R. K. Laxman

Rasipuram Krishnaswamy Iyer Laxman (Tamil: ராசிபுரம் கிருஷ்ணசுவாமி லட்சுமண், Kannada: ಅರ್. ಕೆ. ಲಕ್ಷ್ಮ್ ಣ), (born 23 October 1924) is an Indian cartoonist, illustrator and humorist. He is widely regarded as India's greatest-ever cartoonist [ [http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl1515/15150780.htm Laxman's-eye view] Frontline Magazine - July 18 - 31, 1998 ] and is best known for his creation "The Common Man".

Early years

Birth and childhood

R. K. Laxman was born in Mysore in a Tamil family, in the state of Karnataka. His father was a headmaster and Laxman is the youngest of six boys. [Harvnb|Laxman|1998|p=4] One of his elder brothers, R.K. Narayan, went on to become one of India's best known English language novelists.

Laxman was engrossed by the illustrations in magazines such as "Strand Magazine", "Punch", "Bystander", "Wide World" and "Tit-Bits", even before he could read. [Harvnb|Laxman|1998|p=8] Soon he was drawing on his own, on the floors, walls and doors of his house and doodling caricatures of his teachers at school; praised by a teacher for his drawing of a peepal leaf, he began to think of himself as an artist in the making. [Harvnb|Laxman|1998|p=11-15] Another early influence on Laxman were the cartoons of the world-renowned British cartoonist, Sir David Low (whose signature he misread as "cow" for a long time) that appeared now and then in "The Hindu". [Harvnb|Laxman|1998|p=25] Laxman notes in his autobiography, "The Tunnel of Time":Laxman was the captain of his local "Rough and Tough and Jolly" cricket team and his antics inspired the stories "Dodu the money maker" and "The Regal Cricket Club" written by his brother, Narayan. [Harvnb|Laxman|1998|p=23-24] Laxman's idyllic childhood was shaken for a while when his father suffered a paralytic stroke and died around a year later, but the elders at home bore most of the increased responsibility, while Laxman continued with his schooling. [Harvnb|Laxman|1998|p=29-32]

After high school, Laxman applied to the JJ School of Arts, Bombay hoping to concentrate on his lifelong interests of drawing and painting, but the dean of the school wrote to him that his drawings lacked, "the kind of talent to qualify for enrollment in our institution as a student", and refused admission. [Harvnb|Laxman|1998|p=57-60] He finally graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Mysore. In the meantime he continued his freelance artistic activities and contributed cartoons to "Swarajya" and an animated film based on the mythological character, Narada. [Harvnb|Laxman|1998|p=66-72]

Career

Beginning

Laxman's earliest work was for newspapers & magazines such as "Swarajya" and "Blitz". Whilst still at the Maharaja's College, Mysore, he began to illustrate his elder brother R K Narayan's stories in "The Hindu", and he drew political cartoons for the local newspapers and for the "Swatantra". Laxman also drew cartoons, for the Kannada humour magazine, Koravanji. He held a summer job at the Gemini Studios, Madras. His first full-time job was as a political cartoonist for the "Free Press Journal". Prominent Shiv Sena politician Bal Thackeray, was also an employee at the newspaper at that time. Laxman later joined "The Times of India", beginning a career that has spanned for over fifty years.

The Times of India

Laxman is best known for his daily one panel comic "pocket cartoon" series "You Said It," which features The Common Man, and the state of Indian life. The strip began in 1961

Other creations

Among his other works, Laxman is known for his distinctive illustrations in several books, most notably for the Malgudi stories written by his elder brother R.K. Narayan. He also created a popular mascot for the Asian Paints group called "Gattu". Laxman has also penned a few novels. His cartoons have appeared in Hindi films such as "Mr. and Mrs. 55".

Life

Laxman is a resident of both Mumbai and Pune. He is married to author Kamala Laxman.

In September 2003, Laxman was affected by a stroke, which left him paralysed on his left side. He has partly recovered from its effects.

Awards

* B.D. Goenka Award - Indian Express
* Durga Ratan Gold Medal - Hindustan Times
* Padma Bhushan - Govt. of India
* Padma Vibhushan - Govt. of India
* Ramon Magsaysay Award for Journalism, Literature and Creative Communication Arts - 1984
* Lifetime Achievement Award for Journalism - CNN IBN TV18, 29 January 2008.

Books

* The Eloquent Brush: A Selection of Cartoons from Nehru to Rajiv
* 50 Years of Independence through the eyes of R.K.Laxman
* The Best of Laxman series
* Hotel Riviera
* The Messenger
* Servants of India
* "The Tunnel of Time" (autobiography)
* His autobiography "Lakshmanrekha" is published in Marathi.
* The Reel World [cartoons] published by Marwah Studios

Multi-media

* India Through The Eyes of R. K. Laxman - Then To Now (CD-ROM).
* Laxman Rekhas-A TOI Publication

Quotation

When the American cartoonist Ranan Lurie asked him who the best Indian cartoonist was, Laxman flashed back, "I am." The second, third, fourth, fifth best man on the job? Laxman continued to repeat, "I am."

Trivia

* He has never kept a diary nor worn a wrist watch in his entire life [ [http://www.hindu.com/yw/2004/06/12/stories/2004061200060200.htm The Hindu : Creating the common man ] ]
* The Common Man in his cartoons never speaks anything.
* The Common Man has even travelled to Antarctica once in a cartoon.

Notes

References

*
* [http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl1515/15150780.htm Laxman's-eye view] Frontline Magazine - July 18 - 31, 1998