State Dept. Proposes $35K Grant for Workshop on ‘Cartooning for Cause’ In India

Throughout the history of journalism, cartoonists have used humor and satire as a means to create meaningful public discourse. India, like the United States, has a rich history of cartooning. The late eminent author, journalist and cartoonist R.K. Laxman’s cartoon character “The Common Man” was published every day in major newspapers beginning in 1951.  Over half a century, “The Common Man” represented the hopes, aspirations, frustrations and the foibles of the average Indian through the daily comic strip “You Said It.” Even with the advent of the Internet, animation and digital technology, cartoons are still used very effectively by intellectuals in both countries and around the world today.  It is important that the next generation keeps this tradition of cartooning alive and makes it relevant to the 21st century.