R. K. Laxman
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Rasipuram Krishnaswamy Laxman (b. 1924) is an Indian cartoonist and humorist. He is widely regarded as India's greatest-ever cartoonist and is best known for his creation The Common Man.
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[edit] Early Years of Laxman
[edit] Birth and Childhood
R. K. Laxman was born in Mysore, now a part of the South Indian state of Karnataka. His father was a headmaster and he was the youngest of 8 children. His elder brother, R.K. Narayan, was one of India's best known English-language novelists.
[edit] Education
Laxman graduated from the University of Mysore. In his autobigraphy he says that he hasn't collected his degree yet from the Mysore University, where it must be gathering the dust of time.
[edit] Career
[edit] Beginning
Laxman's earliest work was for newspapers & magazines such as Swarajya and Blitz. Whilst still at the Maharaja's College, Mysore, he began to illustrate his elder brother R K Narayan's stories in The Hindu, and he drew political cartoons for the local newspapers and for the Swatantra. He held a summer job at the Gemini Studios, Madras. His first full-time job was as a political cartoonist for the Free Press Journal. He later joined The Times of India, beginning a career that has spanned for over fifty years.
[edit] The Times of India
Laxman is best known for his daily one panel comic "pocket cartoon" series You Said It, which features The Common Man, and chronicles the state of Indian life. The strip began in 1951.
[edit] Other creations
Among his other works, Laxman is known for his distinctive illustrations in several books, most notably for the Malgudi stories written by his elder brother R.K. Narayan. He also created a popular mascot for the Asian Paints group called Gattu. Laxman has also penned a few novels. His cartoons have appeared in Hindi films such as Mr. and Mrs. 55.
[edit] Life
Laxman is a resident of both Mumbai and Pune.
[edit] Health
In September 2003, Laxman was affected by a stroke, which left him paralysed on his left side. He has partly recovered from its effects.
[edit] Awards
- B.D. Goenka Award - Indian Express
- Durga Ratan Gold Medal - Hindustan Times
- Padma Bhushan - Govt. of India
- Padma Vibhushan - Govt. of India
- Ramon Magsaysay Award for Journalism, Literature and Creative Communication Arts - 1984
[edit] Books
- The Eloquent Brush: A Selection of Cartoons from Nehru to Rajiv
- 50 Years of Independence through the eyes of R.K.Laxman
- The Best of Laxman series
- Hotel Riviera
- The Messenger
- Servants of India
- The Tunnel of Time (autobiography)
- His autobiography "Lakshmanrekha" is published in Marathi.
[edit] Multi-Media
- India Through The Eyes of R. K. Laxman -Then To Now (CD-ROM).
- Laxman Rekhas-A TOI Publication
[edit] Quotation
When the American cartoonist Ranan Lurie asked him who the best Indian cartoonist was, Laxman flashed back, "I am." The second, third, fourth, fifth best man on the job? Laxman continued to repeat, "I am."
