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Laxman's rendezvous with children

Staff Reporter

Children are a source of joy, says the cartoonist

— Photo: Bhagya Prakash. K

ENDORSEMENT: Cartoonist R. K. Laxman signs an autograph on an art work done by children of the PSBB Learning Leadership Academy in Bangalore on Thursday.

Bangalore: "Miss, we can't see," chorused a bunch of wide-eyed children as they craned forward to get a glimpse of the famous man at work on the Common Man.

About 60 schoolchildren from the PSSB Learning Leadership Academy here on Thursday stood up in awe and gasped when the master cartoonist R.K. Laxman revealed his illustrations, drawn in a matter of few minutes.

"Children are a source of joy," Mr. Laxman later said. Perhaps a source of inspiration too as Mr. Laxman got up from his wheelchair to draw another set of illustrations after seeing a student frown in concentration even as he was sketching a cartoon.

"The best function I have ever been too," Mr. Laxman said when he was asked whether he enjoyed the occasion. He clapped appreciatively when children danced not to the tunes of hit numbers but to the devotional hymn "Aiyigiri Nandini".

While officials and politicians might want to change the name of the city to Bengalooru, the political commentator does not believe that it really matters. "People would continue to call it Bangalore," he declared in a brief interaction with reporters. "Meaningless buildings and posters have robbed the cities of their character," Mr. Laxman said of the deterioration of Bangalore and Mysore.

Asked about Suvarna Karnataka celebrations, he pleaded ignorance and said he had been a Bombayite for the past 50 years. Mr. Laxman welcomed the celebrations in honour of his brother and writer of Malgudi days, R.K. Narayan. "Whatever they think fit, they should do. He deserves all the honour. Let them erect a statue, build a memorial and name a street."

When a reporter asked whether he still enjoyed sketching cartoons, Mr. Laxman said, "What kind of a question is that? Of course, I enjoy it. We are born with this talent." His favourite cartoon subject? Laloo Prasad. And a politician from the south? Deve Gowda. His appearance and sleeping habits make him a perfect candidate.

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