SHILLONG: “Cartooning is the art of insult and ridicule”, the legendary cartoonist RK Laxman had once said.
This extraordinary art of lampooning persons and the system has always been a favourite tool of creative individuals to express their views on pressing issues. An artist’s witty and humorous visualisation of grave issues never fails to make one laugh and at the same time think.
At the PCI Conference Room in the city on Thursday, the All India Malayalee Association (AIMA), Meghalaya Chapter, celebrated those immortal thoughts and ageless witticisms by organising Coconatoons — hundred years of Malayalee cartoons.
Altogether 135 cartoons by equal number of artists from Kerala are on display till Saturday.
The carefully preserved cartoons, both in English and Malayalam, depicted the scenes and issues of 1919, cartoons from Emergency period and contemporary issues such as demonetisation and farmers’ suicide, among others.
Most of the cartoons are political satires and no wonder as the father of political cartooning in the country is from Kerala, K. Shankar Pillai. The first cartoon was by PS Govindapillai in 1919.
Speaking to The Shillong Times, president of the association Pradeep Pillai said the land of coconuts has a history of humour reflected in cartoons from 1919 and political satire is a very important component of the political landscape in Kerala.
“I’m sure these 135 cartoons will give a fair idea about what has happened in our state of Kerala in the last 62 years,” he said.
“These are the cartoons that have been taken up as a cause, we (the state of Kerala) will approach 100 years, they wanted to ensure that such jewels are kept nicely. Therefore, there was a scheme to restore whatever old cartoons are there,” he added.
“The cartoons that we have today are of 135 cartoonists of various generations right from PS Govindapillai, who was the first cartoonist,” he said.
Some of the eminent cartoonists such as Abu (Abraham) who was among the most known cartoonist, K. Shankar Pillai who started his own magazine, Shankar’s Weekly, published from Delhi with a lot of political satire are displayed at the exhibition.
Malayalam cartoon is being organised by the All India Malayalee Association (AIMA) at the national level and organised in 26 states and at 32 locations across the country. The objective is to recognize the work of all the cartoonists.
Pilllai said the latest form of political satire is using the visual media and all the politicians accept and do not have any qualms about being part of the political satire, the politicians revel in them, “they don’t go against any political satire that is there,” he said.
When asked whether the cartoonists are getting the deserved recognition, he said, “Cartoonists have been the most underrated people. The most unbiased news or the voice of the people comes from cartoon, whether is the Common man (of R.K. Laxman), cartoon in Times of India or Shankar’s cartoons.”
“I don’t think we have done well enough for them. Many a time, they are relegated to the second line of journalists though they are the ones who speak volumes in a small column of 8-10 sq.cm.”
According to Pillai, cartoonists have the freedom to depict anything that is for the people in a much unbiased way.
Stating that a cartoonist sponsor one or two budding cartoonist who has a knack for cartoons, he said, “Like in Kerala, we have Kerala Cartoon Academy and the Kerala Media Center where they will get an idea about how to put these things together.”
With most of the cartoons depict political satire, Pillai said, “As a Malayalee, I would want to emphasise that politics is part of us and if we are not part of politics then politicians will take us to different destination. We need to be politically active, not as a politician, but in our minds, opinion and voicing our opinion.”
