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Rows of inappropriate Indian political Cartoons






















From year 1979.










 From year 1982.



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At least , we could have picked a more interesting topic. How does NCERT deal with this topic? Maybe in another decade of so we will have public discussions on the issue. Of course, triggered by a controversy.

Cartoon caricaturing Ambedkar's decision to resign from the Law Ministry over the failure to implement the Hindu Code Bill. Shankar's Weekly, October 7, 1951.


From the book 'The Caste Question: Dalits and the Politics of Modern India' by Anupama Rao.

Update:


Funniest thing. I just realized that the caption 'Note the use of Hindu themes to represent what was, in fact, Ambedkar's challenge to Hindu hegemony.' is essentially wrong and it miss appropriates symbols. The obvious reference that Shankar was making in the cartoon was to an important scene in the story of Buddha, his renunciation. According to the story Buddha quietly in the dead of the night, walked out on his wife,Yasodhara and child, Rahula to understand the purpose of life and death.

The interesting thing is Ambedkar accepted Buddhism good five years after this cartoon was published. So if anything is being mocked in that image, it is Ambedkar's flirtations with Buddhism. It can be interpreted as Hindu householder's recoil at Buddhist renunciation.

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Comments

  1. VarunMay 12, 2012, 9:16:00 PM

    Simply brilliant stuff. Just curious, where did you find that opening-closing pic of that man in topi with raised finger (saying "I call Jenab Nehru's gen..") Did you make it yourself? I can see a cursor there too.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AnonnymousApr 20, 2018, 7:32:00 PM

      These are cartoons from the magazine Film India (original name) & Mother India (changed name subsequently) which was published by Sri Baburao Patel who was Nehru's antognizer & his magazines were full of questions & most witty answers never seen & it used to sell like hot cakes in 1940's till 1970's till he died, subsequently his second wife - Smt. Sushila Patel continued it. Smt. Sushila Patel was Baburao Patel's secretary & the backbone of his publications.
      The witty replies of Baburao Patel still valid till date & never seen such witty replies.... the magazine had hardly articles, it contained 99% questions posed by readers & wittiest answers by Baburao Patel.

      Delete
  2. Vinayak RazdanMay 12, 2012, 9:22:00 PM

    That's apnay Om Prakash Ji. Created it from a poster of a film called 'Aas'. And damn that cursor. But I am not going to fix that. Aasay hi rahnay do.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AnonnymousApr 20, 2018, 7:33:00 PM

      The magaine "Film India" idea was later captured & one sees the start of Film Fare magazine by Times of India . It is to entire credit of Sri Baburao Patel who made film reporting a business.

      Delete
  3. Comic WorldMay 13, 2012, 12:20:00 AM

    Nice cartoons from vintage magazines.

    ReplyDelete
  4. MrunmayeeMay 25, 2012, 5:34:00 PM

    Hey,
    I was directed to one of your posts by apna Google while searching for 'films shot in Kashmir'. Loved reading that post along with everything here. These cartoons are classic. Great content, keep up the good work. I will visit soon (read stalk).
    P.S I am visiting the valley this June and hence am smitten with everything Kashmir. Good to know that you are a Kashmiri :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. rahulMay 26, 2012, 5:28:00 PM

    hi...can you you telle who did the filimindia carttons..i really want to know the name(s) if any..waiting for your reply

    ReplyDelete
  6. Vinayak RazdanMay 29, 2012, 12:13:00 AM

    I would have included name if the magazine had given credit. That sadly isn't the case. But I suspect these were mostly by someone who had a long work relation with Babu Rao Patel as even his Mother India Magazine had similar cartoon in the 70s.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Sidharth KoulJun 7, 2012, 12:47:00 PM

    Nice cartoons Vinayak..//

    ReplyDelete
  8. Pratik AnandJun 8, 2012, 12:33:00 AM

    Once again an excellent post. Now, how to bring it to the mainstream media's attention. Or should we move on with the very same "chalta hai" attitude ?

    ReplyDelete
  9. seetharamanJun 11, 2012, 10:03:00 PM

    hi vinayak, this is seetharaman from business today magazine. i'm writing an article on indian advertising about which i wish to speak with you. if you're okay with that, could you mail me your contact details at seetharaman.g@intoday.com? thanks.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Vinayak RazdanJun 17, 2012, 11:21:00 AM

    A reminder. FilmIndia was a magazine banned in Kashmir at around that time. And I believe it's still a magazine that you can't bring into Pakistan. It is on a 'can't bring in' list of Pakistan custom.

    ReplyDelete
  11. gaddeswarupSep 6, 2012, 9:03:00 AM

    In some write-ups, Baburao Patel was described as a cartoonist. I wonder whether he was also the one for Film India.

    ReplyDelete
  12. TaNujaNov 30, 2012, 3:42:00 PM

    This was hilarious :D

    ReplyDelete
  13. VijayDec 1, 2012, 10:58:00 PM

    Dude, what happened to the old theme/style? Bring it back. This new format just makes it look like any old blogsite.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Vinayak RazdanDec 1, 2012, 11:20:00 PM

      Was making some changes without taking a backup...and ended up deleting the whole template.

      Delete
    2. VijayDec 1, 2012, 11:34:00 PM

      That is somewhat of a relief. I could not believe that you chose this template on purpose.

      Delete

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