R. K. Laxman Biography

Rasipuram Krishnaswami Laxman, famously known as R. K. Laxman was an Indian cartoonist who created the comic strip ‘You Said It’, featuring the “Common Man”—a silent observer representing the average Indian. The comic strip chronicled the life of the average Indian, his hopes, aspirations, and trouble. The character is a much beloved one among the Indian masses and has entertained generations of Indians over the past several decades. Laxman’s fascination with drawing began early on and he loved to look at the illustrations in magazines and newspapers even before he could read. He began drawing as soon as he could and filled the floors and walls of his house with doodles. It did not take him long to realize that drawing was his life’s calling and set about to make a career for himself as an artist. He applied to study at the J. J. School of Art, Bombay, but his application was rejected. He did not dwell in disappointment and began taking up freelance projects with newspapers, eventually landing his first full-time job as a political cartoonist. It was only later that he joined ‘The Times of India’ where he created the “Common Man”, the character that every Indian would come to identify with. In addition to being a cartoonist he was also a writer and had published numerous short stories, essays and travel articles.