Revisiting the creative world of R.K. Laxman

“Searching for new ideas is an endless process.” – R.K. Laxman

Communication is a world of endless possibilities, and our P2 learners have been exploring the diverse ways in which humans communicate. Our inquiries into past, present and futuristic communication has helped us visualize how humans are inspired to share and receive information. To strengthen our understanding of the unit through the mode of experiential learning, we recently boarded a school bus to transport ourselves to the world of the Common Man!

The creative works of R. K. Laxman are a perfect example of ideas, thoughts, opinions and interpretations coming to life with the help of caricatures and comic strips. A resident of Pune, he was a renowned cartoonist, illustrator and news column artist. To pay tribute to his career spanning more than five decades, the R. K. Laxman Museum has been established. Our visit to this innovative architectural building left us in awe, as we marveled at the various creative expressions of the cartoonist, housed on the walls and within different rooms of the structure. His black ‘Ambassador Car’ was parked in full glory, as if he had recently used it to visit the Times of India office to submit his most recent ‘Common Man’ comic strip. Clipboards in hand, we listened intently to the museum’s curators narrating small snippets of R.K. Laxman’s life. While walking through the corridors, we had the company of his many caricatures, his sketches and his most famous creation – The Common Man. We ran our fingers through the Braille script on the glass walls, visualizing how communication can be made possible through touch too! The museum curators took us through galleries of his framed artworks, humorous doodles and thoughtful illustrations, and also to a room housing his life-like wax statue.

After taking notes and working on quick sketches of the ‘Common Man’, it was time for us to make a visit to Malgudi, a quaint, fictional town created by RK Laxman for his elder brother R.K. Narayan’s literary masterpiece. An audio-visual movie describing his creation was followed by a light and sound show, where we saw Malgudi and its many tales come alive through a background narration and a 3D model of Malgudi and its quiet landscapes. Here are some of our reflections:

“I like the 3d town in the Malgudi Days show.” – Shinkuro

“I saw a lot of crow paintings.” – Aahanaa

“He drew pictures for people.” – Aaradhya

“I like the Ambassador car used by R.K. Laxman because it was different.” – Aarzu

“I saw the robot common man made using electronic waste because it is about reusing.” – Rajveer

“I saw the Common Man statue and beautiful paintings.” – Michal

“I learnt about R.K Laxman’s life and his family. There were many pictures, and they were so realistic.” – Viraj

“I liked the R.K. Laxman statue because it was realistic.” – Saara

Our visit to this museum was brimming with art appreciation, interpretation of visuals, an inquiry into human expression and most importantly, a newfound inspiration – R.K Laxman, the creative communicator!

Work Cited:

Mahindra International School. “Definition of learning.” Definition of Learning. Pune: Mahindra International School, May 2018. PDF.

R.K. Laxman Foundation. “R.K. Laxman Museum – About Us.” RK Laxman Museum, Nov. 2022, http://www.rklaxmanmuseum.com/.

Human systems and economic activities	The study of how and why people construct organizations and systems; the ways in which people connect locally and globally; the distribution of power and authority.
Social organization and culture	The study of people, communities, cultures and societies in the ways in which individuals, groups and societies interact with each other.
Continuity and change through time	The study of the relationships between people and events through time; the past, its influences on the present and its implications for the future; people who have shaped the future through their actions.
Human and natural environments	The study of the distinctive features that give a place its identity; how people adapt to and alter their environment; how people experience and represent place; the impact of natural disasters on people and the built environment.
Resources and the environment	The interaction between people and the environment; the study of how humans allocate and manage resources; the positive and negative effects of this management; the impact of scientific and technological developments on the environment.

Living things	The study of the characteristics, systems and behaviours of humans and other animals, and of plants; the interactions and relationships between and among them, and with their environment.
Earth and space	The study of planet Earth and its position in the universe, particularly its relationship with the sun; the natural phenomena and systems that shape the planet and the distinctive features that identify it; the infinite and finite resources of the planet.
Materials and matter	The study of the properties, behaviours and uses of materials, both natural and human-made; the origins of human-made materials and how they are manipulated to suit a purpose.
Forces and energy	The study of energy, its origins, storage and transfer, and the work it can do; the study of forces; the application of scientific understanding through inventions and machines. (IBO, 2009)

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