In the Tunnel of Time

I was just revisiting all the books that i had read in the last decade. Iam also going to write about the authors who have written the book. Whenever i read a book and I feel that the book has enriched my life, i go and compliment the author of the book saying the book has really given me a new perspective.

In the course of my random wanderings, i had read this book "Tunnel of Time by RK Laxman". I wanted to meet him but did not get an opportunity to meet him. He came to bangalore to inaugurate a cartoon exhibition in bangalore. I met the organizers of the exhibition and found out that he was staying in the hotel near MG road.
The host for RK laxman had fixed an appointment with RK laxman and i was on time and RK laxman had just finished his breakfast.

He was chatting with everyone, as many of his friends had come to wish him. Later i was given a time of 10 mins to ask him questions. I had thought that since RK laxman had observed the political scene he would have had a vision about a alternate political philosophy than the current system.

I asked him , 'Sir, You have observed the nuisance of the modern day politics, do u have any political vision that can provide a more mature leadership for the country. '
The reply was, "You are stupid. That shows you have no idea who iam ? You have not gone through my work. I do not think my cartoons ".

The reply was very blunt. I did not know what next to ask for. I silently moved besides his wife and sat on the sofa. Then i showed my other questions to his wife,
1> How does he get to be creative each day ? What is the state of his mind when he is creating a cartoon ?
2> What motivated him to be a political cartoonist ?
3> About his love for Ganesha and the crow ?
I had some more questions, but i was afraid to ask the same. His wife asked him not to be so rude to young people like me. So he said "Go on ask me the next set of questions"
1> How does he get to be creative each day ? What is the state of his mind when he is creating a cartoon ?

>> My state of mind is empty and I search for the cartoons everywhere in the road, in the shop, in the office everywhere i find my common man. I do not make an effort and i'am not even self conscious about my creation.

2> What motivated him to be a political cartoonist ?
>> During those times there was no one in this space and i asked my self "Why not ?".
3> About his love for Ganesha and the crow ?
Ganesha i see him everywhere.. and in everything.. crow is very intelligent and understands human beings better...and it puts up with us.
He finally asked me "What do you do young man ?"
Sir I promote cycling ..
"Bicycle ??"
"Yes Sir .. Good work.. we need more cycles"
I had carried his cartoon which spoke about too many cars on the road with no space for walking. I requested him to make some more cartoons with bicycles and the common man.

He asked his wife to give me the address of his residence and asked me to write. But few days later I read the report that he was not well. So did not write to him for the cartoons.

But here are some things from his book "Tunnel of Time"
His childhood is really free with absolutely no control and all his brothers taking care of him. In the school , He draws the cartoon of his teacher - and is caught. In his cartoon he depicts the teacher as a tiger.
Laxman and Bicycles

One of the unique things in his cartoons of yesteryears are the bicycles. He used to go cycling in Mysore, in pursuit of landscapes and artistic structures on the outskirts of the city. He also had a close friend with whom he used to bicycle all around the city. This friend HK had joined the "Bicycle Brigade" to fight for the freedom of the nation. "The group went cycling all over the city shouting anti british slogans and courting arrest" - is what RK Laxman says. I was thrilled to read the contribution of these cyclists from the "Bicycle Brigade" who fought for the freedom of the nation.