The Creator of the “Common Man”: (The not-so-common) RK Laxman

 

Whenever I open The Times of India, particularly these days, I sorely miss that cartoon on its front page that could both make me think, as well as laugh out loud at the things I saw all around -- RK Laxman’s “You Said It.” Over the years, I have met many fellow-readers who have all confessed to missing the same daily dose of his cartoon creation “The Common Man.” This addiction to the daily pocket-sized dose of daily humour had been predicted by his colleague, Khushwant Singh, the eminent novelist/journalist/editor, Laxman's colleague for more than a decade. “Laxman is the pillar that sustains The Times of India. The day his cartoons stop appearing on its front pages, Indians who start their day with a smile will have nothing left to smile about."

Laxman's front-page cartoon inevitably featured the ubiquitous Common Man, a balding, middle-aged fellow, with tufts of hair sticking out from the sides of his pate and a bulbous nose, wearing his trademark dhoti and checked coat, round spectacles; it was one of the most well-known faces in India, at least to newspaper readers. He would continually wear a bemused, incredulous expression at the doings of India's politicians. With his gentle sarcasm, his sharp wit and observation, he made us see the lighter side of things.  He became the silent, the ‘incidental’ observer of the daily predicaments of thousands of Indians; their dreams, their hopes, their common quirks and faults. Asked to explain the strengths of the Common Man in an interview, Laxman singled out his silence. "He simply listens," he said. 

With the passage of time, we have learnt to appreciate the depth of Laxman’s talent even more -- as a good cartoonist/humorist/social commentator all rolled into one, he was beyond compare. 

I often wonder if he would have lasted in today's era of censorship. He was sarcastic, acerbic but never vitriolic -- neither abusing nor provoking to call attention to himself. This was probably what saved him from the ire of politicians even during his days. He commented gratefully: "They have not taken care of the country, but me." 

His contribution towards being able to make us laugh at ourselves has become rare, indeed is becoming rarer, with every passing day. As it is said (in another context), “Raam toh har yug mein aaye/par Laxman jaisa kabhi koi paida nahin hua (Ram was reincarnated in every era/but the likes of Laxman was never born again).” 

But did you know that this institution of an artist was largely self-taught? At the beginning of his career,  when Laxman applied to the JJ School of Arts in Bombay, he was refused admission. His application carried the comment “lacked the talent to qualify for enrolment".

So the incomparable skill that could change the meaning of an entire cartoon with the single stroke of a brush, was a mix of equal parts of inborn talent, practice, studious observation, and attention to detail. It is said that he was influenced (as were many other cartoonists all over the world) by New Zealand’s pioneering caricaturist David Low.  He started out by making political cartoons for local newspapers and worked at the Free Press Journal alongside Bal Thackeray. But soon he had a disagreement with the owner of the newspaper who had forbidden him from making cartoons of communists. In 1951 when he found employment with The Times of India, he created the Common Man, his front page cartoon strip which featured on the front page for the next six decades. Over the years, as Khushwant Singh said, almost everything in the paper was dispensable, but there were three things it could not touch: God and religion, titillation and RK Laxman. As a tribute to his genius, the JJ School of Arts today has a statue of the Common Man on their campus in Mumbai. 

All of us are familiar with the “Common Man” but few know that he was also an illustrator par excellence. He illustrated his older brother (the great RK Narayan’s) autobiography titled “My Days,” his novel, "Swami and Friends." He also created "Gattu" the Asian Paints mascot in 1954. 

image credit: startuptalky.com

He illustrated his wife Kamala Laxman stories for children.  His work for the latter has to be seen to be believed. He has transferred human emotions to animals with brilliance.  The expressions of Thama, the baby elephant, as he searches the forest for his lost mother in Kamala Laxman’s “Thama and his Missing Mother” (India Book House Education Trust/Echo Books, first published in 1975, priced an unbelievable Rs 3.00) are a treat to behold.  

He also penned a collection of short stories (The Distorted Mirror) and wrote novels (The Hotel Riviera, The Messenger) as well as his autobiography "The Tunnel of Time," but he is best remembered for his inimitable cartoons which told the stories of our lives in a small space. We miss you! 

As a tribute to the genius in his birth centenary year (He was born Rasipuram Krishnaswami Iyer Laxman in Mysuru in the year 1921), SAB TV has produced a new season of the iconic Doordarshan 90s sitcom Wagle ki Duniya (based on Laxman’s characters, Srinivas Wagle and his wife Radhika Wagle from Wagle’s World). Leftrightthodasa center.blogspot.com brings you this post dedicated to RK Laxman, offering you glimpses of his “quintessential common man” and his illustrations for children’s books.

Don’t forget to comment, and as always share, follow, and subscribe!  (Image credits: TOI, Pinterest, IBH/Echo Books)

My sketch of the Creation being friends with the Creator