World Cartoonists’ day
Every year the world cartoonists’s day falls on the 5th of May. We must thank these talented people profusely for their witty and thoughtful cartoons, in particular, political ones. Magazines or news papers without funny and thoughtful cartoons is just unthinkable; it is something like a man wearing a pair of trousers without undergarment.
The World cartoonists’ day comes on the 5th of May every year and I missed the day in 2018 and 2019 for unknown reasons. As for this year’ again I missed it due to personal preoccupation. So I thought I would re-post the one appeared in NavrangIndia blog in May 2017.
Today, 5 May 2017, is world cartoonists’ day and this day we honor them for their funny, but thoughtful cartoons that carry a serious message with subtle humor. Not all can become a good cartoonist, because it requires good imagination, sharp mind, excellent drawing skill in cartooning and the innate ability to put the message — be it political or otherwise- across the people in a manner that will remain etched in them.
A cartoon (from Italian: cartone and Dutch: karton) is nothing but a kind of two-dimensional illustration whose correct definition has changed over a period of time. In the present world, the usage refers to a non-realistic or semi-realistic artistic style of drawing or painting or an image or a series of images intended for satire, caricature, or humor. An artist who creates cartoons is called a cartoonist. Motion picture cartoon is altogether a different field.
The concept of cartoon illustration goes back to the Middle Ages and in the early stages, it was first described as a preparatory drawing for a piece of art, such as a painting, fresco, tapestry, or stained glass window before the finished work. It was a sort of model drawings subject to corrections, etc. In the 19th century, cartoons were referred to as humorous illustrations in magazines and newspapers and in many of them, they became regular features.. One positive aspect is with the advent of cartoon illustrations in the magazines and newspapers, the articles drew the attention of the readers and it gave them thrill.
According to modern print media, a cartoon is an illustration or series of illustrations, usually humorous in intent. Cartoon illustrations date back to 1843 when Punch magazine used the term to satirical drawings in its pages, in particular, sketches by John Leech. The punch magazine’s cartoons were intended to be satirical and many of them ironically made reference to the self-aggrandizing posturing of Westminster politicians and their antics and extravaganza. There are two kinds of cartoons Gag cartoons, which include editorial cartoons, and comic strips.
Among various cartoons, Editorial cartoons are quite interesting and are found almost exclusively in new papers, news websites and magazines. The unusual feature of all cartoons is the cartoonists employ humor as a focal point. They may be more serious in tone, commonly using irony or satire to bring out the message. It is a visual representation of a metaphor to highlight a point of view on important current social and/or political topics. Editorial cartoons often include speech balloons (graphic convention used most commonly in comic books) and sometimes use multiple panels.
Political cartoons are being watched by millions of people world over. Many politicians are known for their gaffes, blabbering and wrong giving distorted statistical data. Cartoons illustrate editorials or articles in the newspapers or magazines and act as supplementary visual commentaries on political events. They offer subtle criticisms which are cleverly coated with a layer or two of humor and satire in such a way the criticized does not get offended.
Above image: John Leech, Cartoon no.1: Substance and Shadow, 1843, satirized preparatory cartoons for frescoes in the Palace of Westminster, creating the modern meaning of “cartoon”
Personally I like cartoons very much A magazine or a newspaper without a cartoon is something like a man in Adam’s dress, an Indian town or village without a temple.The cartoons make us not only laugh and think but also give us respite from reading drab and dry new paper articles. They hold a mirror to the society, its pitfalls and progress. With magnifying glasses, they bring forth the arrogance and stupidity of of corrupt politicians, eccentricities of the class- conscious rich and famous and the abject poverty of a section of people in any society.
These cartoonists inspire readers by way of adding color and shape to our society’s dark sides and weird people associated with the government, who are neither concerned about the evils in our society nor about the country’s progress. Cartoonists never fail to add zest to their news papers or magazines and make them attractive.
The following are the funny cartoons that may give you a laugh and make you think:
Above image: Delhi air pollution — Rohan’’s funny lines bring out a message. How Delhi air pollution affects important historical Indian monuments in and around the city and the health threats the people are facing almost daily. It is as bad as LA fog which is now controlled.
Above image: This Class Joke Makes You Smile Laugh. This joke illustrates how India has become a corrupt country after 1965.
Abaove image : India Pictures — Funny India Pics & Photos. Indian Corrupt Politician. Our Netha, without shame, is accepting cash in return for his services. The onlooker in the picture on the wall is Gandhiji whose face he hides. If Gandhiji were alive, he would hang his face in shame.
Above image: The company management and others close to them receive a bundle. This is what the innocent people in the society are left with. Many companies rip off people by giving false information on their products.
Above image: Who cares about global warming. The pollution of the Ganges river, river water pollution from color-dying factories in Karur, Erode in Tamil Nadu, India, the revival of Keystone XL oil pipe line project from Canada to Texas, USA (to transport duty crude oil from the Athabasca tar sand area, Alberta) are good examples.
Above image: The people become suckers when the government has corrupt and dishonest politicians. It is a mad, mad mad world.
Above image: Having a sense of humor even when nearing the grave is a great thing in life.
Above image: R.K. Lakshman’s cartoon. Indian people though facing all kinds of problems in 1960s, they were contended and in high spirits.
Above image: Who cares about India’s poor?
Above part: Clean Nethas before 1965s adorned the corridors of power. ; bottom part: after 1965 dishonest nethas foul the corridors of power— — -Shankers cartoon. The unfortunate thing is coutless honest nethas are left out in the rat race to political power and position.
Above image: Indian Netha, a glutton.he is too much hungry for (ill-gotten) money.
Above image: US President trump’s ballyhooed project Mexico -USA border wall. — — Is it economically possible?
Above image: In 2012 the Canada-US Keytone Xl crude oil pipe line from Alberta to Texas (1700 miles long) through states like the Dakotas, Nebraska, etc., became a serious issue. Pipe was covering some of the Indian reservations. Worst thing is it was planned to go through Nebraska that has the massive Ogallala Aquifer — one of the world’s largest underground sources of fresh water. The low-grade crude oil with high sulfur content will corrode the steel pipes and will pollute the ground water resources.
Above image: Exploration for methane gas, etc in the shale deposits, fracking and other oil related activities; it will add up more air, water pollution etc. It is akin to opening Pandora;s box.
Above image: A man will be happy if he follows all the three messages. As for women folks, it is just impossible!!
Above image: During the colonial period, for more than 200 plus years first under the East India company and later under the British Crown, India was a milch cow for the British Bobs. India’s GDP in 1600s was 23% and it plummeted to just 3% when the last British left India’s shores. Imagine how India was exploited and squandered. Britain's industrial revolution was financed by the revenue from India. WWI and WWII — India bore a large chunk of the cost for no reasons at all.
Above image: Ex President Richard Nixon’s involvement in the cover-up of Watergate scandal took the nation by surprise. To avoid shameful impeachment, he resigned from the Presidency and returned to his home town San Clement, California where he had a big mansion worth $ 7 million dollars (Old value). Here, the cartoonist brings out the mess he is in and his refusal to release the recorded tapes related to Watergate brake-in.
Ref:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cartoon
Originally published at http://navrangindia.blogspot.com. (modified: 22 June 2020)
