Kevy sketched his last cartoons for Express

TRIPUNITHURA: Kevy's cartoons during Emergency had created ripples in India's political field. When most of the media were censored by Indira Gandhi, Indian Express symbolised the suppression

TRIPUNITHURA: Kevy's cartoons during Emergency had created ripples in India's political field. When most of the media were censored by Indira Gandhi, Indian Express symbolised the suppression of the 'freedom of expression' by leaving the editorial space blank.

Kevy (Kerala Varma) was arrested with a false allegation that he had sketched Indira Gandhi in a defamatory form on the walls of Delhi. This was on the basis of a joint attack made by Kevy and Balasubrahmanyam, the editor of Eastern Economist, against the dictatorship of Indira Gandhi, during the Emergency.

The last two cartoons of Kevy appeared in the The New Indian Express in 2008 and 2009. Even at his early eighties, Kevy was very much conscious to observe the political as well as the social changes which are taking place around him. While he was going to celebrate his Sathabhishekam in 2008, this correspondent had requested him to sketch a thoughtprovoking cartoon for Express.

Kevy, an ardent admirer of the editorial policy of Express from the days of Emergency itself, wholeheartedly took the pencil to sketch the political uncertainty prevailing in India in the wake of the Congress' nuclear deal. By this time, the CPMled LDF has withdrawn support to the UPA Ministry. The Congress could find out a new remedy for the crisis with the help of Mulayam Singh, and other small parties. After analysing the sudden change occurred in the political scenario, Kerala Varma sketched a new face of Manmohan Singh who is tearing out the ultimatum put forward by the CPM against the ongoing nuclear deal.

Even during Kevy's eventful days at Delhi, his colleagues O V Vijayan, Kutty and Abu often expressed their wonder over the courage shown by him who scaled new heights through each of his cartoons. Kevy's passion for kathakali sangeetham turned to be the subject for his last cartoon appeared in Express. Kalamandalam Kesavan was the favourite chenda player of Kevy. At the age of 75, Kevy made his debut in kathakali sangeetham.

In 2009, when his favourite chenda artiste Kalamandalam Keshavan died, the professional cartoonist responded with yet another cartoon, which depicted the blooming flowers from the chenda of Kalamandalam Kesavan. That cartoon was exclusively for Express. The bold and matchless saga of Kevy's cartoons started with Sanker's Weekly and, after creating ripples in Delhi politics through various periodicals, including Eastern Economist, ended up in The New Indian Express.

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