Oodles of doodles

With Indian politicians at work, editorial cartoonists have a bright future, feels Shekhar Gurera. Mathures Paul sketches his experiences

While depicting social ills, his pencil earned him several awards. Always making a social or political comment, the winner of Saitama’s Humour Photo Contest (2002), Best Cartoon Award (1990) and Best Cartoonist Award (1992), cartoonist Shekhar Gurera’s humble beginnings won many a heart.
“In fact, I was a science student. After completing my BSc from Patiala in 1986, I was studying MCA. But instinct made me switch over to the arts. Thereafter I took admission in BFA in College of Arts (on the basis of the medals and certificates I won while participating in co-curricular activities at the national level). When I was in the first year of BFA, I began my career as a freelance cartoonist. By the time I graduated from BFA, I was an established name in the world of cartoons. By that time I had my page one column in four or five daily newspapers in various corners of India... Occasionally I did a few cartoons/illustrations based assignments.”
Gurera compiled Kargil Cartoons (a collection of cartoons in a book form and a series of exhibitions) that featured the works of leading cartoonists. It was a token of solidarity with the Indian Army fighting in the difficult terrain of Kashmir. Gurera drew on-the-spot cartoons of jawans who passed through the New Delhi railway station on their way to the Front. These cartoons were later exhibited at Lalit Kala Academy in New Delhi in 1999, followed by exhibitions at Jaipur, Chandigarh, Patna and Indore.
“During the Kargil war there was a wave of patriotism. Everybody was willing to contribute somehow to the cause. A few of the leading cartoonists in Delhi decided to join hands and draw on-the-spot caricatures of jawans. We also took the initiative to compile Kargil Cartoons : A collection of cartoons dedicated to the Indian defence forces that was on sale for Rs 50. Arya Book Depot bore the publishing cost and we contributed for free,” he adds.
Slowly the government is waking up to the efficiency of cartoons in depicting social issues at a low cost. “The use of cartoons is negligible when compared to the developed countries. Cartooning is a full-fledged international language. In Japan they call it manga and it is used to depict road signs, public messages, instructions and so on.”
With no plans to open an animation academy, Gurera is busy with cartooning. “There is a difference between comic books and an animated film. We have to bypass several sequences in a printed book as compared to films. Secondly, a character cannot fully develop in a single book and requires quite a few editions.”
Presently working as cartoonist for several publications ~ The Pioneer, Punjab Kesari, Sanmarg, Nava Bharat and others ~ he has no plans to move into animation. “Compared to the US, editorial cartoonists here have a good future. Indian politicians are working full-time for us!”