The Bengaluru based Indian Cartoon Gallery (ICG) has over a period of time evolved itself into a sought after destination for cartoonists not just from the country alone but far and wide across the world!
SM Krishna, the then Congress Chief Minister released funds to the tune of Rs Five lakhs for organizing the two days national level meet and exhibition of cartoonists which witnessed the participation of hundreds of them from all over the country.VS Ramadevi, then Governor of the state, not just graced the occasion but surprised the assembly by handing over Rs 5,000/- on the spot volunteering to become a life member of the cartoonists’ national institute.
Seven veteran cartoonists, all big names on the national canvass were felicitated on the eve with a
lifetime achievement award. RK Lakshman couldn’t make it owing to indisposition and was presented the same during the subsequent year.The two days national convention and all the sweet reminisces continued to remain afresh in the minds of all those involved in the event but a permanent roof for the activities to continue uninterruptedly started to haunt them.
Somewhere during such perplexed juncture VG Narendra, then in Kannada Prabha of The New Indian Express group of publications drew a cartoon on the controversial Bengaluru-Mysuru express corridor project.
It hinted at the stumbling blocks put forth by a former and sitting chief minister in implementation of
the said highway. The cartoon received applause from the newspaper readers and VG Narendra also got many congratulatory telephone calls apart from several letters of appreciation in this regard.
One among such callers also included Ashok Kheny of the road construction company who was very
much pleased with the work. He invited VG Narendra for a breakfast meeting and dwelt in length about the latter’s passion for cartoons and the cartoonists in general.
During this meeting, Ashok Kheny also inquired about the activities of the Indian Institute of Cartoonists and volunteered all help for ensuring a permanent venue to the Institute for its activities and display of cartoons throughout the year.Thanks to the magnanimous gesture of Ashok Kheny, the longstanding dream of the cartoonists’fraternity became a reality in no time.In this way, the basement floor of Midford House, off MG Road near Trinity Circle with a measurement of around 5,000 square feet became the official address for the cartoonist’s national body and interestingly this is one and only such venue across the country entirely dedicated for the cartoonists.
The available space has been made best use of with provision for a cartoon gallery and conference hall apart from providing a room to function as office and library. The exhibition hall has all the interiors on the basis of gallery halls of the renowned Chitrakala Parishat(CKP) in the city. Even the entrance door has intricate designs just like that of the ones in CKP.
Once the Indian Institute of Cartoonists commenced its activities in a full-fledged manner with Ashok
Kheny as Honorary Chairman and VG Narendra as Managing Trustee and other board members there’s no looking back as the activities of cartoonists outside their workplaces blossomed like never before.The first exhibition was also inaugurated on 16 August 2007 and it went on for three months thus paving way for the feat to be recorded in the Limca book of records. That was only just a beginning as 160 cartoon exhibitions have been held since then in the last 12 years! And another significant feature of these exhibitions is that the works showcased here came from the nook and corner of the country and these days they have started flooding from different parts of the world as well.
So far two from the US, three from the UK and three others from Europe, China and Japan have also
displayed their works here while many other international fellow professionals are eagerly waiting for
their turn to showcase their works here.But an important feature worth recalling here is the red carpet welcome laid down to cartoonists for exhibiting their works as no fees or rent is charged. On the other hand, they are warmly welcomed by paying for their travel and accommodation as well.
A major difference between Indian and Foreign cartoons is such that we continue to still lag far behind with the age-old practice of depending heavily on titles and captions while elsewhere only cartoons speak for themselves.
So far 15 veteran cartoonists’ have been felicitated with lifetime achievement awards and they include:Mario de Miranda (Goa), Pran Kumar Sharma(New Delhi), SD Phadnis(Pune), Sattiraju Laxmi Narayan(Bapu) of Hyderabad, Gopulu(Chennai), Yesudasan(Kochi), SK Nadig(Shivamogga), RK Laxman(Mumbai), Kaak(Ghaziabad), Unny(New Delhi), Vasant Sarvate(Mumbai), T Venkatrao(Hyderabad), Madhan(Chennai), VT Thomas(TOMS) of Kochi and Prabhakar Raobail(Dharwad).
The national and international level cartoon contests in the memory of Maya Kamath, late city based
cartoonist is attracting a huge number of entries year after year.For the 2018 contest, there were 109 entries from professional cartoonists, 33 from youths and 122 in the global section. The jury headed by Girish Karnad, veteran actor and playwright has also announced many special jury awards and merit certificates to encourage the amateurs.ICC also boasts of an amazing treasure of about 2,000 books in all possible languages relating to the world of cartoons and all gifted by reputed cartoonists. Among these vast collections include the works of William Hogarth regarded as founding the father of cartoonists.
VG Narendra apart from donating his own collections during his travel abroad has also been successful in making all-out efforts to accommodate such philanthropic gestures. As per the last wishes of Sattiraju Laxmi Narayan(Bapu) of Hyderabad, his son has ensured the dispatch of 600 books to ICC! And it goes without saying that all such ready made material is being liberally made use of by enthusiasts for information, study, research and inspiration to draw cartoons.ICC also conducts two days foundation workshops periodically with a limit of 25 people at a time and has so far trained more than 500 people, many of whom have taken the art seriously and professionally later.
Let there be no doubt that the Indian Institute of Cartoonists has already accomplished multiple feats to its credit but VG Narendra is no person to continue resting on the laurels. He now has drawn upon plans to unveil multiple galleries with the intention of screening cartoon movies throughout the year and providing accommodation space for visiting cartoonists.
-Manohar Yadavatti
Thanks to the Indian Institute of Cartoonists (IIC) which came into being during 2001 and shifted its
activities to the premises of Cartoon Gallery on 16 August 2007 the IIC has treaded an illustrious path so far to boast of.In fact, the IIC had a humble beginning during 2001 as an outcome of coming together of likeminded professionals who were then seriously pondering of having an organization for themselves on the basis of national cultural bodies like the Central Sahitya Academy and the like.
activities to the premises of Cartoon Gallery on 16 August 2007 the IIC has treaded an illustrious path so far to boast of.In fact, the IIC had a humble beginning during 2001 as an outcome of coming together of likeminded professionals who were then seriously pondering of having an organization for themselves on the basis of national cultural bodies like the Central Sahitya Academy and the like.
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| RK Laxman receiving LAA form IIC |
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| S M Krishna felicating 7 cartoonists |
SM Krishna, the then Congress Chief Minister released funds to the tune of Rs Five lakhs for organizing the two days national level meet and exhibition of cartoonists which witnessed the participation of hundreds of them from all over the country.VS Ramadevi, then Governor of the state, not just graced the occasion but surprised the assembly by handing over Rs 5,000/- on the spot volunteering to become a life member of the cartoonists’ national institute.
 |
| Leading cartoonist Mr Mario De Miranda at Gallery |
 |
| R K Laxman at the gallery |
lifetime achievement award. RK Lakshman couldn’t make it owing to indisposition and was presented the same during the subsequent year.The two days national convention and all the sweet reminisces continued to remain afresh in the minds of all those involved in the event but a permanent roof for the activities to continue uninterruptedly started to haunt them.
Somewhere during such perplexed juncture VG Narendra, then in Kannada Prabha of The New Indian Express group of publications drew a cartoon on the controversial Bengaluru-Mysuru express corridor project.
It hinted at the stumbling blocks put forth by a former and sitting chief minister in implementation of
the said highway. The cartoon received applause from the newspaper readers and VG Narendra also got many congratulatory telephone calls apart from several letters of appreciation in this regard.
One among such callers also included Ashok Kheny of the road construction company who was very
much pleased with the work. He invited VG Narendra for a breakfast meeting and dwelt in length about the latter’s passion for cartoons and the cartoonists in general.
During this meeting, Ashok Kheny also inquired about the activities of the Indian Institute of Cartoonists and volunteered all help for ensuring a permanent venue to the Institute for its activities and display of cartoons throughout the year.Thanks to the magnanimous gesture of Ashok Kheny, the longstanding dream of the cartoonists’fraternity became a reality in no time.In this way, the basement floor of Midford House, off MG Road near Trinity Circle with a measurement of around 5,000 square feet became the official address for the cartoonist’s national body and interestingly this is one and only such venue across the country entirely dedicated for the cartoonists.
The available space has been made best use of with provision for a cartoon gallery and conference hall apart from providing a room to function as office and library. The exhibition hall has all the interiors on the basis of gallery halls of the renowned Chitrakala Parishat(CKP) in the city. Even the entrance door has intricate designs just like that of the ones in CKP.
Once the Indian Institute of Cartoonists commenced its activities in a full-fledged manner with Ashok
Kheny as Honorary Chairman and VG Narendra as Managing Trustee and other board members there’s no looking back as the activities of cartoonists outside their workplaces blossomed like never before.The first exhibition was also inaugurated on 16 August 2007 and it went on for three months thus paving way for the feat to be recorded in the Limca book of records. That was only just a beginning as 160 cartoon exhibitions have been held since then in the last 12 years! And another significant feature of these exhibitions is that the works showcased here came from the nook and corner of the country and these days they have started flooding from different parts of the world as well.
So far two from the US, three from the UK and three others from Europe, China and Japan have also
displayed their works here while many other international fellow professionals are eagerly waiting for
their turn to showcase their works here.But an important feature worth recalling here is the red carpet welcome laid down to cartoonists for exhibiting their works as no fees or rent is charged. On the other hand, they are warmly welcomed by paying for their travel and accommodation as well.
A major difference between Indian and Foreign cartoons is such that we continue to still lag far behind with the age-old practice of depending heavily on titles and captions while elsewhere only cartoons speak for themselves.
So far 15 veteran cartoonists’ have been felicitated with lifetime achievement awards and they include:Mario de Miranda (Goa), Pran Kumar Sharma(New Delhi), SD Phadnis(Pune), Sattiraju Laxmi Narayan(Bapu) of Hyderabad, Gopulu(Chennai), Yesudasan(Kochi), SK Nadig(Shivamogga), RK Laxman(Mumbai), Kaak(Ghaziabad), Unny(New Delhi), Vasant Sarvate(Mumbai), T Venkatrao(Hyderabad), Madhan(Chennai), VT Thomas(TOMS) of Kochi and Prabhakar Raobail(Dharwad).
The national and international level cartoon contests in the memory of Maya Kamath, late city based
cartoonist is attracting a huge number of entries year after year.For the 2018 contest, there were 109 entries from professional cartoonists, 33 from youths and 122 in the global section. The jury headed by Girish Karnad, veteran actor and playwright has also announced many special jury awards and merit certificates to encourage the amateurs.ICC also boasts of an amazing treasure of about 2,000 books in all possible languages relating to the world of cartoons and all gifted by reputed cartoonists. Among these vast collections include the works of William Hogarth regarded as founding the father of cartoonists.
VG Narendra apart from donating his own collections during his travel abroad has also been successful in making all-out efforts to accommodate such philanthropic gestures. As per the last wishes of Sattiraju Laxmi Narayan(Bapu) of Hyderabad, his son has ensured the dispatch of 600 books to ICC! And it goes without saying that all such ready made material is being liberally made use of by enthusiasts for information, study, research and inspiration to draw cartoons.ICC also conducts two days foundation workshops periodically with a limit of 25 people at a time and has so far trained more than 500 people, many of whom have taken the art seriously and professionally later.
Let there be no doubt that the Indian Institute of Cartoonists has already accomplished multiple feats to its credit but VG Narendra is no person to continue resting on the laurels. He now has drawn upon plans to unveil multiple galleries with the intention of screening cartoon movies throughout the year and providing accommodation space for visiting cartoonists.
-Manohar Yadavatti
Nicely brought out information about the activities of Indian Institute of Cartoonist. Cartoon is an art and unless it is encouraged and nurtured we will not develop the thinking mind and a humourous attitude. Screening of Cartoon movies will attract young and old alike, this will make more people visit the institute and make more people aware about the institute.
ReplyDeleteBy reading ur article, I came out from the election fobia which was hunting us for a pretty long time. The article is very much documented.when in Bangalore next time,I certainly visit it.Krishna Itnal from pune
ReplyDeleteA one of its kind article. A Bengalurean myself did not know such a great institution exists in our own backyard. A very informative article.
ReplyDeleteHi thanks for sharring this
ReplyDelete