Monday, April 03, 2006
Fight Fundamentalism with Humor, say Cartoonists
By Brij Khandelwal
Agra: Away from the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten's cartoon controversy, Indian cartoonists on April 1st brought to the Taj Mahal city, Agra some comic relief -- exponents of this "dying art" gathered to exhibit their caricatures on fundamentalism and politician-criminal nexus.
Cartoonists say their caricatures best serve as safety valves in a society choked by traditionalism and dogmatism. Manohar Gidwani, Cartoon Forum President, said fundamentalism is best fought with humor.
Under the banner of Cartoon Forum, more than 250 cartoonists presented their takes on the world's most wanted man Osama Bin Laden, President George W. Bush, Railway Minister Lalu Prasad, former UP Inspector General of Police D.K. Panda, who claimed he was a divine incarnate, and the Agra-based controversial medicine man and yogi, Swami Ram Dev.
Among the most eye-catching cartoons was one by Sarla Singh. Sarla's cartoon portrayed Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh questioning President Bush as to why a visit to the Taj Mahal did not interest him. The President explains only sites with oil prospects interest him. The Taj also featured in Nimisha's caricature and highlighted environment pollution.
Politicians are the easiest of preys under the cartoonists' pencil. In the Agra exhibition, Sonia Gandhi and the office-of-profit controversy dogging the Congress-led UPA government seemed the caricaturists' favorite topic.
Agra: Away from the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten's cartoon controversy, Indian cartoonists on April 1st brought to the Taj Mahal city, Agra some comic relief -- exponents of this "dying art" gathered to exhibit their caricatures on fundamentalism and politician-criminal nexus.
Cartoonists say their caricatures best serve as safety valves in a society choked by traditionalism and dogmatism. Manohar Gidwani, Cartoon Forum President, said fundamentalism is best fought with humor.
Under the banner of Cartoon Forum, more than 250 cartoonists presented their takes on the world's most wanted man Osama Bin Laden, President George W. Bush, Railway Minister Lalu Prasad, former UP Inspector General of Police D.K. Panda, who claimed he was a divine incarnate, and the Agra-based controversial medicine man and yogi, Swami Ram Dev.
Among the most eye-catching cartoons was one by Sarla Singh. Sarla's cartoon portrayed Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh questioning President Bush as to why a visit to the Taj Mahal did not interest him. The President explains only sites with oil prospects interest him. The Taj also featured in Nimisha's caricature and highlighted environment pollution.
Politicians are the easiest of preys under the cartoonists' pencil. In the Agra exhibition, Sonia Gandhi and the office-of-profit controversy dogging the Congress-led UPA government seemed the caricaturists' favorite topic.
# posted by mediabhartiwebsolutions @ 4:58 AM 
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