KOCHI: Imagine this. A man asks an older person about the whereabouts of his sons. He says his first son is in the bank, the second in an ATM and the third at the treasury. When the former asks him whether they are working there, the latter quips, “No! They are standing in the queue.”
In times like these, one can’t help but see the satire that’s wrapped around the dismal state of affairs and widespread chaos post demonetisation. The curtain raiser of Caritoon 2017 season 2, an exhibition of cartoons, titled ‘Surgical Strokes’ is unmistakably themed around ‘demonetisation’ as its name suggests.
The exhibition hosts over 200 cartoons by as many as 64 artists. Organized by the Kerala Cartoon Academy, the exhibition was inaugurated by auto rickshaw drivers and heavy load workers in the presence of Finance Minister Thomas Issac. The cartoons that sit on the fence of Subhash Park is placed right where they meet the eye of the common man.
“Artists from across the country are featured in the exhibition, which is a precursor of Caritoon 2017 which will commence on May 4,” said Anoop Radhakrishnan, director of Caritoon.
PM Narendra Modi salutes the nation standing atop a tank that has ‘demonetisation’ for a pattern on it, as envisioned by cartoonist Surendra. Another cartoon depicts Modi hammering down the building that symobolizes the Indian economy and picks up the rat beneath the rubble that stands for ‘demonetisation’.
A groom galloping towards the bank perched upon a horse saying “they need proof to withdraw money” and a tired employee getting a sack of groceries and provisions home instead of his monthly salary, all touch upon the underlying humour of the cash cruch in the economy.
The deluge of Malayalam cartoons have also showcased their variety. A stealthy robber armed with a swiping machine threatening the people at home to “swipe”, a man drawing a parallel between the municipality water pipes and the ATM machines in the state, saying they’re both non-productive. “The diversity of the exhibits is truly enthralling. There are cartoons that openly discourage as well as others that support the idea of demonetisation.
In Kerala, the general inclination is to take a stance that opposes the move. But among the cartoons from the northern parts of India, one can see a mix of yes and no to demonetisation,” said cartoonist Unnikrishnan.