Editor's Pick

From The Best Of Laxman: the common man at large; Penguin Books India, 2004.

21 May 2004
• LITERATURE
This time also let us promise them schools, shelter, employment, etc. Last elections we promised these and won!
R. K. Laxman (for Rasipuram Krishnaswami Laxman) is India's most celebrated cartoonist--- uncommon creator of the common man. While still at the Maharaja's College, Mysore, studying politics, economics and philosophy, he began to illustrate his elder brother R K Narayan's stories inThe Hindunewspaper. After graduation Laxman went to Delhi to find a job as cartoonist.The Hindustan Timestold him he was too young. So Laxman joined TheFree Press Journalin Bombay, where he found himself seated next to another cartoonist who was furiously drawing a bird in a cage. His name was Bal Thackeray.

One day the Journal's proprietor banned him from making fun of communists. So the twenty-three-year old Laxman left, caught a Victoria, and walked into the The Times of India office. From that day "I had a table and a room to myself, which I have used ever since."

Tap here to add The Daily Star as a trusted source google-preferred-source-badge

Google News LinkFor all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.

Click to comment

Related News