Common Man Stands In Queue

A collection of gems by our best-loved cartoonist R.K. LaxmanFor half a century the Times of India has thoughtfully provided an antidote to all the bad news brimming on its front pages. It is a sketch a single box inked by R.K. Laxman the . . . sharpest cartoonist and political satirist [of the country]. Each morning [the] frazzled character known as the Common Man confronts [the] latest heartbreak with a kind of wry resignation. Meek doddering and with a moustache that bristles like an electrocuted mongoose he is a witness to everything scheming politicians rapacious bureaucrats and gossiping housewives. What is common about this character is that like most Indians he sees his country being forced through endless indignities by its leaders and yet does not even whimper in protest. ~ TIMEFrom financial crises to the woes of householders from political instability to rampant corruption these cartoons capture the entire gamut of contemporary Indian experience. Hilarious and thought-provoking at the same time this is a treasure-house of humour from one of the most striking voices commenting on Indian sociopolitical life today. About the Author Rasipuram Krishnaswamy Laxman (1921-2015) was born and educated in Mysore. He started contributing as a cartoonist to college magazines his brother R.K. Narayans books publications such as Koravanji and also Gemini Studio. He initially worked at Blitz (Mumbai) and the Free Press Journal and six months later he joined Times of India where he enjoyed a long and prolific career. He created Indias most beloved and iconic cartoon character The Common Man. Laxmans books include Idle Hours (later retitled The Distorted Mirror) The Hotel Riviera The Messenger and Servants of India. The Tunnel of Time is Laxmans autobiography and several collections of his cartoons are part of the series The Best of Laxman and Laugh with Laxman. R.K. Laxman was awarded the prestigious Padma Bhushan (1973) and the Padma Vibhushan (2005). He was a recipient of the Ramon Magsaysay Award (1984) and CNN IBN TV18s Lifetime Achievement Award for Journalism (2008) as well as several honorary docorates by prestigious universities.