accept his in return. Sometimes his interpretation was better, so I’d rewrite the text to fit the art. That’s when things started to click.”

Looking back, Gonsalves says the experience was deeply rewarding. “It felt great to work on something based in Goa, with one of the best people I’ve worked with. Just the two of us, figuring it all out during COVID, and putting our heart into every part of it.”

While the e-book is now available, the team hopes to raise funds for a print edition through crowdfunding. Almeida is also exploring an exhibition of Gonsalves’ original panels as part of the print launch.

He also has a couple of new story ideas in mind, but he’s in no hurry. “It depends on how readers respond and whether Fabian is up for it. For now, I’m enjoying the break.”