Eminent cartoonist R K Laxman dies at 93

[P.J.]

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MUMBAI: The genius chronicler of India's life and political history, who unfailingly brought millions of readers the gift of a chuckle every day, is no more.

R K Laxman, the country's best-known cartoonist, passed away on the evening of January 26, at the Dinanath Mangeshkar hospital in Pune, where he was on life support for the past few days. He was 93.

Born in 1921 in Mysore, Laxman had no formal training in cartooning but the work he put out over decades was sheer genius. He began by drawing for local papers, and illustrating the stories of his famous elder brother, novelist R K Narayan, while still at college.

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Eminent cartoonist R K Laxman dies at 93 - The Times of India

 

[vgane]

Rasipuram Krishnaswamy Laxman is the best cartoonist that Mother India has given birth to..Laxman made us laugh at ourselves through the indefatigable Common man who was the backbone of his cartoons..His creativity is outstanding..Heart felt condolences to his family

 

[CHANDRU1849]

R k lakshman

Rasipuram Krishnaswamy Laxman, popularly known as R K Laxman, eminent cartoonist, passed away at Pune on 26th Jan 2015. He was 94.

He was best known for his creation the 'Common Man', for his daily cartoon strip, 'You Said It', in The Times of India, which started in 1951.

His older brother Rasipuram Krishnaswamy Iyer Narayan, popularly known as R K Narayan, was an Internationally acclaimed writer.

R K Laxman was first married to Bharathanatyam Dancer Kumari Kamala. They were divorced and Laxhman later married a woman, whose name is also Kamala.

He was awarded Padma Vibhushan and Ramon Magsasay (Asia's most prestigious award) given to Asian individuals for excellence in their respective fields.

Prime Minister Modi, Sonia Gandhi and other eminent personalities condoled his death.

The Maharashtra Govt is planning a State funeral.

RIP Mr Lakshman.

 

[Iyyarooraan]

In case if some do not know, this Rasipuram is in Salem District of TN and the Rasipuram Ghee (nai) ​is well-known. He said "You said it". God said to him "you said it all". He had drawn the last cartoon. RIP RK Laxman.

 

[Naina_Marbus]

The best tribute a common man can pay to RKL:

 

[V.Balasubramani]

The story behind a cartoon

“How do I pay tribute to Swamiji who has honoured me by remembering me?” R.K. Laxman had asked V. Shankar, president of South Indian Education Society and Sri Shanmukhananda Fine Arts and Music Society, when he went to invite him in 2004 to a felicitation function to be attended by the Shankaracharya of Kanchi.

During the golden jubilee celebrations of Sri Jayendra Saraswati being anointed the Sankaracharya, several awards were presented in Chennai on March 31, 2004. The Sankaracharya of the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam had felicitated several eminent personalities, including R.K. Laxman. Mr. Laxman’s granddaughter, Mahalaxmi Laxman, had received the award on his behalf, and had presented Sankaracharya a cartoon showing the common man seeking his blessings.

The Hindu had carried the cartoon, along with a report on the felicitation programme, in its edition on April 1, 2004.

Paying rich tributes to the legendary cartoonist, Mr. Shankar recalled the story behind the cartoon. “When I went and met him in Pune to invite him to the function, he told me he would be unable to attend and that he would send his grand-daughter on his behalf,” Mr. Shankar recalled. “He said that Swamiji remembering him was a blessing in itself. And the fact that he would give him an award was a double blessing. Then he went on to ask me what he could give the Swamiji in return.”

When Mr. Shankar suggested that he draw a cartoon of the seer, Mr. Laxman, despite being unwell, agreed immediately.

K.A. Viswanathan, a functionary of the South Indian Education Society, framed the cartoon. “I took the sketch, blew it up, framed it and gave it to his daughter-in-law for presenting it to the seer in Chennai. Mr. Laxman also asked his daughter-in-law to speak to Mr. N. Ram of TheHindu on his behalf and asked me to go and meet him with a copy of this sketch in Chennai,” he said. The cartoon became an instant hit. “It reflected Laxman’s art of reciprocation. It conveyed how Laxman was not just a common man. Remembering his talent is a tribute we want to pay him today. Laxman can never be erased from our memories,” Mr. Shankar said.


Source: The story behind a cartoon - The Hindu

RIP Mr. R.K. Laxmanan

 

[CHANDRU1849]

In fact, hie niece is married to the second son of D K Pattammal, the queen of Carnatic Music.

 

[vgane]

Rasipuram has not forgotten its man!

[h=1]Rasipuram remembers R.K. Laxman[/h]

Syed Muthahar Saqaf

K.N.Lakshmanan, former MLA and former State president of the BJP, along with students of Sri Vidya Mandir Higher Secondary School, Ammapet in Salem on Wednesday, paying floral tributes to the portrait of legendary cartoonist R. K. Laxman, who passed away recently. —PHOTO: P. GOUTHAM



A Shock over the demise of legendary cartoonist Rasipuram Krishnaswami Laxman, a son of the soil, has sunk into local residents.


People representing various walks of life, including political leaders, offered floral tributes to the portrait of late R.K. Laxman at the old bus stand on Tuesday at the initiative of Makkal Koottamaippu Rasipuram.


R.K. Laxman’s paternal grandfather Karivaradaraja Aiyar and his father Krishnaswami Aiyer, had lived in Rasipuram town before moving to the then Madras.


The residents of the town are proud that both R.K. Laxman and his novelist brother R.K. Narayan added the tag 'Rasipuram' to their names, making the place popular the world over.


Late Laxman was said to have visited Rasipuram about three decades ago, and a retired teacher who met him then is believed to be the only living person in the town to have seen him.


His granddaughter visited the town a few years ago in search of roots to the place where her forefathers lived, according to ‘Pachal’ A. Srinivasan, convener of the Koottamaippu.


Speaking at the condolence meeting, Mr. Srinivasan regretted that the people of Rasipuram had missed out on honouring the great cartoonist, who had won umpteen national and international awards, during his lifetime. Nalvinai Viswaraj, secretary of the Koottamaippu and representatives of AIADMK, DMK, Congress, DMDK, IJK were among those who paid floral tributes.


Meanwhile, the students of Sri Vidya Mandir Matriculation Higher Secondary School, Ammapettai, Salem city, also paid floral tributes to the portrait of Laxman at a brief function held in the school on Wednesday.

Rasipuram remembers R.K. Laxman - The Hindu