Dimapur, August 4 (MExN): The Governor of Maharashtra S C Jamir today said that while news papers are sentinels of democracy, cartoonists are the torch bearers of freedom of expression. He said in the guise of satire, a cartoonist moulds public opnion and enables ordinary readers to understand complex issues of local, national and international importance in the simplest manner. Describing political cartooning as an essential part of journalism, Jamir called for restoring the rightful place for cartoons in newspapers and news magazines.
Jamir was speaking after releasing the biography of well known cartoonist R K Laxman at Raj Bhavan on August 4. Alemla Jamir, Chief Minister Ashok Chavan, R K Laxman, Tina Ambani and author of the biography Dr. Dharmendra Bhandari were present on the occasion.
Complimenting Laxman for representing the mute millions of the country and raising their problems forcefully through his cartoons for six decades, Jamir described Laxman as a ‘people’s representative’ in the real sense of the term.
Jamir said political cartooning is passing through a transition phase in the light of changes taking place in the newspaper industry and the advent of online journalism. He felt that cartoonists should explore new mediums to display their work and reinvent the art to reach out to the youthful audience. Jamir expressed the need to have a gallery dedicated exclusively to cartoons in Mumbai where works of all great cartoonists such as Laxman would be displayed for public viewing.
The National Anthem was sung by Chuba Jamir of Nagaland on this occasion.
