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Who doesn’t love cartoons? From ‘Scooby Doo’ to the legendary ‘Common Man’, cartoons have invariably made their way to our hearts by their show of wit, punch lines and simplicity. They are not just meant for entertainment but are an excellent form of communication as well. They are often more effective than words and that makes them an ideal medium to reach a wider audience.

I have grown up watching cartoons on TV and reading humourous comic strips in newspapers. When we got a cable line installed, my preferences changed to Pokemon, Tom and Jerry, Scooby Doo and so on. I was introduced to R. K. Laxman’s ‘Common Man’ by my father. He had a collection of clippings of the cartoon strip ‘You Said It’, which came in the news daily, The Times of India, for five decades since 1951.

The Common Man, who debuted in the ‘You Said It’ column, was an Indian man who silently observed the failings of the men in power. He would be dressed in a plaid jacket and dhoti with spectacles perched on top of his nose and an umbrella in hand. Laxman was a visionary. The observations made by his creation hold true, even today. I would like to present an example. Once, the Common Man visited an empty bank where only the security guard was at work. The commentary ran, “No, not a holiday! It’s a full working day. But some are in police custody, some are under suspension and some…”

Political cartoons originated with William Hogarth’s depiction of the corrupted 18th century British politics. Political cartoons, also known as editorial cartoons, are drawings or caricatures of political situations, usually containing commentaries. Such cartoons are conducive to deal with the grim reality of politics. The late K Shankara Pillai is believed to be the father of political cartooning in India.

With rising intolerance and censorship issues, the future of political cartooning in India seems moribund. The terror attack on the French magazine, Charlie Hebdo, has further aggravated the issue. The innocuous mockery seems to be taking a toll on political leaders who are often getting increasingly enraged by the criticisms dished out at them. Perhaps, with the mounting fear of authority, anonymity is a way out. The creators of the online weekly, 'Crocodile in Water, Tiger on Land (CWTL),' have chosen to remain anonymous. CWTL mainly deals with political discrepancies prevailing in society.

There was a time when political leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru admired political cartoons. Cartoonists wooed readers and politicians alike through their sketches and satires throughout the 1960s and even during the period of emergency. Today, the genre of editorial cartoon has lost its glorified position. Also, with news feeds becoming more accessible through TV and the internet, cartoons have lost their predominance as the newspapers are unwilling to publish anything controversial.

Renowned cartoonists like E.P. Unny and Aseem Trivedi have expressed their concerns over the future of editorial cartoons. AseemTrivedi was, in fact, arrested on charges of sedition in 2012 for his cartoons portraying corruption. Newspapers are now prioritising commercial interests. Gone are the days of front page cartoons which would set the tone for the editorial. The publication of pocket cartoons has dropped greatly. Nonetheless, Malayalam dailies, such as Mathrubhumi or the Malayala Manorama, have managed retaining their ‘humorous’ side. The circulation figure of regional language dailies is about 1.5 to 2 million. Tamil cartoonist Madhan has recently stated that the demand for political cartoons has declined because editors are not willing to provide enough space.

However, with the emerging number of contemporary satirists, the future of political cartoons doesn’t seem bleak outside the editorial space. Through mediums such as videos, web comics and graphic novels, political cartoons are poised to reinvent itself. With the advent of social media, political and social satirists have grown in large numbers. Many contemporary Indians are indulging in the opportunity of bringing about social change through cartoons. A new trend involving web comics is gaining traction. From child sexual abuse to environmental concerns, these series of comics address a broad range of issues, apart from politics. Let’s take for example, Sanitary Panels by Rachita Taneja who is also a Bangalore based activist. The utterly simple stick figure doodle deals with social and political issues to create awareness. Likewise, Adarsh Balak, Royal Existentialists, Menstrupedia and Tatkal Ticket Comics are some of the other popular web series.