‘Why is Balasaheb Thackeray silent?’

‘Why is Balasaheb Thackeray silent?’

dot'n angry me

Shankar was a renowned cartoonist. He had aptly depicted the reality of the time the Constitution was being drawn up by inking the now-controversial Ambedkar cartoon. There is nothing objectionable about it, of course. Needless to say, that the latest controversy only hinges on politics.

There is political tussle between the Congress and Mayawati’s Bahujan Samaj Party. The cartoon about Ambedkar has become an alibi in this political fight. Shiv Sena supremo Balasaheb Thackeray is a renowned and much revered cartoonist, then why is he silent on the controversy? Is it due to the political alliance that Shiv Sena has formed with Republican Party of India?

Manoj Bidkar

Mangesh Tendulkar at his residence on Tuesday
There are many thinkers and talented people in the Dalit community, but they are forced to keep quiet on this issue.

Cartoon is a language of lines. It is just like Marathi, Hindi and Sanskrit. If there can be discussions about Ambedkar in these languages, then why can’t he be expressed through cartoons? By imposing a ban on cartoons of some people, this art form is being pushed out of the limits of civilisation. It is a new kind of unsociability.

It is imperative that the language of cartoons be taught. It is a visual language like cinema or sculpture. If a film on Ambedkar or his statue is acceptable then why not his cartoon? If Ambedkar’s cartoon is not allowed then why should there be those of Gandhi, Nehru, Vinobha Bhave or Manmohan Singh? Did those cause any disrespect to them?

If this is the attitude of the powers-that-be, then they may as well abolish this art form. In that light then, if this is perceived as only a vehicle for making fun of people then the Padma awards given to cartoonists must be revoked. It is ironical that the government recognises the contribution of cartoonists as artists and at the same time decides to remove cartoons from text books.

It is an erroneous judgement to remove all cartoons from the textbooks. How can an art form be banned from books? Cartoons drawn by S D Fadnis are used extensively in textbooks prepared by Bal Bharati for Maharasthra. Would you remove those too?

Compared to other art forms, cartoon is comparatively new in the league. It has history of only 200 years. There are many misunderstandings about this art, which is why you will find that many cartoonists are hauled up for their work. There is lampooning in languages also. If there can be criticism about some political leader through the written word then why not through the cartoons?

If an artist takes his creative licence for granted and uses it to defame a revered figure, then sure, a case can be filed against him. But if there is no such character assassination, then there can be no support for the ban. We claim to be a democracy and believe in freedom of expression.

However, there are no affirmations here that make me feel a free man. Our democracy has merely been reduced to January 26 and August 15 celebrations. My observation is that politicians do not like cartoons. They only pretend to appreciate them. So, they decided to ban them from textbooks when opportunity presented itself.

Cartoon as an art form is on the verge of extinction. There are not many cartoonists around today. If there are so many restrictions on cartoons like those from religious groups or government or some social groups, then how can this art form survive? - As told to Dinesh Thite

  Ruckus outside prof Palshikar’s residence

Three days after his University of Pune (UoP) office was ransacked over the cartoon row, NCERT advisor and HoD of political science and public administration Prof Suhas Palshikar’s Senapati Bapat Road residence was attacked by around 13 members of the Republican Vidhyarthi Sena. However, police rounded up members of the RPI’s student wing as soon as they started shouting slogans.


Republican Vidhyarthi Sena members protest on Tuesday
They had gathered in front of Palshikar’s residence with some cartoon strips to fight an ‘intellectual battle’, they said. Senior PI Ajay Kadam of Chatuhshrungi police station said they arrested 13 persons including top office bearers Vivek Bansode and Vishal Mhaske. “They were produced before a local court later in the day,” Kadam added.

Suspects had ransacked Palshikar’s office on May 11 after the controversy over Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar’s cartoon in school textbooks.