The Art Of Cartooning In India-‘A cartoon is a rare and brilliant creation of art that wraps aesthetics, portraiture and comment. 25 February 2009

The Art Of Cartooning In India

25 February 2009


Cartoons are probably the best and first read parts of a newspaper or for that matter for most publications. But after that first glace that often brings a smile on our face and a thought to our minds we forget the cartoon and the cartoonist. Over a period of time, we instinctively know the style of a cartoonist and his / her favorite characters, some of which are real life and some representative. I never gave a thought to the fact if these Cartoonists were formally trained in the art of drawing cartoons. For no reason I always thought that all these people are born with this talent of expression.

Then, one fine day I got to know about the Indian Institute of Cartoonists (IIC), based in Bangalore, through an exhibition that they did of the works of some famous cartoonists from across the country. IIC aims to promote the art of Cartooning in India. Brochure of the institute describes a Cartoon very well ‘A cartoon is a rare and brilliant creation of art that wraps aesthetics, portraiture and comment. While tickling the funny bone of the reader a cartoonist moulds public opinion, drawing his attention gently to the follies of our leaders and people around us’.

IIMc is located off MG Road, if you take the lane next to Kids kemp, it is about 50-100 meters down that road on the right hand side in the basement of a building called Midford Garden. You can visit it to view the cartoons, to read the literature about cartoons. IIC plans to have a cartoon library which will have cartoons and cartoons related literature, along with a museum of original cartoons and clay n wax models of cartoon characters. They would be organizing various cartoon competitions at various levels apart from regular exhibitions and cartoon related events across the country. Membership of IIC is open for anyone who wishes to be a part of its journey.

I was lucky to get a re-print of Ranga’s portraits of famous personalities, autographed by the personalities themselves, compiled under the title of ‘Profiles in lines’.

Did you know that David Low is considered to be the father of Cartooning and K Shankar Pillai that of Indian Cartooning?