He demonstrated power of cartoons: Shivram Dattatreya Phadnis

The late Shiv Sena supremo, Balasaheb Thackeray, demonstrated the power of cartoons. “It is phenomenal that a cartoonist not only founded a party, but brought it to power in one of the important states in the country,” said well-known cartoonist Shivram Dattatreya Phadnis.
Phadnis is six months older than Balasaheb and his work is known at the global level. He is known for drawing cartoons without captions.

Cartoon is an important language of democracy and though Balasaheb talked of dictatorship within his party, he inculcated the spirit of democracy through his political cartoons in his weekly, Marmik and influenced generations of cartoonists in Maharashtra.

Balasaheb is probably the first cartoonist who became a mass leader in India but his important contribution is that he inculcated the spirit of healthy criticism through cartoons and the spirit of understanding cartoons in the state, Phadnis said.

He said Balasaheb strongly demonstrated the power of cartoons when he started Marmik in 1960. Previous to that, recalled Phadnis, “Balasaheb was known to me through his cartoons, which were published in a number of publications including Free Press Journal, Awaaj, Kesari, Navyug and others.”

Phadnis said both Balasaheb and RK Laxman had a great influence o New Zealand political cartoonist and caricaturist David Low and that is the reason for similarity in their cartoons.

Interestingly, Balasaheb had formal training of drawing and played profoundly both roles of cartoonist and caricaturist. He came out with Marmik for pointing out contradictions in the society that trouble one’s mind. Phadnis said Balasaheb did not stop at that and founded the Shiv Sena when the injustice around was beyond the reach of the cartoons. It was phenomenal, said Phadnis, “that a cartoonist not only founded a party, but brought it to power in one of the important states in the country.”

Phadnis said it is often said that one picture or cartoon is worth a thousand words and Balasaheb truly demonstrated it.

Communication through words is slow, but the same with a cartoon is fast and intense. Phadnis said there is no other medium than cartoons which is non-violent yet powerful for showing difference of opinion or criticism. Phadnis said it is Balasaheb’s contribution that he imbibed this powerful yet non-violent language in the minds of Maharashtrians and Maharashtra accepted this language as well.

He recalled that Balasaheb presided over the first meeting of cartoonists in Maharashtra in 1983, which was held in Kolhapur. Phadnis said Balasaheb had demonstrated caricatures and political cartooning. He had also explained importance of knowing anatomy and challenge of using minimum lines to bring forward the entire personality.

He recalled that Balashaeb attended cartoonists’ meetings at Vile Parle and Girgaum in Mumbai where he met all the participants without any security.

Phadnis said, “In 2000, Balasaheb felicitated me for completing 75 years but this programme was held in tight security. Balasaheb had said he had created many enemies through his art of cartooning, while I have created humour without any enmity towards anyone.”

“Balasaheb was born in Pune and Abhiyaan Pratishthan felicitated him at Matoshree in 2010, when I felicitated him by offering him a Puneri pagadi,” he added.