Prime Minister Narendra Modi had a suggestion for a university in Maharashtra. He urged cartoons can be used to make a case study of the socio-political history of last 40-50 years. “Cartoons do not hurt but have a ‘healing power’, he was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.
Prime Minister, who is in Mumbai, was talking following by the launch of a book,” Timeless Laxman”. The book is on life and times of the famous cartoonist RK Laxman, who is famous for his caricature of ‘The Common Man’. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Governor C Vidyasagar Rao were also among the attendees in the function.
“I would like to tell Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to see if any university in the state can do a case study of the socio-political history through the medium of cartoons. The base can be Laxman’s works,” the Prime Minister said.
According to Narendra Modi, Laxman’s cartoons were the “easiest way of teaching social science”. “Laxman was not just an individual but a fundamental thread that held together crores of common people and their hearts,” Narendra Modi said.
Narendra Modi congratulated the family of the late RK Laxman for making the ‘Common Man’ cartoon and releasing his work in an animated version. “The common man is constant. He is modern and strong. Even through his way of dressing, one cannot make out which part of India he represents. Laxman’s approach was to find diversity in caricatures and bring them together. Cartoons don’t hurt. They have a healing power,” the Prime Minister said.
The Prime Minister also recollected how RK Laxman’s cartoons made a lasting impression on his mind. “I always used to feel why aeroplanes should have the ‘Maharaja’ tag and not that of a common man. My thought reached then prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and some flights have the common man pictures on them,” Modi revealed.
“After coming to power, I dreamt that those wearing hawai chappals (slippers) should also be able to fly in planes. Now, more people travel by air than second class air-conditioned train compartments,” Modi said.
Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis also said that Laxman’s cartoons connected generations.
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