|
Tribute to Sudhir Tailang
| World of Sudhir Tailang |
A country can never have enough cartoonists.There is always a dearth of them.Professional cartoonists are the rarest of Professional breeds.They always seem to be an endangered species becoming almost extinct at certain times, but then miraculously surviving and increasing their numbers.This was the case in the united states where in the fifties and sixties the field was dominated by two veteran cartoonists, Herblock and Mauldin,with no young newcomers in sight. But then they began to mushroom all over the place.This was largely because of the radicalization that took plaçe in the universities during the traumatic Vietnam war.
Good cartoons come out of deep feelings and commitment not to a political party nor necessarily to an ideology but to a set of principles that are genuinely one's own.
Indian cartoonists on the whole in the last three or four decades have not,one regrets to say,expended much thought or emotion on some of the great events of our time- the decolonization of Africa, The Vietnam war,the issues of war and peace, nuclear bomb and disarmament. They have been concerned in recent years mainly with parochial issues,those that have concerned the common man, issues of hunger,rising prices,corruption and,ofcourse, the antics of some of our politicians whose true vocation should have been in the theatre or circus.Have our Cartoonists shown enough concern for the menace of communalism and caste,of dowry and the grotesque killings of brides?One wonders.
There is no doubt that there is much in Indian life that is material for savage satire,but the challenge has not been met. The role of Cartoonists,as has been assigned by editors and proprietors alike is to amuse readers,to produce a little smile on their faces. This helps circulation rise,keeps bussiness houses content and the blood pressure of influential citizens at a reasonable level.
The inhibition that affect this much loved and admired profession are many.There are editors who think that a Cartoonist- especially if he is young - has no right to contradict the editorial opinions of the paper.There are proprietors who count the number of cartoons and illustrations produced each months to see if output justifies the mean salary he is paying his artist.whereas ordinary readers of newspapers are always asking the Cartoonist 'how do you manage to produce a cartoon every day?,the proprietor who pays is asking,' why can't you produce two cartoons a day,like so-and so?'
Overwork has become the bane of Indian Cartoonists.The daily routine leaves them little time to read,think or sketch from life.The talent of a young artist quickly becomes modified.
This is what I worry about when I see the work of young, promising Cartoonists in our newspapers and journals.Are they able to give their best in the conditions in which they are working? Is their work getting better or worse? Are their minds being stimulated or worn out?
Sudhir Tailang is one of the most gifted among the new generation of Cartoonists of India.He could perhaps have been called a child prodigy have had his first cartoon published in 1970 when he was only ten years old.His output has been prodigious, anyway. After taking a degree in Science from Bikaner,his home town,he joined the Times of India group in 1982 as an apprentice and in 1983 became a staff Cartoonist of the Navbharat Times.He has drawn for almost every publication of the group,his drawing ranging from political to social and purely comic to serious portrait caricature.At 26,(in 1986) he is well set to establish himself within the next few years as one of the leaders of the profession in India.
His cartoons show political and social awareness (Incidentally, he collected a few thousand rupees for victims of the Bhopal gas tragedy by drawing various Delhi localities). He has never allowed his work to fall into a fixed groove either in the manner of drawing or in the ideas.Always experimenting,always trying new forms and techniques and themes,he has maintained the Sharpness of his mind and his skill.I know that he is also modest,a quality rare in artists but essential for development.
Ladies and Gentlemen, Sudhir Tailang!
|
| |
| FORTY MINUTES WITH THE PRIME MINISTER BY SUDHIR TAILANG |
I have drawn Primeminister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in hundreds of cartoons,and I must admit that he's never been a great delight to caricature! But after a 40-minute meeting recently,I discovered some conspicuous changes in him,spin-offs of power,perhaps for the benifit of my fellow tribemen!
He's put on some weight- thoùgh it's doubtful if he ever got a chance to throw it around-in the presence of his erstwhile ally Jayalalitha! His nose has become more pronounced.His hair has turned more curly at the centre of the forehead,so that the satirist can comb it gently with his brush.The lips have turned interestingly sketch worthy (lip service is as crucial to the cartoonist as it's to the Politician),though not in the same exalted category of the famous Narasimha Rao pout!
It's always a challenge when a new prime minister takes over.One studies the nose ,the eyes,the lips,the ears...!It's a tough (ruthless) job dissecting the leader with brush!
Vajpayee was no stranger to cartoons!During his brief tenure of 13days,he was very kind to us.His Government ruled the three-coloumn frame on the front pages of newspapers with great aplomb!
Even a newcomer like Devegowda proved to be a first-rate PM-for the cartoonist! With a bold,bald pate,and a bulbous nose,he literally slept away his premiership!
Sketching a politician from close quarters is the best way to get the essence of the man.The flat two-dimensional images of photographes can be misleading There's a third dimension to every politician!
Vajpayee sits coolly in his huge drawing room- as if ready to be drawn! He has an eternal one-and a half smile.He's calm and composed,at peace with himself.It seems he's enjoying his caretaker status! Relief is writ large on his face-perhaps a reflection of his attaining freedom from the lady of Poes Garden!
Soon he's in his element! He talks about everything under the sun and,ofcourse, also about those under a cloud,!
He is his trueself when he bursts into his trademark toothless laughter.It's quite a task to capture those moments on the sketch pad.But he's kind enough to laugh so many times that I can brush up each drawing of his guffawing face!
Like a cinematographer,I put an imaginary track around him!
I Plan my sketches from every conceivable angle:left,right,front,back,top.....close-up,mid-shot...!
He poses like a professional model.(He loves cartoons!)I assure him that I won't spare him in the run up to the polls!He laughs aloud.
He asks me where I get the inspiration for my daily cartoons from
"From You MR Prime Minister!",I tell him.He brust into laughter again.
(See othervsketches on page 12)
|
| |
| Tribute to Sudhir Tailang - Part 2 | |
| |
| Tribute to Sudhir Tailang - Part 1 | |
| |
| Cartoonist Sudhir Tailang |
Indian Express has reminiscined Sudhir ji's retrospective document 'Three decades of Indian democracy' in a memoir of his works.
Seldom does one find a prime minister at an exhibition and rarely ever do heads of state, three decades old, stand in a row to greet visitors. But at Sudhir Tailang’s retrospective, “Here and Now: Rajiv to Modi” at Visual Arts Gallery last week, cut-outs of Rajiv Gandhi, Atal Behari Vajpayee, PV Narasimha Rao, Manmohan Singh and PM Narendra Modi stood testimony to the cartoonist’s sardonic ouvre. These large standees have now moved to Art Alive gallery, where the exhibition spans the tenures of nine prime ministers.
|
| |
| India @ 75: Bal Thackeray to RK Laxman - India's 7 best cartoonists |
Asianet Newsable has written a tributive commentary on India's 7 best cartoonists at the occasion of 75.
We've all seen cartoons, whether in magazines, newspapers, web graphics, or comic books, and the truth is that they give us comic relief after a hard day. Today, we look at some of the aces of the Indian cartoon industry who, despite their passing, have left a treasure trove of legacies that will be permanently imprinted in history.
Bal Thackeray
Balasaheb Thackeray founded the Shiv Sena party and was a prominent figure in Indian politics. Besides being a politician, Balasaheb was also a talented cartoonist. Balasaheb's cartoons are still popular today. He played a crucial role in the United Marathi movement to unite all the Marathi people in Maharashtra. He began commenting on societal issues as an artist and cartoonist. He also made profound comments on the most pressing problems in his cartoons. His drawings were quite famous at the time, thanks to discrepancies in events, a profound study of cartoons, and his exceptional creativity. To express himself via cartoons, he launched the weekly 'Marmik.'
R. K. Laxman:
The late cartoonist RK Laxman was famous for his character The Common Man and his daily comic strip 'You Said It' in The Times of India, which he began in 1951. RK Laxman started his career as a freelance cartoonist, usually for local newspapers and publications. He drew his older brother RK Narayan's tales in The Hindu as a college student. RK Laxman was honored with prestigious awards like Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Ramon Magsaysay Award.
Sudhir Tailang:
Sudhir Tailang made political cartoons of Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, PV Narasimha Rao, Manmohan Singh, and Narendra Modi. Sudhir Tailang's cartoons have consistently depicted the plight of the average man. Sudhir understood the average guy's demands, concerns, and point of view. In 2004 he was awarded Padma Shri in Literature & Education. He passed away on February, 06, 2016 from brain cancer.
Mario Miranda:
When you think about Goa, a cartoon picture of a Goan guy singing merrily with a guitar under a coconut tree comes to mind. Mario Miranda, a cartoonist, created this image. Through his cartoons, he portrayed the Goan way of life. Surprisingly, he was not a native of Goa. Daman is where he was born. He had a special affection for Goa because his father was from there. The newspaper cartoons he made were popular among readers. He received the 'Padma Shri' and 'Padma Bhushan' awards for his essential work.
Shankar Pillai:
Kesava Shankara Pillai, or Shankar as he was fondly and popularly known, was born in 1902 at Kayamkulam. Considered as the ‘Father of Indian political cartooning’, he was the founder of Shankar’s Weekly, which he edited and published himself and it is often coined as the ‘Punch’ of India and inspired other cartoonists like Abu Abraham, Ranga and Kutty. He was awarded the Padma Vibhushan in 1976 and now is widely remembered for setting up Children’s Book Trust.
Abu Abraham:
In 1975, India declared a state of emergency. During this time, all of the citizens' basic rights were removed. Several politicians were imprisoned. Press freedom was curtailed. Despite the prohibition on everything, some cartoonists continued to work. Abu Abraham was one of these cartoonists. Through his cartoons, Abu Abraham opposed Indira Gandhi and her dictatorship. Even today, his drawings help others understand what an emergency is.
Satish Acharya:
Satish Acharya, a self-taught artist, was featured on United Sketches as an Indian professional cartoonist. Acharya was named one of Forbes India's "24 Intellectuals" in 2015. Acharya's cartoon on the Charlie Hebdo Massacre was regarded as one of the most potent cartoons on the tragedy by the foreign media. His cartoon was published in newspapers including The Wall Street Journal, The Times and The Guardian.
|
| |
| Tribute to Sudhir ji by fellow journalist Rajnish Manga |
Fellow journalist Rajnish Manga has expressed his regard for Sudhir ji in this beautiful poem.
|
| |
| |
|
|
