When R. K. Laxman passed away politicians tweeted to mourn the loss, laid wreaths and even promised a memorial, all this, I am sure, fearing that he may someday change his mind and return and worse take up pen and paper and take a dig at them! There isn’t much information about how he traveled – by rocket? By train? or by bus? I am sure he should have traveled by train or bus – after all he belonged to the common man! Couldn’t have traveled by rocket though since he is quite sure he has left behind a breed of motivated cartoonists (I know atleast one – Manjul (DNA) who does a prolific job) who wouldn’t think twice before they take on their icon for taking rocket – after all gasoline is so expensive and Laxman had pulled up the Finance Ministers who raised petrol and diesel prices. And yeah some one told me on social media that they are jubilant up there in heaven to welcome their new guest but am not quite sure about how much happy they really are up there to welcome some one who is a keen observer and habitual in taking a dig at things and deciphering them to be presented as they are and not as they seem. I should not be least surprised then if a deluxe suite is being readied to accommodate him all spruced up with silk and satin but sans paper and pen! And with that kind of a place to live in I shouldn’t be the least surprised if the heavens fail to hold him back for a long!
Laxman served the nation goading its machinery to the right paths whenever it consciously or subconsciously wandered into the forbidden alleys and secured the interests of the people properly speaking ‘the common man’. The issues he poked at were predominantly price hikes , properly speaking petrol price hikes, malnutrition, pathetic health facilities in short he always stressed the pathos of the common man. Unlike popular perception he was more into social satire than political one but when it came to one he didn’t mince his words, sorry, strokes and took on his close associate Bal Thackeray or Maratha Strongman Sharad Pawar or for that matter Mrs Gandhi or Rajiv Gandhi when the two were at the helm of their power! Rabindranath Tagore had once remarked that a nation is known by the creative works that it produces not by the facilities it provides. In a liberal nation founded on equality and justice such works are important to maintain, nourish and take it to the next level. We have seen it in case of United States of America and The United Kingdoms and so every artist is an asset of a liberal set up and artists fiercely devoted to their causes like Laxman are true jewels in their crowns.
I would prefer to live as an ordinary citizen in free India remarked Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak. Not that he was trying to be diplomatic or to sound modest but probably because he wanted the younger generation to take up the task of taking the nation to the helms of successes with fierce patriotism and pure sincerity. R. K. Laxman was one of those few who did precisely that!
- Bhushan Sarmalkar(JAI), Mumbai, 29th January 2015.
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