Achuthanandan decries intolerence towards cartoons

Says attacking cartoons and cartoonists does not augur well for a healthy democracy

PTI | June 26, 2012



Holding that freedom of expression is an essential component of democracty, CPI(M) stalwart V S Achuthanandan expressed serious concern over the intolerance shown by certain political quarters towards cartoons and caricatures in recent times.

Referring to the row over Sahankar's and R K Laxman's cartoons reproduced in textbooks, he said attacking cartoons and cartoonists did not augur well for a healthy democracy.

He was delivering the inaugural address at a discussion on "Lakshman rekha for cartoons?", organised by Kerala Cartoon Academy and the Press Club here last evening.

"I am a subject of large number of cartoons. I always enjoy them and try to understand the message sought to be conveyed through them. In a democracy, tolerance and readiness to face criticism are vitally important", he said.

The CPI(M) leader said it was quite unfortunate that works produced decades back by eminent cartoonists like Shankar and Laxman are being targetted now by certain quarters.

He also came down heavily on West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Bannerjee for taking action against a college professor for sending an online caricature.

On the occasion, Congress MLA V T Balaram drew a cartoon of Achuthanandan, for which the octogenarian leader posed and enjoyed, despite it alluding to inner commotions in CPI(M) in Kerala.

Eminent cartoonist Toms and Kerala Cartoon Academy chairman Prasannan Anikkad were among those who spoke.

 

Comments

 

Other News

India calls for doubling bilateral trade with UK by 2030

Commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal has called upon businesses in India and the United Kingdom to translate the opportunities created by the India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) into expanded trade, investment, partnerships and job creation. Addressing the Bu

Gandhian movement after Gandhi failed: Ram Guha

The Gandhian movement in India, after Gandhi’s death, failed, says Ramachandra Guha, and blames Vinoba Bhave for it. But the movement found new, fertile grounds around the world and succeeded in bringing about a change in South Africa, the US and elsewhere. It is high time it returned home. Of cour

When religion, politics and Bollywood come together

Tavleen Singh, noted journalist and political commentator, has turned to fiction, with her debut novel ‘The Actor’ (HaperCollins India). Set in the near future, it has a superstar, Amit Singh, turning to politics, when the political landscape is dominated by prime minister Guru Gaynendraj

Cabinet approves setting up of Integrated Transport & Logistics Authority

The union cabinet, chaired by prime minister Narendra Modi, on Tuesday approved the setting up of a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV), called Integrated Transport & Logistics Authority (ITLA), to strengthen research, planning, appraisal, monitoring and impact assessment within the broad domains of Transp

Why foundational literacy and numeracy is key to school education

Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN) are often described as the building blocks of education. Yet, their significance goes well beyond a child’s ability to read a sentence, write a response or solve a basic mathematical problem. These foundational skills shape how children understand the world,

When police data becomes the algorithm

For decades, policing has followed a familiar sequence: a crime occurs, the police respond, an investigation produces records and those records become part of the institutional memory of the criminal justice system. Artificial intelligence is beginning to alter that sequence. Instead of merely recording

Upcoming Conferences



-->

Archives

Current Issue

Opinion

Facebook Twitter Google Plus Linkedin Subscribe Newsletter

Twitter