Famously known for his ‘Common Man’ daily cartoon strips called “You Said It” in the Times of India, R.K Laxman is an illustrator, cartoonist and humorist. His experience with the Times spanned over 5-decades and in the process he portrayed his make on democracy and the corruption of politics in the most humorous way possible. Born on 24th October, 1921, Laxman was youngest of seven children. His father died at a young age and he was supported through his schooling by his elder siblings. His first stint with illustration was for his brother R.K Narayan, who was a writer for the Hindu. He then went on to bag a full time job at the Free Press Journal in Mumbai as a political cartoonist and his next job was at the Times where he spent the rest of his career. Through his career, Laxman gathered innumerable fans across India for his humorous depiction of the present political situation and corruption. He received the Padma Bhushan award in 1973 and the Padma Vibhushan award in 2005 by the Government of India. On January 23rd, 2015 he was hospitalized for urinary tract infection and chest-related problems and on 26th he passed. His portrayal of the struggle of the common man sandwiched by the upper class and the politicians in his comic strips and his ability to extract humor from it in the most realistic sense is what he will always be remembered for.
“Britishers who came to India missed Indian humour since they couldn’t understand our sense of domestic humour. They thought Indians have no sense of humour!”
Photo Credit http://o3.indiatimes.com/readatyourrisk/archive/2006/06/01/740004.aspx
“Cartooning is the art of insult and ridicule.”
Photo Credit http://www.timepass69.com/start1-s168/the-best-of-rk-laxman-cartoons
“A cartoonist enjoys not a great man but a ridiculous man.”
Photo Credit http://www.india.com/top-n/r-k-laxman-dead-top-5-common-man-cartoons-by-the-legendary-cartoonist-261519/
“Crows are so good looking, so intelligent. Where will I find characters like that in politics?”
Photo Credit http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Best-of-RK-Laxmans-cartoons/photostory/45944714.cms
“Each morning I grumble, I plan to resign as I drag myself to office. By the time I come home I like my work!”
Photo Credit http://binscorner.com/pages/1/10-best-cartoons-of-rk-laxman.html
“Change? Does the colour of the sky change ever? My symbol will never change.”
Photo Credit http://www.india.com/top-n/r-k-laxman-dead-top-5-common-man-cartoons-by-the-legendary-cartoonist-261519/
“Every one of my drawings is my favourite.”
Photo Credit http://mjblast.com/rk-laxman-cartoon-collection/
“Frankly, our politics is so sad that if I had not been a cartoonist, I would have committed suicide.”
Photo Credit http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Best-of-RK-Laxmans-cartoons/photostory/45944726.cms
“Every single tree spelt adventure. I would scramble right to their top and watch the world from the heights.”
Photo Credit https://ashokbhatia.wordpress.com/2013/10/15/the-inimitable-r-k-laxman/
“I am grateful to our politicians. They have not taken care of the country, but me.”
Photo Credit http://bluegape.com/sad/sanjay-goswami/15-great-sketches-common-man-cartoonist-rip-rk-laxman/
“Generally, people take everything for granted. They hardly see anything around them.”
Photo Credit http://www.timepass69.com/start3-s168/the-best-of-rk-laxman-cartoons
“I have not forgotten that you can see the world through pieces of coloured glass.”
Photo Credit http://bluegape.com/sad/sanjay-goswami/15-great-sketches-common-man-cartoonist-rip-rk-laxman/
” I do not remember wanting to do anything else except draw.”
Photo Credit https://interestingfunnyjokes.wordpress.com/2009/07/29/best-of-rk-laxman/
“I think anarchy would have suited us better.”
Photo Credit http://binscorner.com/pages/1/10-very-best-cartoons-by-rk-laxman.html
“[The Common Man] from India can survive without water, food, light, air, shelter!”
Photo Credit http://techstory.in/rklaxma/
“It is impossible to say how to become a cartoonist; you have to be born with the gift, just as you cannot tell someone how to sing.”
Photo Credit http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/slideshows/people/rk-laxman-you-will-be-missed-by-the-common-man/immortalized-the-common-man-with-his-cartoons/slideshow/46025120.cms
“I think everybody enjoys it when our mighty politicians are exposed in a comical and often ludicrous light.”
Photo Credit http://www.kamat.com/database/pictures/cartoons/political_40030.htm
“Laloo Prasad Yadav, who ought to be inside jail, is actually outside. And Jayalalitha is growing so large that I do not know which jail can accommodate her!”
Photo Credit http://sapan.freehostia.com/pictures/political-cartoons-r-k-laxman/
“My sketch pen is not a sword, it’s my friend.”
Photo Credit http://www.timepass69.com/start5-s168/the-best-of-rk-laxman-cartoons
“My common man is omnipresent. He’s been silent all these 50 years. He simply listens.”
Photo Credit http://post.jagran.com/photogallery-R-K-Laxmans-Common-Man-1351151686
“Nothing like India for cartooning and drawing!”
Photo Credithttp://www.timepass69.com/start12-s168/the-best-of-rk-laxman-cartoons
“Searching for new ideas is an endless process.”
Photo Credit http://daily.indianroots.com/an-ode-to-r-k-laxman/
“Only when we grow older do we learn to be kind and realise that selfishness is bad. But even then not all of us learn these things. Otherwise, why would there be fights and wars?”
Photo Credit http://sapan.freehostia.com/pictures/political-cartoons-r-k-laxman/
“The cartoon contains observation, sense of humour, sense of the ridiculous and contradiction – life!”
Photo Credit http://sapan.freehostia.com/pictures/political-cartoons-r-k-laxman/
“To a child, reality seems much more fabulous than fantasy.”
Photo Credit http://toastingtoaster.in/2015/01/11-r-k-laxman-cartoons-travelling-decades-of-exploring-common-man/
