Sonia Faleiro
Saturday, December 17, 2005
"Yes? What Do you Want?"
"The latest collection of RK Laxman, the grand old man of Indian cartooning, is out. In his typical acerbic tone, the 84-year-old creator of the Common Man tells Sonia Faleiro the new breed of Indian cartoonists lacks humour and critical judgement.
How did the cerebral stroke in 2002 change your life?
For me, nothing. It hasn’t affected my drawing. My right hand is okay, my head is working. I carry on.
I hear your routine hasn’t changed in 58 years. Can you describe it?
I get up at 8.30 am, have breakfast, read the papers from 9-12 pm. While I read I collect ideas. Then I visualise them, start drawing. It takes about six hours. By 6 pm someone comes from office (The Times of India), takes it, scans it.
Do you show your cartoons to your wife Kamala, or family members for feedback?
Nobody sees it before it prints. I never consider, talk to anybody, show it to anybody.
Has an Editor ever discussed a cartoon before it went to print?
It has never happened.
Do you value anybody’s opinion?
No. And neither do people volunteer it.
Moving on to the Common Man. How has he evolved in recent times?
I’ve written about it and spoken about it. You’re asking the same question. Why don’t you read my autobiography? (The Tunnel of Time.)
I have. It describes the creation of the Common Man. I’m asking how he evolved.
There’s no change. He is as permanent as the moon, stars. They don’t change, nor does he.
He’s a brand. He’s the face of Air Deccan. He’s on a commemorative stamp celebrating 150 years of The Times of India. Isn’t that ironic considering who he represents?
Why should it be ironic? The Common Man isn’t always impoverished. He’s alright. He has become quite popular.
Does he represent personal frustrations?
What I experience, perhaps. Not personal frustrations. Not a bit.
So your experiences are different from the Common Man?
Very different. Suppose there is taxation, the price of foodgrain goes up. It affects everybody. He represents millions of Indians. What he experiences sometimes I may not go through, but I may represent it. For example, if bus or train charges increase he may suffer because he is the Common Man. I may not suffer, but I know he is suffering..
Khushwant Singh once wrote of you, ‘He loved to be praised; he did not believe in false modesty.’ Comment.
Nonsense. Total nonsense.
Was the confidence he alluded to something that was instilled in you as a child, or did you acquire it later?
It was instilled as a child. But I had no masters. Nobody told me what to do. I’ve grown up on my own, I’m totally self- taught. No master, no institution. I learnt everything on my own. I never looked at someone to appreciate my work.
You also worked with your brother, writer RK Narayan. How did his death affect your life?
He passed away in Mysore. By then I had come here. He’s just another brother who passed away. I used to illustrate his stories. He gave me the story, I illustrated it.
Yes, but were you not good friends as well?
Great friendship. That’s it.
In 1993, you said in a speech, ‘Commitment is a deadly sin for a cartoonist. He must be a spectator, not a player’. Can you elaborate on that?
Yes? What do you want?
I'm asking you to comment on that statement.
I don’t know what I said at the time, in what connection.
Okay. Does a cartoonist, according to you, create public opinion or reflect it?
He makes use of oddities, paradoxes in a human situation. His attempt is not to change anything but see. He is not there to correct or influence. People get influenced easily. Not cartoonists.
What are your expectations from the public? Do you still get the same volume of responses?
My expectations are that they understand what I do, that’s all. I still get lots of letters. Praising, threatening, saying ‘you should have done this.’ I ignore them all.
Do you like interacting with an audience?
No. I don't go and see politicians and the public. I don’t have anything to say to them and what they say to me doesn’t interest me.
Do you have a favourite cartoon?
All of mine. Obviously.
What about a favourite cartoonist?
Abroad, of course, David Low of the Evening Standard. I went to England and met him. In India, no one. No upcoming cartoonist. No one. In India, cartooning is an imported product. The British brought it to India. There are very good cartoonists in England, America. You don’t find such cartoonists here.
Why is that?
I don’t know. Ask them. I hope it will improve. That’s all I will say. As of now it’s really terrible. No draftsmanship, thinking, trying to be funny when there is nothing funny. Sense of humour is lacking. Observation, critical judgement. It’s a very serious thing, cartooning. It’s not a joke.
Why do you think we have so few women cartoonists?
Ask them. I don’t know.
You worked briefly with Bal Thackeray at the Free Press Journal. How do you view his cartoons? Are you surprised by what he became?
I didn’t work for him, or anybody. We worked alongside briefly. He was alright. Unfortunately, his attention was on something else. I wasn’t surprised at what happened. I expected him to do it. Every politician has his own ideology. He’s following his ideology for good or worse. I have nothing to say.
Your political affiliations?
Democratic.
Any political party you are inclined towards? Do you vote?
No particular party. I do vote; it depends on time and person concerned. I don’t remember who I voted for last time. Some local chap.
Have you faced risks as a political cartoonist?
Many times. I’ve been summoned to the court, made to stand before the judge and explain a cartoon about the riots in Mumbai, when they were burning buses, cars. In the cartoon, someone tries to set fire to a motorcycle, but he can’t even light the matchstick. A bystander says, “what sort of patriot are you? You can’t even burn a small motorcycle.” That offended somebody. They summoned me to court, all the way to Nashik. Finally, they acquitted me. Some people got angry and rushed to my room to throw acid on my face. But that was a long time ago. Others threatened, I’ll do this to you, if you write about this politician.
Some people send flowers, some money. Some give me gifts. I’ve received a doctorate. During the Emergency, the censors said, don’t do this, don’t do that. I was dragged from pillar to post. I went to Mrs. Gandhi. She assured me not to bother about them. But these bureaucrats never allowed me to rest. They prevented me from doing my work. Mrs. Gandhi was a hypocrite. She suspended democracy and said, in a democracy cartooning is essential, please carry on.
Any personal run-ins with politicians?
No.
The satisfactions of being a political cartoonist.
I feel satisfied when I do a piece of work that satisfies me. But daily, I’ve to carry on and on.
Who has been your favourite person to satire?
Laloo Prasad, Atal Behari Vajpayee. Such people have a face for caricature. They make mistakes, it’s utter nonsense.
In terms of material, which political period has excited you the most.
Difficult to answer. People look at cartoonists in a different way. They think, he does this, he does that, he must be like this or that. None of it.
Do you see a similarity between the work of a political cartoonist and an edit writer?
It’s like comparing music with literature.
Not really. Both make a statement on a current situation.
Sometimes, coincidence. Sometimes not.
Newspapers, like the Hindustan Times, don’t have editorial cartoons. What does it suggest?
There aren’t enough good cartoonists. There is no institution teaching cartooning. You have to be born a cartoonist. It can’t be taught.
There are fewer people born with a talent for cartooning?
Exactly.
Mumbai is the backdrop to many of your works. How has this city influenced you?
In no way. I’ve lived in Kolkata, Chennai. City influencing work? I can’t understand these kinds of questions. Very sorry.
I see. Do you think historians should use political cartoons to study a particular period?
Ask a historian that. I’m not a historian.
I know that. I’m asking you as a cartoonist do you think political cartoons can be used as a tool to understand history.
Historians? How am I to answer this?
Fine. In your autobiography you mention an incident in which the proprietor of The Indian Express introduced you to his senior editor. You went to him for a job, and he asked, ‘Why do you want to be a cartoonist? What is so great about it?’ You didn’t answer, but walked out. How would you respond today?
Not my autobiography. Somebody else’s. Doesn’t sound like me. I never went to anybody’s house.
(Ed. Note. The incident is described by Laxman on Page 83 in The Tunnel of Time; An Autobiography. After being asked the aforementioned questions, Laxman writes: “At this point I got up and quietly left. Perhaps he did not even notice my departure.”)"
A slightly edited version of this appeared in Tehelka, December 24, 2005.
How did the cerebral stroke in 2002 change your life?
For me, nothing. It hasn’t affected my drawing. My right hand is okay, my head is working. I carry on.
I hear your routine hasn’t changed in 58 years. Can you describe it?
I get up at 8.30 am, have breakfast, read the papers from 9-12 pm. While I read I collect ideas. Then I visualise them, start drawing. It takes about six hours. By 6 pm someone comes from office (The Times of India), takes it, scans it.
Do you show your cartoons to your wife Kamala, or family members for feedback?
Nobody sees it before it prints. I never consider, talk to anybody, show it to anybody.
Has an Editor ever discussed a cartoon before it went to print?
It has never happened.
Do you value anybody’s opinion?
No. And neither do people volunteer it.
Moving on to the Common Man. How has he evolved in recent times?
I’ve written about it and spoken about it. You’re asking the same question. Why don’t you read my autobiography? (The Tunnel of Time.)
I have. It describes the creation of the Common Man. I’m asking how he evolved.
There’s no change. He is as permanent as the moon, stars. They don’t change, nor does he.
He’s a brand. He’s the face of Air Deccan. He’s on a commemorative stamp celebrating 150 years of The Times of India. Isn’t that ironic considering who he represents?
Why should it be ironic? The Common Man isn’t always impoverished. He’s alright. He has become quite popular.
Does he represent personal frustrations?
What I experience, perhaps. Not personal frustrations. Not a bit.
So your experiences are different from the Common Man?
Very different. Suppose there is taxation, the price of foodgrain goes up. It affects everybody. He represents millions of Indians. What he experiences sometimes I may not go through, but I may represent it. For example, if bus or train charges increase he may suffer because he is the Common Man. I may not suffer, but I know he is suffering..
Khushwant Singh once wrote of you, ‘He loved to be praised; he did not believe in false modesty.’ Comment.
Nonsense. Total nonsense.
Was the confidence he alluded to something that was instilled in you as a child, or did you acquire it later?
It was instilled as a child. But I had no masters. Nobody told me what to do. I’ve grown up on my own, I’m totally self- taught. No master, no institution. I learnt everything on my own. I never looked at someone to appreciate my work.
You also worked with your brother, writer RK Narayan. How did his death affect your life?
He passed away in Mysore. By then I had come here. He’s just another brother who passed away. I used to illustrate his stories. He gave me the story, I illustrated it.
Yes, but were you not good friends as well?
Great friendship. That’s it.
In 1993, you said in a speech, ‘Commitment is a deadly sin for a cartoonist. He must be a spectator, not a player’. Can you elaborate on that?
Yes? What do you want?
I'm asking you to comment on that statement.
I don’t know what I said at the time, in what connection.
Okay. Does a cartoonist, according to you, create public opinion or reflect it?
He makes use of oddities, paradoxes in a human situation. His attempt is not to change anything but see. He is not there to correct or influence. People get influenced easily. Not cartoonists.
What are your expectations from the public? Do you still get the same volume of responses?
My expectations are that they understand what I do, that’s all. I still get lots of letters. Praising, threatening, saying ‘you should have done this.’ I ignore them all.
Do you like interacting with an audience?
No. I don't go and see politicians and the public. I don’t have anything to say to them and what they say to me doesn’t interest me.
Do you have a favourite cartoon?
All of mine. Obviously.
What about a favourite cartoonist?
Abroad, of course, David Low of the Evening Standard. I went to England and met him. In India, no one. No upcoming cartoonist. No one. In India, cartooning is an imported product. The British brought it to India. There are very good cartoonists in England, America. You don’t find such cartoonists here.
Why is that?
I don’t know. Ask them. I hope it will improve. That’s all I will say. As of now it’s really terrible. No draftsmanship, thinking, trying to be funny when there is nothing funny. Sense of humour is lacking. Observation, critical judgement. It’s a very serious thing, cartooning. It’s not a joke.
Why do you think we have so few women cartoonists?
Ask them. I don’t know.
You worked briefly with Bal Thackeray at the Free Press Journal. How do you view his cartoons? Are you surprised by what he became?
I didn’t work for him, or anybody. We worked alongside briefly. He was alright. Unfortunately, his attention was on something else. I wasn’t surprised at what happened. I expected him to do it. Every politician has his own ideology. He’s following his ideology for good or worse. I have nothing to say.
Your political affiliations?
Democratic.
Any political party you are inclined towards? Do you vote?
No particular party. I do vote; it depends on time and person concerned. I don’t remember who I voted for last time. Some local chap.
Have you faced risks as a political cartoonist?
Many times. I’ve been summoned to the court, made to stand before the judge and explain a cartoon about the riots in Mumbai, when they were burning buses, cars. In the cartoon, someone tries to set fire to a motorcycle, but he can’t even light the matchstick. A bystander says, “what sort of patriot are you? You can’t even burn a small motorcycle.” That offended somebody. They summoned me to court, all the way to Nashik. Finally, they acquitted me. Some people got angry and rushed to my room to throw acid on my face. But that was a long time ago. Others threatened, I’ll do this to you, if you write about this politician.
Some people send flowers, some money. Some give me gifts. I’ve received a doctorate. During the Emergency, the censors said, don’t do this, don’t do that. I was dragged from pillar to post. I went to Mrs. Gandhi. She assured me not to bother about them. But these bureaucrats never allowed me to rest. They prevented me from doing my work. Mrs. Gandhi was a hypocrite. She suspended democracy and said, in a democracy cartooning is essential, please carry on.
Any personal run-ins with politicians?
No.
The satisfactions of being a political cartoonist.
I feel satisfied when I do a piece of work that satisfies me. But daily, I’ve to carry on and on.
Who has been your favourite person to satire?
Laloo Prasad, Atal Behari Vajpayee. Such people have a face for caricature. They make mistakes, it’s utter nonsense.
In terms of material, which political period has excited you the most.
Difficult to answer. People look at cartoonists in a different way. They think, he does this, he does that, he must be like this or that. None of it.
Do you see a similarity between the work of a political cartoonist and an edit writer?
It’s like comparing music with literature.
Not really. Both make a statement on a current situation.
Sometimes, coincidence. Sometimes not.
Newspapers, like the Hindustan Times, don’t have editorial cartoons. What does it suggest?
There aren’t enough good cartoonists. There is no institution teaching cartooning. You have to be born a cartoonist. It can’t be taught.
There are fewer people born with a talent for cartooning?
Exactly.
Mumbai is the backdrop to many of your works. How has this city influenced you?
In no way. I’ve lived in Kolkata, Chennai. City influencing work? I can’t understand these kinds of questions. Very sorry.
I see. Do you think historians should use political cartoons to study a particular period?
Ask a historian that. I’m not a historian.
I know that. I’m asking you as a cartoonist do you think political cartoons can be used as a tool to understand history.
Historians? How am I to answer this?
Fine. In your autobiography you mention an incident in which the proprietor of The Indian Express introduced you to his senior editor. You went to him for a job, and he asked, ‘Why do you want to be a cartoonist? What is so great about it?’ You didn’t answer, but walked out. How would you respond today?
Not my autobiography. Somebody else’s. Doesn’t sound like me. I never went to anybody’s house.
(Ed. Note. The incident is described by Laxman on Page 83 in The Tunnel of Time; An Autobiography. After being asked the aforementioned questions, Laxman writes: “At this point I got up and quietly left. Perhaps he did not even notice my departure.”)"
A slightly edited version of this appeared in Tehelka, December 24, 2005.
Labels: Profiles
:: posted by Sonia Faleiro, 12:54 PM
43 Comments:
He interviews like a genius. A very telling piece, Sonia.
Yes, it is. In such cases it's best never to edit.
I actually wanted to put in some editorial comment above, but people should come to their own conclusions. Here's the funny thing though. When I asked him a question he had been been asked before (and when you're 84, some conversations are bound to sound familiar), he literally moaned to his wife and daughter-in-law, "same old questions!" When I asked him questions that he hasn't been asked before (at least not in all the profiles and interviews available online), he moaned, "how should I know?"
At the point where he asks, "Yes? What do you want?" I had the strongest urge to say, "sweet release from this interview."
I actually wanted to put in some editorial comment above, but people should come to their own conclusions. Here's the funny thing though. When I asked him a question he had been been asked before (and when you're 84, some conversations are bound to sound familiar), he literally moaned to his wife and daughter-in-law, "same old questions!" When I asked him questions that he hasn't been asked before (at least not in all the profiles and interviews available online), he moaned, "how should I know?"
At the point where he asks, "Yes? What do you want?" I had the strongest urge to say, "sweet release from this interview."
I do love Laxman's work, but shoot, what a dour old puss he is. The eccentricities of genius I suppose. It must have taken the patience of a saint to take this interview to its planned conclusion - more power to you, Sonia!
Aditi
Aditi
He could've atleast been sarcastic-mean or witty-mean. That sounded like one of many conversations I've had with my HOD at college.
But yeah, loved the unedited version. Felt so real.
But yeah, loved the unedited version. Felt so real.
Crabbity old man, isn't he? The last line of your comment above answered the question I was about to ask.
Laman's drawings are great, such a wealth of detail; his captions, however, are usually verbose and not always witty.
J.A.P.
Laman's drawings are great, such a wealth of detail; his captions, however, are usually verbose and not always witty.
J.A.P.
Interviewing R.K. Laxman can be quiet a Herculean task, is it not Sonia? Incidentally I have, on my hard disk, the contents of 'INDIA THROUGH THE EYES OF R.K.LAXMAN - THEN TO NOW. This is a collection of 250 cartoons from the Nehru era to the Vajpayee era sent by Readers Digest. Cartoon 9 has R.K. Laxman's Common Man speaking (yes speaking!) the following words: "DON'T KNOW ALL THAT SIR. BUT I'M VOTING FOR THAT MAN...!"
'THAT MAN' being none other than Jawaharlal Nehru. And I thought that the Common Man had never spoken a word all these years. If I am not wrong I saw the same cartoon in a collection brought out by the TOI in 1989 to celebrate its sesquicentennial. Maybe you can ask Laxman about this if you ever interview him again. :)))
'THAT MAN' being none other than Jawaharlal Nehru. And I thought that the Common Man had never spoken a word all these years. If I am not wrong I saw the same cartoon in a collection brought out by the TOI in 1989 to celebrate its sesquicentennial. Maybe you can ask Laxman about this if you ever interview him again. :)))
RK's a genius is but his attitude scuks big time!! nahi kya?
I think mid-day has some good cartoonists. Personally I never thought RK Laxman was great...you read one - you've read them all. But I guess its amazing that he can do it for so long.
Wow.. what an interview that was. Quite a conversation. You take out the interview out of it and its still quite a piece to read. I agree with you.. at 84, maybe he has dont it all once too much to be interested (and polite) in an interview.
Quite ironic that he symbolises the Common Man ,-).
BTW, I really like your writing. Been following it for a while though is my first comment here. Been reading you and AmitVarma for a while. Is actually a good medium to catch onto the latest without having to pour over all the news on sites/ newspapers.
Lazy me ,-)
-
Quite ironic that he symbolises the Common Man ,-).
BTW, I really like your writing. Been following it for a while though is my first comment here. Been reading you and AmitVarma for a while. Is actually a good medium to catch onto the latest without having to pour over all the news on sites/ newspapers.
Lazy me ,-)
-
I once transcribed an interview given by an old Philadelphia man. He was close to 80 and had lived in a particular area all his life and was famous in some way. The area where he lived is undergoing a sort-of gentrification and he was chosen to answer a few simple questions. Laxman's abrupt and short replies reminded me of the tape. I think you are right. They are probably asked the same questions so many times and asked for their opinion on every kind of matter that they probably lose interest in interviewing.
None the less, I'm glad you didn't edit it! The magazine edited the old Philadelphian's interview entirely and when it was printed- everything but his sour personality shone!!
None the less, I'm glad you didn't edit it! The magazine edited the old Philadelphian's interview entirely and when it was printed- everything but his sour personality shone!!
which tense is "appeared in Tehelka December 24" when we are still on 18th day of December, future present or present future?
Patience is a virtue I guess and Sonia, you seem to have a lot of it!
Btw, new to your blog.
Btw, new to your blog.
Sonia, those were nice questions that you asked. Really, I don't remember the last time I came across an interview holding such quality in the questions. (Remember the kind of questions they asked Vikram Seth while he read excerpts from "Two Lives"?)
And it's difficult to imagine the level of patience you had to put up while interviewing Mr.Laxman!
And it's difficult to imagine the level of patience you had to put up while interviewing Mr.Laxman!
Wonderful piece, and all the better because of the lack of editorial comments, because as seen from the first and third comment here, interpretations can vary. I am in awe of you for being able to sit through it all and to continue with your questions.
All in all, it struck me as funny more than anything else. Just one thing, if this is supposed to be the arrogance of genius, I personally don't think he's that good.
All in all, it struck me as funny more than anything else. Just one thing, if this is supposed to be the arrogance of genius, I personally don't think he's that good.
come on, he's a cartoonist! He tells a whole editorial / story in pictures - I actually liked the acerbic directness! He has earned the right to say what he wants or does not! And is it not refreshing to meet an interviewee who is a challenge ? Good questions I thought. :)
nice writeup.
m
http://sabji.blogspot.com
m
http://sabji.blogspot.com
Thanks all for the feedback.
Jinal, nice anecodte. And I think you're right, it's really about being bored and at a stage where one doesn't have to please anyone, or at least the media, for love or money or popularity, so why would they bother?
Then again, in that case, perhaps one shouldn't agree to an interview at all?
In one sense, inviting an interviewer to your home is like inviting a guest. You wouldn't tell a guest, who is there on your behest, how boring he is, so why tell an interviewer?
But I don't want to be harsh. I knew he would be like this, and it was a really interesting experience. May I also add, that the only time he smiled, a wide smile that reached his ears, was when I asked him to sign a copy of his latest book? Oh well. Should have asked him to do that before the interview.
Also, sorry to one person whose name I never even got to see; your comment isn't here, it wasn't rejected, just mistakenly deleted.
Jinal, nice anecodte. And I think you're right, it's really about being bored and at a stage where one doesn't have to please anyone, or at least the media, for love or money or popularity, so why would they bother?
Then again, in that case, perhaps one shouldn't agree to an interview at all?
In one sense, inviting an interviewer to your home is like inviting a guest. You wouldn't tell a guest, who is there on your behest, how boring he is, so why tell an interviewer?
But I don't want to be harsh. I knew he would be like this, and it was a really interesting experience. May I also add, that the only time he smiled, a wide smile that reached his ears, was when I asked him to sign a copy of his latest book? Oh well. Should have asked him to do that before the interview.
Also, sorry to one person whose name I never even got to see; your comment isn't here, it wasn't rejected, just mistakenly deleted.
this is a brilliant interview. His answers are so..hmm.. direct. He's like "you came to interview me...now face up to it". What i liked most is that the guy is never arrogant (though you sorta faced the music) ..just irreverent.. and not out to win popularity contests. the change in topic from "bombay being the backdrop" question to "do you think historians should use political cartoons" - was very quick. I wonder how much time you had between questions :-)
i grew up on laxman's cartoons...I agree he's not the greatest cartoonist in India..Ajit Ninan is probably the one..but a cartoonist with an opinion , he's the man. He's acerbic, and that shines through the interview...loved it !
LOL.
grumpy old man, huh? I suppose that can be excused, for his age! (and perhaps the stroke as well)
The interview can probably be renamed as a rapidfire round with the Common Man! :-D
grumpy old man, huh? I suppose that can be excused, for his age! (and perhaps the stroke as well)
The interview can probably be renamed as a rapidfire round with the Common Man! :-D
Its sad that RKL does not recognise any other caroonist of being competent enough. I personally feel O V vijayan was a greater cartoonist. There are also many drawing for vernacular newspapers who hardly ever find a mention.
Sonia,
Amazing job!
When I read "Tunnel of Time", I thought it was a bitter and crabby book. Worst of all, I thought that Laxman totally ran away from controversies. In that sense, he has disappointed me as much as Sachin Tendulkar has. By trying to maintain the uncontroversial, "away from politics" squeaky clean image, they've not left an institutional legacy.
By all rights, Laxman should've mentored a few cartoonists instead of complaining about the lack of good talent. Mentoring is one reason why cartooning and other art forms are so alive in the west. Andy Grove, for instance, has no incentive to teach (fame, money) apart from passing on the torch of his knowledge to the next generation.
Amazing job!
When I read "Tunnel of Time", I thought it was a bitter and crabby book. Worst of all, I thought that Laxman totally ran away from controversies. In that sense, he has disappointed me as much as Sachin Tendulkar has. By trying to maintain the uncontroversial, "away from politics" squeaky clean image, they've not left an institutional legacy.
By all rights, Laxman should've mentored a few cartoonists instead of complaining about the lack of good talent. Mentoring is one reason why cartooning and other art forms are so alive in the west. Andy Grove, for instance, has no incentive to teach (fame, money) apart from passing on the torch of his knowledge to the next generation.
The Comic Project: It was a quick change. Usually one asks a question and expects a mini discussion to grow from it. But since the answers were so short, I had to proceed to the next subject.
Quizman, I agree that Laxman should have mentored cartoonists if he found India so sorely lacking. I also disagreed with him about the fact that we have no cartoonists. But if that's what he feels. Sad, though.
Quizman, I agree that Laxman should have mentored cartoonists if he found India so sorely lacking. I also disagreed with him about the fact that we have no cartoonists. But if that's what he feels. Sad, though.
Great read. This could easily have been an interview with Bob Dylan, another famous semi-curmudgeon.
krishna
krishna
One of my cousins is a very good cartoonist and loves to draw political cartoons. A few years back, when my cousin was probably 15 years old, he had drawn a cartoon about some current issue and coincidentally, the next day R.K. Laxman's cartoon was almost the same with the same punchline, it was like the 2 of them thought alike. Now my cousin is doing some assistant Director thing for serials, because he felt that its not easy to earn a good living by being a cartoonist in India. I don't know how far that is true, but I feel that a lot of people are not into these professions because of the M factor.
Pinkblog78: Actually, at one point Kaxman was one the hughest paid at TOI. Now that salaries have inflated in the media, many of his colleagues are well paid, but Laxman continues, according to sources, to do very well for himself. Read this mini profile by Khushwant Singh.
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2003/20031011/windows/above.htm
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2003/20031011/windows/above.htm
In an age of the polished and primped intellectual, with lecture tours and sound bytes carefully groomed, here is a guy who couldn't care less.
Khushwant's merit is debatable. Laxman does have a massive body of work which may not provide uniform satisfaction, but undeniably has many moments of greatness.
Armoured in self-belief, he perhaps sees no reason to stick to the conventions of civil discourse.
A colourful interview. (You left out his crow obsession though ).
Khushwant's merit is debatable. Laxman does have a massive body of work which may not provide uniform satisfaction, but undeniably has many moments of greatness.
Armoured in self-belief, he perhaps sees no reason to stick to the conventions of civil discourse.
A colourful interview. (You left out his crow obsession though ).
the man is a bore and his cartoons would not find acceptance in a school magazine. what is amazing is that people continue to think this crabby, cliched and now inconsequential man is a 'genius' of some sort. that makes me think not too highly about their own IQs.
he is the dev anand and the lata mangeshkar of cartoons.
kk
he is the dev anand and the lata mangeshkar of cartoons.
kk
Call it synchronicity. I logged in just to mention that you forgot to ask him a question or two about his favourite bird - the crow. And I saw that ?! has also mentioned this fact. I remember reading an interview or an article in which Laxman had said that it is a false belief that Indians in general and Hindus in particular have no sense of humour. "Where else in the world would you find 'Saraswati Notebooks' and 'Laxmi Firecrackers' and 'Ganesh Bidi'?" he had asked. I really had a nice laugh. He had a point there.
KK: Have you read the new Time Out, December 16-29? On page 49, there's a very good review by writer Jerry Pinto of Laxman's new book, "Brushing Up the Years." (The publication of which, was the peg of this interview.) In the review, Jerry writes: My problem with Laxman is that he was never wrong in judging the middle class ... and that he played to their prejudices. Tazes were iniquitous. Politicians only cared about people when there were elections around the corner. Not all these ideas were false, but there were simply the kind of thing that did not need saying." ... "He was not much of a caricaturist. ...He made Gandhiji look like Jagjivan Ram, Chairman Mao like a child's version of Ching Chow, Queen Elizabeth II like a potato, and Amitabh Bachchan like a scarecrow."
And these aren't even the best bits. He mentions (with page numbers) "a set of tropes that is repeated again and again" including "the wrecked car as a metaphor for a political party's failure."
?!, Dev: I didn't ask him about crows, because his fascination with them is well chronicled, in interviews as well as his autobiography. There's at least one picture of a crow, made by him, which I noticed at his house. At some point, he did ask: "You've heard of my fondness of crows? I'm very fond of them."
And these aren't even the best bits. He mentions (with page numbers) "a set of tropes that is repeated again and again" including "the wrecked car as a metaphor for a political party's failure."
?!, Dev: I didn't ask him about crows, because his fascination with them is well chronicled, in interviews as well as his autobiography. There's at least one picture of a crow, made by him, which I noticed at his house. At some point, he did ask: "You've heard of my fondness of crows? I'm very fond of them."
Good one. Though his acerbic, grumpy, curt replies left a sour taste on my tongue. Maybe it comes with age, we don't know. But still I didn't expect him to be this harsh. Whatever.
btw, congrats on your own book and the new site..and that front cover is damn cool. It screams.."pick me up..pick me up!".
btw, congrats on your own book and the new site..and that front cover is damn cool. It screams.."pick me up..pick me up!".
Hmm.... everything I've wanted to say has already been said by ppl above :(
Oh well. Again good interview, and I sincerely hope I never have to meet with him again. I sure wish I could do the same when I get interviewed... "Same old questions!". Maybe I will someday when the job doesn't matter much.
Keep up the good work yaar. Nice to see a more human face of a genious.
Oh well. Again good interview, and I sincerely hope I never have to meet with him again. I sure wish I could do the same when I get interviewed... "Same old questions!". Maybe I will someday when the job doesn't matter much.
Keep up the good work yaar. Nice to see a more human face of a genious.
Phew! This makes the Philip Roth interview (Guardian), seem like a walk in the park. An excellent read, this.
A delightful read, Sonia: the interview as contact sport (almost). Am new to your writing; look forward to reading more (including other interviews).
cheers,
d.i.
cheers,
d.i.
A delightful read, Sonia: the interview as contact sport (almost). Am new to your writing; look forward to reading more (including other interviews).
cheers,
d.i.
cheers,
d.i.
You also worked with your brother, writer RK Narayan. How did his death affect your life?
He passed away in Mysore. By then I had come here. He’s just another brother who passed away. I used to illustrate his stories. He gave me the story, I illustrated it.
That's a strange reply. RK Narayan died in Madras (not in Mysore) in 2001.
And his tone is in contrast to what Khushwant Singh wrote: "Laxman hero-worshipped his brother and could not stomach any criticism of his writings."
He passed away in Mysore. By then I had come here. He’s just another brother who passed away. I used to illustrate his stories. He gave me the story, I illustrated it.
That's a strange reply. RK Narayan died in Madras (not in Mysore) in 2001.
And his tone is in contrast to what Khushwant Singh wrote: "Laxman hero-worshipped his brother and could not stomach any criticism of his writings."
It was great to read the interview. RK Laxman is unique. However, I have the impression that the You said it Cartoons in the TOI of late (that is over the last two-three years) are not all drwan by him. There are distinct differences one can easily make out. I do not whether this is true and whether others have noticed this.
Satyendra Bhandari March 10, 2006
Satyendra Bhandari March 10, 2006
I think RK Laxman's genius was not in the cartoons he made but in the character he created.
Any other cartoonist who can create something like this would also be hailed like RK Laxman has been.
Any other cartoonist who can create something like this would also be hailed like RK Laxman has been.
i have been reading pocket cartoon since my adulthood. i cannot start my day with out reading the 'you said it of R.K.laxman. now a days i think he is not writing the pocket cartoons. i can sense the lines so distinct and scientific ! i think i have never seen a standard cartoonist like laxman ! they create laughter, alright, but a sense of knowing the great truth behind that is revealed to us, besides it is intellectually refreshing ! i think that is the reason why shri. bal thakray, the famous cartoonist, till the arrival of rkl, was pushed to back seat ! it is the reality. i am the fan of bal thakrye as well.
as many said i would also like to appreciate ur patience with the "The commoan man". i do not agree with RKL about budding cartoonist,I have read "partition time" cartoons of RKL he was very verbose than like Ajit Ninan today. may be Ajit would graduate to "fewer words greater punch" position in a few yeras time. Also ET's blinkers off by Salam are good cartoons about corporate life.
Wow.. some acerbic words those were! Despite his contempt for almost everyone around, he should have treated the interviewer with more courtesy. Wierd how so many great men are eccentric in their own ways.
New to your blog.. I enjoy your writing :).
New to your blog.. I enjoy your writing :).
Hi Sonia,
You interviewed a man who has striven to maintain extremely high standards of integrity and intellectual quality in his work, and come to expect the same of others. He was very hard on you, agreed, but only on questions that he thought did not merit a reply. Have you faced risks as a political cartoonist? was a good question, and he answered it at some length. Do you see a similarity between the work of a political cartoonist and an edit writer? was dismissed contemptuously. Clearly, here's a man who strives very hard to avoid cliches and generalizations. A refreshing display of intellectual honesty. I think Laxman's curt replies are an expression of his humility, saying, "Don't ask me this, I don't know the answer, and though you think you do, actually you don't either." It was his trying to force that intellectual honesty onto you that made him appear curt and rude. If only more of us knew how little we all know! Great job, though! Hope to see many more interesting interviews from you!
You interviewed a man who has striven to maintain extremely high standards of integrity and intellectual quality in his work, and come to expect the same of others. He was very hard on you, agreed, but only on questions that he thought did not merit a reply. Have you faced risks as a political cartoonist? was a good question, and he answered it at some length. Do you see a similarity between the work of a political cartoonist and an edit writer? was dismissed contemptuously. Clearly, here's a man who strives very hard to avoid cliches and generalizations. A refreshing display of intellectual honesty. I think Laxman's curt replies are an expression of his humility, saying, "Don't ask me this, I don't know the answer, and though you think you do, actually you don't either." It was his trying to force that intellectual honesty onto you that made him appear curt and rude. If only more of us knew how little we all know! Great job, though! Hope to see many more interesting interviews from you!
Wow. It takes absolute guts to continue asking questions when the person you are talking to makes his indifference very evident. I would have packed and run.
I learned something today. :)
I learned something today. :)
