Delhi:
For almost 60 years, the "common man" has made his way to the front page of a national daily all thanks to cartoonist, RK Laxman. One of India's most respected cartoonists, his illustrations have portrayed various facets of the society and our politicians. Over the years the silent spectator has reflected on society but engaged the reader with a smile.
Now, one of his closest friends, Dr Dharmendra Bhandari, has now authored a book, which is a compilation of some of his cartoons. Not only does it trace Laxman's journey, it also provides a rare glimpse into some of his works that were never published.
"He never cancelled his cartoons, what he used to think he would draw. There never was a first second or third draft, he would draw one cartoon a day and that was the final. That was the clarity in concept in the mind of Laxman," says Dr Bhandari.
From the high and the mighty to burning social issues Laxman spared no one in his cartoons. Despite his hard hitting comments on former prime minister, Indira Gandhi, he wasn't arrested during the Emergency. Ever since little has changed, the joke could be on anyone, but the common man has always made people smile.
Gursharan Kaur says, "I begin my day with a look at what the common man is up to. Even my husband who is often a subject in his cartoons smiles when he sees it."
Perhaps that seems to have kept Laxman going who will turn 86 later this month.