Every visit to the Salar Jung Museum will leave you surprised. But when the late R.K. Laxman dropped in years ago, it was he who sprang a pleasant surprise on the museum authorities with his wit and pungent humour.
It was in 1999, when the eminent cartoonist was invited to inaugurate an exhibition on modern art. After going around the exhibits, he drew a cartoon which said it all.
The caricature showed the famed ‘Common Man’ staring in bewilderment at an exhibit, and the question mark seemed to convey how none understood what modern art was all about. The sketch, signed and dated, adorns the office of SJM curator Kedareswari. That was Laxman at his acerbic best.
But getting the ace cartoonist to Hyderabad was no laughing matter. He wouldn’t travel alone, and the only way to get him to agree was to invite his wife, Kamala, as well. It didn’t end with this. The artist wouldn’t settle for any good hotel, but insisted on the best that the city could offer. Authorities at SJM had no other option but to change its own rules and accommodate Mr. Laxman and his wife at Hotel Grand Kakatiya.
For lunch, he requested Ms. Kedareswari, who looked after the cartoonist during his brief stay here, to join in. The official though politely refused, and settled for soup instead.
But while sipping away, she took a delicacy from the tray and nibbled away. This action was not lost on Mr. Laxman who immediately remarked in his inimitable style, “Madam, you are slowly inching towards lunch”.
This was not all. Mr. Laxman had a ready repartee for every occasion. When he was delayed for the inaugural programme of the modern art show, he sought to pass on the blame to the museum authorities for sending a rickety car to fetch him. But this was said in such a hilarious way that none felt offended. “That’s the greatest thing about him,” says Ms. Kedareswari.
Perhaps it was this quality of making a point without hurting anyone that endeared him to everyone.
The eminent cartoonist, who passed away last week, had visited the museum in 1999 and endeared himself to all with his acerbic wit
