Karnataka - Bangalore   

An exhibition of cartoons that drive home a point

By Our Special Correspondent

BANGALORE, FEB. 3. Cartoons may be an effective means of increasing awareness of traffic rules, the Transport Commissioner, I.M. Vittala Murthy, has said.

Inaugurating a cartoon exhibition at the Karnataka Chitrakala Parishat as part of the Transport Department's Courtesy Month, here on Tuesday, Mr. Murthy referred to themes cartoonists had dealt with. These included use of helmets by riders of two-wheelers, avoiding use of mobile phones while driving, and speeding as a cause of accidents.

"These cartoons speak for themselves and drive home the point more effectively than any enforcement agency can," Mr. Murthy said. "The growth of vehicles in Bangalore is overwhelming. As many as 500 to 550 new vehicles are registered each day, and you can imagine how difficult traffic regulation is," he added.

Film and TV artiste Jayamala wanted the exhibition to be organised at other centres in the State.

"Cartooning is an art by itself and there may be budding cartoonists in schools and colleges who can be groomed by the Chitrakala Parishat,'' she said.

M.R. Seetharam, MLA, said cartoons mirrored happenings around us and provided much needed humour in newspapers, which were otherwise filled with gloomy news.

The president, Karnataka Cartoonists' Association, Narendra, pointed out that the association was the oldest such organisation in the country.

N.S. Gurudutta, Syed Naqeeb Ahmed, Manjunath Mane, Rajasekhar, K.S. Prasad, J.M. Bommanalli, T.N. Gurudutta, S. Ramu, J. Vishal, K. Arunkumar, and Y.K. Sudha were given prizes for their cartoons.

The cartoons dealing with air pollution caused by vehicles and the dangers of breaking traffic rules were quite telling. One had a traffic policeman stationed at a road junction, complete with oxygen cylinder and mask, looking like a scuba diver. Another showed two men strolling, and one telling the other ``No, I don't smoke, I don't need to, I live on J.C. Road you see''. There was also a cartoon of an airline captain announcing to passengers: "In a few minutes we will be landing in Bangalore, please fasten your oxygen masks!''

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