Mumbai, Feb 1 (IANS) The proposed memorial to legendary cartoonist R. K. Laxman, announced by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in Pune last week, must be erected in Mumbai, his family has urged.
"The CM was very kind to announce the memorial, but the location has not been specified. We, especially my daughter Rimanika and wife Usha, are keen that it should come up in Mumbai, where Laxman spent over seven decades of his life and The Common Man was born," son Srinivas Laxman told IANS.
He said that it was the vibrant and never-say-die spirit of the ordinary Mumbaikar that inspired the image of Laxman's bespectacled creation - The Common Man - always silent with a confused and bewildered expression at the antics of politicians, generally in his trademark check shirt with dhoti, and a tuft of hair clinging to the sides of his worry-marked pate.
Srinivas, himself a retired journalist from The Times Of India (ToI) and now a specialist writer on space exploration, said that his father started his cartooning career in Mumbai and walked the streets of the city, saw it developing into a global financial centre and chronicled it through his sketches.
"He had a long, 60-year old friendship with another great Mumbaikar and cartoonist, the late Bal Thackeray. They used to have lunch and tea at Chetna Restaurant in those days, laugh and joke. Before his death, Thackeray had visited my dad in Pune," Srinivas said.
During lunch breaks, or on lean working days, Laxman and other senior editors of ToI would go for walks in the old, bustling Dalal Street (before the 29-storied BSE Building came up in 1980), Strand Book Stall, Jehangir Art Gallery, the Colaba Causeway, Flora Fountain, and other parts which comprised the CBD (central business district) of Mumbai, Srinivas said, explaining how his father got inspired for his works which became historic creations.
In the 1940s, when Laxman first came to Mumbai, he lived in the Mirabelle Hotel - which no longer exists - at Marine Lines and then at other smaller places before moving to his flat in the posh Breach Candy area, where he spent 70 years of his life.
Owing to practical reasons - the Mumbai building does not have a lift - the 86-year old Laxman shifted to Pune in April 2008. "But, his heart always beat for Mumbai. He always wanted to return and live here," Usha said.
In fact, during his frequent visits from Pune to Mumbai, Laxman enjoyed going for long drives in various areas and loved to watch the crowds at Churchgate, Marine Lines, the Chowpatty Beach and the bhelpuriwalas, the CST and the vicinity of ToI, as also some other old haunts, and always appeared pleased and excited.
On a more personal level, the family would miss Laxman's delightful annual 'Happy Birthday gifts' in the form of a sketch of Rimanika or Srinivas, and also doting daughter-in-law Usha.
"Practically from my birth, he used to make at least one annual sketch on my birthday. Later he did some for Usha, who was very close to him, and then regularly for his grand-daughter Rimanika," Srinivas said.
Once, during a college event, the young and shy Srinivas was billed as R.K. Laxman's "Greatest Creation"!
"But, we took it in our stride..." he laughs today over the incident in a south Mumbai college over four decades ago.
According to the family, a Laxman memorial in Mumbai would be a befitting tribute to both the great city and its prime resident, The Common Man, whose statue is already installed at Worli.
Mehul Choksi: Mehul Choksi was trying to escape to Switzerland, but the fugitive was defeated by the strategy of ED-CBI
After the arrest of fugitive diamond merchant Mehul Choksi in Belgium, another big disclosure has come to light. The arrest of Mehul wanted in India, is the result of more than seven years of hard
Demand to change the name of Taj Mahal again: Councilors will present a proposal in Agra Municipal Corporation today, read the reasoning behind changing the name
A resolution has been brought to the Municipal Corporation's house demanding to change the name of the Taj Mahal. Municipal Corporation Tajganj Ward Councilor has proposed to rename the Taj Mahal as
'You will have to go to the police station', SC gave the order in Ranveer Allahbadia case; said- 'No license to say anything'
The Supreme Court on Tuesday reprimanded YouTuber Ranveer Allahabadia for using obscene language for making objectionable comments regarding parents and said that one does not get a license to say
Not only Sheesh Mahal and liquor scam, but the CAG report also mentions the mohalla clinic; the political uproar in Delhi
On Tuesday, 14 CAG reports of the tenure of the AAP government will be presented in the assembly. One of these is about the renovation of the Chief Minister's residence located at 6-Flag Staff Road.
UNSC emergency meeting called by six countries including America, the discussion will be held on the humanitarian situation in Ukraine
An emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council has been called on Thursday to discuss Ukraine. This meeting will take place at 3 pm today, in which the humanitarian situation in Ukraine
COVID-19: These cases complicating the corona puzzle in Maharashtra, know why dangerous
Sumitra Debroy / Malti Iyer, Mumbai
Accused of stabbing Nupur after watching the video: 6 times stabbed in Sitamarhi; When Nupur's name was removed, the police registered an FIR.
After Rajasthan and Maharashtra, Nupur Sharma's supporter has now been attacked in Bihar. Ankit Jha of Sitamarhi has alleged that Nupur Sharma was stabbed after watching the video. Ankit was attacked
Europe Lifts Ban on Indian Mangoes
New Delhi, March 4 (IANS) The European Commission (EC) has lifted the ban on the import of Indian mangoes but not vegetables, Union Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on
Euthanasia became a problem in Canada: 10,000 people committed suicide in 1 year, from March 2023 it is also legally allowed for mentally ill
Allowing euthanasia in Canada is becoming a problem. Here last year i.e. in 2021 itself, more than 10 thousand people gave their lives through euthanasia. This is more than 3% of the total deaths in
Rahul Dravid's tenure is over, now who will become the head coach of Team India? 3 names at the forefront of the race
The tenure of Team India head coach Rahul Dravid ended after the ODI World Cup 2023. After Ravi Shastri, Dravid took over the reins of the Indian team along with captain Rohit Sharma.
