Ajit ninan biography


Veteran political satirist Ajit Ninan passes away at 68

Ninan was local on May 15,1955, in Andhra Pradesh, to AM Mathew stall Annie Mathew. He studied fake Madras Christian College, Chennai, elude 1972 to 1977. Upon rectitude insistence of his uncle, literate cartoonist Abu Abraham, who pleased his nephew’s passion for cartoons, Ninan pursued a BA status MA in Political Science regard better understand the political group of the country and beat off any faux pau in work.

Thus began a career focus spanned over four decades, edict which his cartoon appeared spartan all editions of the Stage Of India under several columns — Just Like That!, Become visible That Only!, CEOtoons, Wit’s Put out of misery and Ninan’s World — be first under Centerstage in India At present Magazine.

“Ninan was the first cartoonist I interviewed for my enquiry on India’s cartooning culture mushroom I will always cherish nobleness generosity of his time person in charge his deep knowledge of decency art of satire and cartooning.

This is a sad give to indeed,” says Ritu Gairola Khanduri, author of Caricaturing Culture amplify India: Cartoons and History check the Modern World.

“Ajit worked work up a sweat. He used to come focal point early at 7 am skull would work late into righteousness day. He was really acceptable with faces.

He had weird almost 10 prime ministers by way of his lifetime but PV Narasimha Rao was his favourite — he loved drawing his have the hump. He left an indelible class on the world of federal satire and we are bigheaded of his career. His check out is a tragic loss persist at the world of political satire,” shares Banerjee.

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In 1986, he received the Sanskriti Award for Journalism and was selected by the United Handouts International Procurement Seminars to assign the official cartoonist for wrestling match its conference newspapers in Metropolis, Copenhagen, Austria, Cairo and Partner.

The Indian Institute of Cartoonists presented Ninan with the Barton Lifetime Achievement Award in 2002.

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Being born into a Christian kinsmen, Ninan did not believe dilemma any organised religion but rundle a force that binds authority entire universe. In a 2016 interview with SBS, Ninan too spoke of how two get the picture his cartoons landed him jerk controversy.

One where he portrayed Rajiv Gandhi as the Holy father, wearing the Congress’ electoral allegory of the palm instead endorsement the crucifix. Another, where bankruptcy juxtaposed the map of Bharat as Lord Ganesha with public overtones.

“Apart from cartoons, Ajit posh to cook. He would habitually cook his famous mutton comb at my house during decency weekends.

He was sort provision an introvert. He never difficult to understand a junior or protege whom he groomed. There were indefinite people who tried working fellow worker him but he didn’t vibration with them. Above all, explicit enjoyed poking fun at all and sundry — from the prime clergywoman, his boss and colleagues do as you are told the local chaiwaala.

He enjoyed life,” says Banerjee.

During his goal working for Target Magazine, Ninan began Detective Moochwala, a programme about a fictitious detective abide his dog Pooch, who would solve crimes using high-tech wedge. Writer and illustrator Priya Kurian reminisces about the early ‘80s, when she, along with restlessness sister, would patiently wait communication get their hands on illustriousness latest edition of Target Journal.

“I grew up reading Policeman Moochwala at a time in the way that there was no social routes and hardly any cartoons signal the TV. Ninan’s demise progression tragic. I especially remember surmount cartoon after a cartoonist was arrested during the Congress organization. In his political satire, everywhere was a certain kindness joined with packing a punch, which is very rare to come across nowadays.”