Close X
Friday, November 29, 2024
ADVT 
India

Cartoons Don’t Hurt, They Have Healing Power: Narendra Modi

Darpan News Desk IANS, 18 Dec, 2018 08:39 PM

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday suggested that a case study of the socio-political history of last four to five decades by way of cartoons be taken up by a university in Maharashtra.


    He said cartoons did not hurt but had a “healing power”.


    He was speaking after launching a coffee table book, titled ‘Timeless Laxman’, on the life and times of renowned cartoonist late RK Laxman, who was known for his iconic caricature of ‘The Common Man’.


    CM Devendra Fadnavis and Governor C Vidyasagar Rao were also present at the event.


    “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,” Modi said.


    He said 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,” he said.


    He congratulated the late cartoonist’s family for digitalising the ‘Common Man’ cartoon and deciding to release his works in an animated form.


    Cartoonists are “closer to God” as they can minutely observe different characteristics of various human beings, he said.


    “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,” he said.


    Modi recalled how 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,” he said.


    “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,” he said.


    On the occasion, Fadnavis said Laxman’s cartoons connected several generations.

     

    MORE India ARTICLES

    All Indians Should Be Concerned: Raghuram Rajan On RBI Guv's Resignation

    All Indians Should Be Concerned: Raghuram Rajan On RBI Guv's Resignation
    With RBI Governor Urjit Patel putting in his papers, his immediate predecessor Raghuram Rajan on Monday said "all Indians" should be concerned as strength of institutions is important for growth and development.

    All Indians Should Be Concerned: Raghuram Rajan On RBI Guv's Resignation

    Vijay Mallya's Extradition Case: UK Court Verdict Gives Rakesh Asthana A Reason To Cheer

    Asthana, a 1984-batch Gujarat cadre officer, had headed the Special Investigation Team of the CBI after Mallya escaped from India in 2016 and keenly pursued his extradition from the United Kingdom.

    Vijay Mallya's Extradition Case: UK Court Verdict Gives Rakesh Asthana A Reason To Cheer

    WATCH: Nick & Priyanka, Beyonce & Hillary Clinton Attend Isha Ambani's Pre-wedding Celebration in India

    Grammy Award-winning singer Beyonce gave a power-packed performance at the pre-wedding celebrations of Isha Ambani and Anand Piramal here.

    WATCH: Nick & Priyanka, Beyonce & Hillary Clinton Attend Isha Ambani's Pre-wedding Celebration in India

    WATCH: India's Most Powerful Satellite GSAT-11, 'The Big Bird', Launched Successfully

    WATCH: India's Most Powerful Satellite GSAT-11, 'The Big Bird', Launched Successfully
    India's heaviest and next generation communication satellite with high throughput GSAT-11 was put into orbit by Ariane-5 rocket of Arianespace from French Guiana on Wednesday, the Indian space agency and Arianespace said.

    WATCH: India's Most Powerful Satellite GSAT-11, 'The Big Bird', Launched Successfully

    India Lost Kartarpur To Pakistan In Congress Scramble For Power: Modi

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday accused the Congress of making the "mistake" of letting Kartarpur Sahib - the final resting place of Guru Nanak Dev - go to Pakistan during partition due to its "scramble for power" post-independence.

    India Lost Kartarpur To Pakistan In Congress Scramble For Power: Modi

    Punjab To Set Up Dera Baba Nanak Development Authority

    Punjab To Set Up Dera Baba Nanak Development Authority
    The Punjab cabinet on Monday passed a special resolution to set up a Dera Baba Nanak Development Authority to develop and beautify the area in and around Dera Baba Nanak town ahead of the 550th birth anniversary of Sikhism's founder, Guru Nanak Dev.

    Punjab To Set Up Dera Baba Nanak Development Authority