R.K. Laxman’s cartoons don’t hurt people, but have a healing power, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Tuesday. He was speaking after launching a book titled, Timeless Laxman , on the life and times of the renowned cartoonist, known for his iconic Common Man.
He congratulated the late cartoonist’s family for digitalising the ‘Common Man’ cartoons and deciding to release his works in an animated form.
Cartoonists are “closer to God” as they minutely observe different characteristics of various human beings, Mr. Modi said. “The common man is constant. He is modern and strong. Even from his way of dressing, one cannot make out which part of India he represents. Laxman’s approach was to find diversity in caricatures and bring them together,” he said.
“I would like to request Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to see if any university in the State can do a case study of our socio-political history through the medium of cartoons. The base can be Laxman’s works.”
Laxman’s creation, The Common Man, was timeless and popular nationwide. “Every Indian citizen and each generation can see themselves in his mould. He is hidden in every common person in the country,” he said.
“Laxman was not just an individual, but a fundamental thread that held together crores of common people and their hearts.”
Mr. Modi recalled how Laxman’s cartoons made an impression on him. “I always used to wonder why aeroplanes should have the ‘Maharaja’ tag and not that of a common man. My thought reached the then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and some flights have the common man image on them,” he said.
“After coming to power, I dreamt that those wearing hawai chappals [slippers] should also be able to fly in planes. Now, more people travel by air than in A/C second class on trains,” he said.
