ಶನಿವಾರ, ಜನವರಿ 06, 2024

Remembering B V Ramamurthy

 2nd edition of the Cartoonists India Annual 2023- the first of its kind magazine dedicated to rich heritage of cartooning culture in India was released today (06-01-2024) at the Gallery of Indian Institute of Cartoonists, Bangalore. This Collector's Journal is published by Indian Institute of Cartoonists headed by Senior Cartoonists V.G.Narendra and the journal is edited and designed by Mr.Bibek Sengupta, a cartoonist himself. The journal contains my write up `Remembering B V Ramamurthy'.




Remembering B V Ramamurthy

            There is a lack of documentation on the lives and works of Karnataka cartoonists. making it difficult for the public and academic researchers to learn about them.

            Karnataka has a few notable political cartoonists. R K Laxman was born and studied in Mysore and began his cartooning career at Koravanji, a Kannada humour magazine founded by Ra. Shivaram (RaShi). Laxman shifted his base from Bangalore to Mumbai in 1948. RaShi was desperately looking for a cartoonist. When he discovered B V Ramamurthy, he commented, “Hey Laxmana, you shifted to Mumbai, so there is no worry for me as our own Ramamurthy is here in Bangalore.” A contemporary of Laxman, who became the leading political cartoonist of Karnataka for almost four decades in both the Kannada and English language news dailies.

            Apart from Koravanji, Ramamurthy drew cartoons and also drew beautiful comic illustrations for two books by RaShi, Indanondu Kaladalli (1957) and Kenakonu Baara! (1967). Shivakumar, son of RaShi, is continuing his father’s crusade by publishing Aparanji, a humorous monthly in Kannada, celebrating the 40th year of Koravanji. Shivakumar preserved the original comic illustrations drawn by Ramamurthy for his father’s books.

            Ramamurthy’s style of cartooning was quite unique. He could convey a whole world of meaning with just a few lines and strokes. His name and cartoons were household words in Karnataka, where people eagerly awaited his work in the newspapers Prajavani and Deccan Herald, as well as the magazines Sudha and Mayura. His most famous creation, ‘Mr. Citizen’, was a mirror image of the common man in our society, looking on at the socio-political chaos and bewilderment. With his passing away in 2004 and after his stint as a cartoonist for almost 33 years, political cartooning in Karnataka has taken a back seat. Editorial cartoons have almost disappeared from mainstream newspapers and magazines.

            Ramamurthy, affectionately known as ‘Murthy’ by his friends and fellow cartoonists, was a native Bangaloean who was born in Bangalore’s old area, Ranasingh Pete, near Aralepet on October 14, 1933. His father, H Venkatagiriyappa, was a musician who worked as an assistant to Vijayabhaskar, a famous Chennai cinema music director. His mother, Huchamma, was a homemaker. Murthy was the eldest of three children. Murthy married his relative, Rathna.

            He had an innate interest in art, and his house walls were his canvas. He often drew portraits of his high school teachers, for which he was reprimanded. He attended primary school in Ranasinghpete and high school at Fort High School. For his intermediate education, he stayed at the YMCA on Nrupathunga Road and graduated from St. Joseph’s College.Ramamurthy, like other cartoonists of his time, was inspired by Sir David Low, a famous British cartoonist from New Zealand. Low even wrote Ramamurthy a letter of appreciation. During this time, Ramamurthy met Sheshappa, the editor of the popular Kannada daily Kidi (a Kannada word that means ‘Spark’). Sheshappa recognised Ramamurthy’s talent and published his first cartoon in the 1950s. He encouraged Ramamurthy immensely to draw political cartoons and took him to the Assembly to observe the proceedings so that he could find inspiration for his cartoons.

            Soon, Murthy’s cartoons in the Kidi newspaper caught the attention of Philip Spratt, a British intellectual and communist. Spratt was sent by the British arm of the Communist International, based in Moscow, to spread Communism in India. He was among the first architects and a founding member of the Communist Party of India. He was the editor of MysIndia, a pro-American weekly. Spratt encouraged Murthy to draw cartoons there, but unfortunately, there is no record available of whether he ultimately published Murthy’s cartoons in his publication.

            Ramamurthy’s cartoons soon caught the eye of Pothan Joseph, the founder editor of the Deccan Herald, the English Daily published from Bangalore. Joseph was a veteran whose journalistic career spanned across 40 years. He worked with notable people of the time, such as Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Annie Besant, Mahatma Gandhi, Sarojini Naidu, and Motilal Nehru. He also nurtured cartoonist Shankar Pillai, helping to make political cartoons a staple of Indian newspapers. He found Ramamurthy to be the best candidate for political cartooning. To work for the Deccan Herald, Murthy had to stop drawing cartoons and illustrations for other publications, as per the contract. Joseph encouraged Ramamurthy to draw pocket cartoons. Ramamurthy’s association with this publication house lasted 33 years until his retirement. He continued to draw political cartoons even after his retirement and even when he was sick. During those days, there was no email. Ramamurthy had to send them, through his son and friends, to the Deccan Herald Office.

            In the Deccan Herald, Ramamurthy started ‘As You Like It’ in November 1956, a daily cartoon column where his famous character, ‘Mr. Citizen’, appeared. Mr. Citizen was a true Kannadiga with a Mysore Peta (a traditional turban in Karnataka), a black coat, Dothi (a traditional white cloth worn around the waist in a typical style), and an umbrella. The title of the pocket cartoon was later changed to `Mr. Citizen’. Ramamurthy was extremely successful in subtly bringing out the many problems that a common man faces in his daily life. This provided him with a stronger foothold for making readers chuckle. Mr. Citizen, with an eternally bewildered face, was a mute spectator to the political and social world around him. Mr. Citizen was so popular with the readers that whenever Mr. Citizen was seen without his customary Mysore Peta, the readers demanded that he put the Mysore Peta back on.

            He once drew a sketch of Jimmy Carter, the former US President, with the caption `Grin of the Year’. This cartoon drew international acclaim. His cartoons were also exhibited worldwide in 1978 and 1982. Exhibitions of Ramamurthy’s cartoons were organised by the Indian Institute of Cartoonists at the Indian Cartoon Gallery, Bangalore, in 2007, 2012, and 2017. Three volumes of Ramamurthy’s cartoon collection were published by Bapco Publishers in Bangalore.

            Ramamurthy was also interested in fine art. He did some paintings in oil and watercolour, which reflected his artistic talent. Some of his paintings were exhibited at the Alliance Française du Bangalore in 1974. The then Chief Minister, Sri Devaraja Urs and the Governor of Karnataka, Sri Mohanlal Sukhadia, both attended the exhibition.His artworks were exhibited at various state art societies and also at the Jehangir Art Gallery in Mumbai.

            Ramamurthy was the chief patron of the Karnataka Cartoonists Association for almost 25 years. The first convention of the ‘Karnataka Cartoonists Association’ was held under his chairmanship in Udupi in 1978–79. He organised the second conference at Chitrkala Parishath, Bangalore. He travelled all around Karnataka to organise various cartoon workshops. He was the first chairperson of the Indian Institute of Cartoonists until his death in 2004.Throughout his tenure, Ramamurthy received many prestigious awards, including the Karnataka State Rajyotsava Award (1984), the Sandesha Award (1998), and the Karnataka Journalists Academy Award for his contribution to journalism as a cartoonist and for creating the iconic character, Mr. Citizen. He has been honoured by the Karnataka Lalithakala Academy (1990–92) and the Karnataka Cartoonists Association (1998). He was also made an honorary member of the Karnataka Lalithakala Academy.

            In spite of all these recognitions, as a cartoonist, Ramamurthy did not earn the fame he deserved at the national level. There could be many reasons. One main reason could be the circulation of the Deccan Herald, which was limited at the regional level.

            A great artist, painter, and cartoonist par excellence, Ramamurthy dabbled in literature and attempted to document cartooning history. He once gave a talk on All India Radio on the cartoon history of the world. According to sources, he was halfway through a book on the history of cartoons. This outstanding artist died of cardiac arrest on March 24, 2004, at the age of 70. Ramamurthy’s cartoons will be remembered forever for bringing smiles and making readers think.

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About the writer: Dr.J.Balakrishna is a Professor at University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore, and is also a writer, translator, and a cartoonist. He is also interested in the history of cartoons. His works have been published in the newspapers and Magazines in Karnataka.

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