For six decades, cartoonist RK Laxman’s ‘Common Man’ series was one of the most compelling reasons people eagerly awaited the morning newspaper. Laxman, with a few strokes of his brush, fearlessly exposed the hypocrisy in Indian politics and championed the marginalized with biting sarcasm.
So when he passed away last evening in Pune at the age of 94, it was really difficult for most of his followers to come to terms with the void created by his absence. Condolence messages poured in from the very people he mocked everyday—politicians and celebrities—and from the ones who loved him dearly, the aam junta.
Fellow cartoonists –- professional and amateurs -- took up the pen to doff their hats to Laxman by making alternative Common Man sketches showing the ubiquitous old man weeping, walking away and hanging up his trademark jacket on a peg drawn on a blank space.
These are some of the Common Man cartoons drawn in tribute to the great cartoonist.
Goodbye R K Laxman. It's a heartbreak for the common man. A humble tribute. pic.twitter.com/wdnCdXofAD
— Roflindian 2.0 (@Roflindian) January 26, 2015
Goodbye, Common Man.
Lovely minimalistic tribute to RK Laxman! pic.twitter.com/DxCs4GQWyw
— Sohini (@Mittermaniac) January 27, 2015
My tribute to the Common man. #RKLaxmanpic.twitter.com/fNVKC3D2Rx
— Anjali George (@AnjaliGorg) January 26, 2015
Saurabh Singh's uncommon tribute to the common man's creator | #RKLaxman | http://t.co/W1p7GQliZkpic.twitter.com/a7iOubGPhc
— DailyO (@DailyO_) January 27, 2015
#rklaxman (1921-2015) pic.twitter.com/CqY8uCxdS9
— MANJUL (@MANJULtoons) January 26, 2015
R.I.P, RK Laxman pic.twitter.com/gbnjADr1DW
— R Prasad (@rprasad66) January 27, 2015
RK Laxman - the unofficial Google doodle (My tribute to #RKLaxman and his #CommonMan). pic.twitter.com/Z9xEDfbv7K
— Soumyadip Choudhury (@soumyadip) January 27, 2015
This one was drawn by Mysore resident B. Vaikunth Shenoy.
