Good bye, Mr. R.K.Laxman...

A legend passes away… leaving behind a veritable treasure trove of immortal cartoons that have represented the expectations, desires, dilemmas and perhaps even the shortcomings of the hapless Indian man for decades.

And the best part of it was that he was enormously successful in bringing smiles to people’s daily lives without being spiteful, malicious or offensive in any way. That, I guess, is the true mark of a genius cartoonist.

The sad demise of ‘The Common Man’ will certainly leave an inconsolable void in the minds of his followers.

I am reminded of my early college days, when, inspired by his caricatures, I aspired to become a cartoonist.

Disregarding my mother’s raised eyebrows, I enrolled in a correspondence course in cartooning from a Bombay-based institution called ICS, after paying the princely sum of Rs. 800.

The first lot of study materials arrived by post, much to my excitement, and it called for hours of practice drawing lines and curves. I had to submit weekly assignments and generally do a lot of hard work observing my surroundings, drawing objects and figures, and a whole lot of stuff that I found increasingly difficult to stay focused on.

Gradually, as my interest waned, my assignment submissions too became erratic, and ultimately stopped altogether.

That was when I realised that becoming a cartoonist didn't require much study material, classroom tactics or Rs. 800. All that was necessary was a humorous mindset, the ability to visualise and capture imagination on paper, and, most importantly, an inborn talent — which, I guess, I severely lacked.

By the way, my mother still doesn't let me forget the fact that I wasted her Rs. 800, especially whenever I start talking about any new venture that I plan to take up…

I choose to pay my tribute to this immortal legend by posting a few of his cartoons that invariably reflect his delightful wit and satirical humour in every possible way. These had appeared in The Times of India, and somehow feel so very relevant to our times.

RIP, R. K. Laxman. We will miss you.