R. K. Laxman
Born 24 October 1921 · Karnataka
Died 26 January 2015
Created The Common Man character and the daily cartoon strip You Said It in The Times of India.
🔔 Add birthday reminderRasipuram Krishnaswami Laxman was an Indian cartoonist, illustrator, and humorist. He was best known for his creation The Common Man and for his daily cartoon strip, You Said It in The Times of India, which started in 1951.
✨ A detail that surprised us
At just three years old, Laxman was already sketching caricatures on walls and floors, including one of his father that his mother proudly displayed for all to see.
1. In 1921, R. K. Laxman was born in Mysore, Karnataka, into a Tamil Hindu family, the youngest of eight siblings including the famed novelist R. K. Narayan, setting the stage for a creative household.
2. 🌟 By the age of three, Laxman was already drawing on the walls and floors of his home, and at nine, he resolved to become an artist, inspired by British cartoonist Sir David Low and early caricatures of global figures like Churchill and Gandhi.
3. During his college years at Maharaja's College, Mysore, Laxman illustrated his brother Narayan's stories in The Hindu and contributed cartoons to local Kannada magazine Koravanji, gaining early recognition.
4. In 1951, he launched his daily cartoon strip 'You Said It' in The Times of India, introducing 'The Common Man,' a silent observer in a dhoti and checked coat who captured the ironies of Indian bureaucracy and politics.
5. 🎨 His first full-time cartoonist role began at The Free Press Journal in Mumbai, but joining The Times of India turned his career, where his 'Common Man' became a symbol of post-independence India’s everyday challenges and resilience.
6. 🏆 Over decades, Laxman received the Padma Bhushan (1973), Ramon Magsaysay Award (1984), and Padma Vibhushan (2005), reflecting recognition from both Indian government and international bodies for his satirical insight.
7. His cartoons extended beyond newspapers; he designed colored illustrations for the State Bank of India's calendar, subtly critiquing banking inefficiencies while highlighting its evolving role in India’s economy.
8. ❓ How did Laxman’s 'Common Man' survive decades of shifting political landscapes and economic upheavals while remaining the voice of silent observation rather than outspoken protest?
Awards & Honours
- 🏅Padma Vibhushan
🔍 One thing most people don't know
At age nine, Laxman misread the signature of British cartoonist Sir David Low as “cow,” showing his early fascination with foreign satirical art before fully understanding it.
🖼️ Through the Years
📅 The Journey
🗝️ Discoveries
"Since childhood I do not remember wanting to do anything else except draw."
— R. K. Laxman
🎥 Speeches & Recordings
R.K.Laxman, Cartoonist, interviewed By H.K. Ranganath on 8 Nov 1990
YouTube📖 Curated Sources
🌱 What changed because of them
R. K. Laxman's 'Common Man' became an enduring icon that shaped public discourse on Indian politics and society, influencing how citizens perceived bureaucracy and leadership. His daily cartoons in The Times of India brought humor and critical reflection into millions of homes, effectively using satire as a tool for social commentary. Institutions like The Times of India owe part of their identity and reader engagement to his five-decade-long presence.
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