R.K. Laxman : Cartoonist

He began life by drawing illustrations for brother Narayan’s word-portraits.Moving on to the Free Press Journal and then The Times of India withlines that seemed inspired by Briton David Low, he’s now India’s richestcartoonist with the largest oeuvre in Asia. And he’s TOI’s mascot,pouring gentle but relentless derision on all governments, all parties, all figurespresumptuous enough to sit in positions of authority. Go through the published volumes ofhis cartoons and you realise that if Laxman has any affiliation, it’s with hisanti-hero protagonist who looks a little bit like all of us.

Unlike ideology-driven linesmen, Laxman is not just a humourist ‘onpaper’—his Mysore Iyer drawl can get as caustic in real life (as hosts havediscovered while pouring the odd peg). At the do’s he attends, he’s the naturalcynosure of all eyes and ears, and he doesn’t complain. Among his recent ventures isa ‘talking book’—The Messenger. But naturally? You said it.