Tribute to RK Laxman, the legendary cartoonist in the Indian Journalistic arena. Capturing the entire gamut of idiosyncrasies of Indian politicians in an innocuous newspaper box with his cartoons, R K Laxman immortalised the passive, hapless common man with an uncanny perception and sarcasm in a daily commentary on his life that brought smiles to millions. Every morning for over five decades, his fans waited for the Common Man who, with his signature checked jacket, dhoti, Gandhi-glasses and twin tufts of gravity-defying hair, watched life and politics in India. A creative genius, Laxman was known to have started doodling even before he could read, using floors, walls and doors of his house. His legendary spell on the Indian newspaper reader was cast after joining the Times Of India (TOI). The comic strip You said it started in 1951, unleashing his iconic common man, a silent witness to the shenanigans of politicians who were supposed to realise his dreams, hopes and aspirations but betrayed him on most occasions. His association with TOI continued through the six decades even as he got back to work after recovering from a paralytic stroke in 2003 that incapacitated his left side
Posted on: Tue, 27 Jan 2015 04:53:21 +0000