ABOUT MYSELF
ABOUT MYSELF
I was born into a humble family in Gwalior, India, and I have been drawing cartoons since I was a young boy. I have had a successful career as a cartoonist that has spanned over three decades of my life. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to work with some of the most renowned editors in the country. I have worked with Swaminathan Aiyer, Shazi Zaman, MJ Akbar, Shekhar Gupta, Umesh Anand and Ruben Benerjee – individuals who have left indelible marks on the industry and whom I am immensely proud to have shared the same workspace.
I have also had the privilege of pushing the boundaries of live political cartoons on electronic media. I have appeared on leading Indian news channels such as ABP News, Zee News, Sahara Samay, and NDTV India. I was involved with NDTV India’s puppet show Gustakhi Maaf. Additionally, I used to host and produce my very own talk show Itni Si Baat. My claim to fame is being the first cartoonist who creates live political cartoons on the spot during news coverage of election results across the country. Recently, I was associated with ABP News for their daily morning show.
I have had the privilege of being a part of Time Magazine’s chief cartoonist Ranan Lurie’s magazine, contributing to The Far Eastern Economic Review, and coming on board England’s Aston University as a consultant for their green energy project. I also contributed regularly to the Cartoon magazine “Teekhi Mirch.”
I represented India in prestigious international cartoon exhibitions such as the Tenth Asian Cartoon Exhibition organized by the Japan Foundation in 2005. I have held ten solo cartoon exhibitions, produced three cartoon collections (Punchline, My Delhi, and Kargil Cartoons-group), and my cartoons were part of the NCERT high school curriculum.
I am humbled and honoured to have received the Kaka Hathrasi Award from the Hindi Academy, Delhi Govt., in 2010. In recent years, I have been working with the Election Commission of India to spread awareness among voters across the country.
Throughout my career as a cartoonist, I have witnessed many changes in political and social landscapes wherever I go. It has been an eye-opening experience to watch how history is made – big or small – through the lens of my art. From drawing satirical cartoons that echoed people’s beliefs to using a deeper understanding of complex matters in all its layers to convey messages through illustrations, it has been gratifying to see how something as simple as cartoons can bring about awareness among readers.
I am thankful for being able to do what I love for so many years now; it allowed me to express myself artistically and engage with like-minded individuals who share the same love for art and creativity.