R. K. Laxman
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Rasipuram Krishnaswamy Laxman (b. 23-10-1924) is an Indian cartoonist and humorist. He is widely regarded as India's greatest-ever cartoonist and is best known for his creation The Common Man.
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[edit] Early years
[edit] Birth and Childhood
R. K. Laxman was born in Mysore, now a part of the South Indian state of Karnataka. His father was a headmaster and Laxman was the youngest of 8 children, including six boys. 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. Soon he was drawing on his own, on the floors, walls and doors of his house and doodling caricatures of his teachers at school. Another early influence on Laxman were the cartoons of the world-renowned British cartoonist, Sir David Low that appeared now and then in The Hindu. Laxman notes in his autobiography, The Tunnel of Time:
I drew objects that caught my eye outside the window of my room - the dry twigs, leaves and lizard-like creatures crawling about, the servant chopping firewood and, of course, and number of crows in various postures on the rooftops of the buildings opposite
– R. K. Laxman
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 Rega Cricket Club" written by his brother, Narayan.
[edit] Education
Laxman graduated from the University of Mysore. In his autobigraphy he says that he hasn't collected his degree yet from the Mysore University, where it must be gathering the dust of time.
[edit] Career
[edit] 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. 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. He later joined The Times of India, beginning a career that has spanned for over fifty years.
It is said that R K Laxman started his career as a cartoonist for Koravanji a Kannada humour monthly, published from Bangalore by Dr.Shivaram.
[edit] 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 chronicles the state of Indian life. The strip began in 1951.
[edit] 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.
[edit] Life
Laxman is a resident of both Mumbai and Pune.
[edit] Health
In September 2003, Laxman was affected by a stroke, which left him paralysed on his left side. He has partly recovered from its effects.
[edit] 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
[edit] 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.
[edit] Multi-media
- India Through The Eyes of R. K. Laxman - Then To Now (CD-ROM).
- Laxman Rekhas-A TOI Publication
[edit] 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."
