|
|
 |
 |
| Sunday, 29 September 2002 |
 |
|
 |
Features |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
|
Introducing 'J.R. in Cartoons' by Edwin Ariyadasa (Address delivered at the ceremony to commemorate the 96th Birthday of late President J. R. Jayewardene. The Book titled' J.R. in Cartoons' was launched at this event).
The assignment provides me with an opportunity to pay, what could very well be described as an oblique tribute to the colossal personality and the prolonged and sustained statesmanship of the late President J.R. Jayewardene. His verbal usages in his daily, routine conversations, his lofty pronouncements, declarations and averments in the course of a multiplicity of political contexts and high and solemn affairs of state and his cautious responses, delivered either in a garb of gravity or levity, have now - yielding to the inexorable imperatives of nature - taken eternal shelter in the hushed and smothering silence of death. Equally, his gestures and mannerisms, that imparted a telling poignance to the words he spoke, have been long muted into an unbroken continuum of deep stillness. The professional practice of the political cartoonist is an entirely different proposition from that of the chroniclers in the written word, and in image. The political cartoonist, as a rule, aims his barbs at his victims. When they are still around and flourishing - in popular parlance, when they are still alive and kicking. In essence, therefore, the political cartoon is primarily for the living, by the living and very much, of the living. In the first authentically recorded political cartoon, the victim was a member of the mightiest ruling class the world has every know. He was Pharaoh Ikhanton,the unpopular father-in-law of King Tutankhamen - whose name has been reduced to irreverent "King Tut" by some modern wags. This cartoon dates back to about 1360 BC. Commenting on this world's first-ever political carton, Bob Callaghan observes thus: 'It is useful to recall that the cartoons' oldest use is as a political satire. Somewhere along the Nile perhaps, someone decided to depict the new candidate for Pharaoh as a dog with a man's head'. The historical evolution of the political cartoon, from those beginnings in the dim past, has been assiduously traced by Piyasiri Nagahawatte, who contributes an illuminating introductory essay, under the title 'The Emergence of the Cartoon'. Many centuries after the Pharaoh Cartoon, this genre of satirical effort elicited the strong displeasure of powerful men, who vehemently resented being made victims of this barbed art. In an outburst provoked by a cartoon in the issue of the US publication 'Harpers Weekly', for the 19th of August 1871, Political Boss William Marcy Tweed spluttered: 'Stop them damn pictures. I don't care so much what the papers write about me. My constituents can't read. But damn it, they can see pictures'. With the pervasive spread of liberal thought, and the gradual seeping down of democratic values deep into the core of the modern psyche, the political cartoon began to assume a new and more acceptable guise. Originally, the word cartoon meant no more than the preliminary sketch for a fresco or painting. But, the well-known British human magazine 'Punch' adapted the word to mean a satirical drawing, making an unexpected contribution to the English language. This was way back in July 1843. But, it is essential to be mindful of the fact that the cultures of the oriented region possessed a tradition of humour - both folk and courtly - for very ancient times. The Vidushaka - Court Jester - occupied a high niche in the state hierarchy and was perhaps the only person who could take liberties with the monarch. In most instances, the Vidushaka was a learned Brahmin, who enjoyed the privilege of laughing at the ruler, reminding him constantly of his earthly, human stature, in spite of the divinity, tradition endowed upon him. The Political Cartoonists of our day are the 'Vidhusakas' of our time. Reducing Leaders to their caricatured semblances, the Political Cartoonists deflate their egos, constantly reminding them of the need to think in terms of the human scale. President J.R. Jayewardene was a veritable gold mine of facial nuances for our own political cartoonists. All the cartoonists whose works are collected within the covers of this publication 'J.R. in Cartoons' display an unabashed glee at portraying of their distinguished subject - J.R. - S.C. Opatha's cartoon titled 'Getting Down to Work' depicts. J.R. in the role of an elephant pushing aside obstacles marked Poverty, Terrorism and Economy. Wijesome, a profusion of whose works adorns this collection, invariably emphasizes the J.R. proboscis, to establish his identity unerringly. In most instances, Aubrey Collette profiled J.R. in his cartoons to focus on his unbending stubbornness. In a few of his cartoons, Collette captures J.R. as a female exuding a peculiar charm and allure. The 207 pages of cartoons, and anthologized in the collection titled 'J.R. in Cartoons' are in effect a summing up of the ups and downs JR had to face in his long and challenging political career. Each cartoonist represented here, has his own brand of whimsical draughtsmanship. Winnie Hettigoda, painstakingly years after a clarity of line. Collette's work is distinguished by an impressive fluency. Wijesome, among the greatest in the field of political cartooning, is reputed for his whimsical non-challance. His cartoon character Punchisingho, the symbol of the archetypal down-trodden, is etched deeply in the mass memory of this land. Mark Gerryn's characteristic stance is that of the aggressive independent. His unfortunate sudden death put an unexpected end to his relentless search for freedom. Works of G.S. Fernando, Amita Abayaskera, S.C. Opatha and Reggie Candappa have also been culled by the compilers of this Cartoon Anthology. What is impressive about this total collection is the total absence of even a trace of malice towards their distinguished subject. Contributing an illuminating note about the cartoonists represented in this collection, Premil Ratanayake recalls how J.R. invited Wijesoma, Yoonoons and Gerryn to tea and friendship. This meeting at tea is graphic witness to the rapport J.R. had with those who caricaturised him at each and every turn. Late President J.R. Jayewardene's cordiality towards political cartoonists, is indeed a far cry from the shrieking impatience of political boss William Marcy Tweed who cried 'Stop them damn pictures'. At the height of the IPKF crisis, an Indian publication featured a cartoon of two panels. In the first panel, J.R. and the LTTE Leader are shown in a ring boxing. Perched high up, Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi looks on at this encounter with evident detachment. The second panel depicts Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and LTTE Leader boxing in the ring. This time, President J.R. Jayewardene is perched high up looking with detached objectivity at the encounter. The caption to the cartoon said, 'The Old Fox'. The sobriquet 'Old Fox' escaped the confines of the cartoon-frame and came to be applied to the Late President as a compliment to this astute Statesmanship. Mr. Prematilaka Mapitigama in his foreword to the book 'J.R. in Cartons' has this statement to make: 'These cartoons are an ample testimony to the sense of humour that never left President. J.R. Jayewardene in the ups and downs of his political life'. President J.R. Jayewardene was blessed with a built-in sense of humour that enabled him to cope admirably with the multitude of challenge, the troubled era confronted him with. The impressive graphic presence of the publication has been given to it by young Madhara Nagahawatha. In this regard, President J.R. is totally different from world leader Boris Yeltsin who had to be re-educated in the fine art of maintaining a sense of humour. For those who are interested, I can recommend the issue of Time Magazine for the 10th of April 1989, which prints a high amusing photograph of Boris Yeltsin being taught the gentle art of smiling, overcoming his dictatorial predisposition. President J.R. Jayewardene's sense of humour never weakened even in the late years of his life. Once, towards the end of his life, a media person asked him where he wants to be reborn after he passes away. He resounded readily: 'No I am not going to be reborn. I will attain Nibbana when I pass away'. If he has attained Nibbana, as he declared, the political cartoonists of this world, Wijesomas, Yoonooses etc will not be able to pursue him with their brushes and pens anymore. May he then enjoy the eternal blessings of Nibbana. But, on the other hand, if he is still half-way somewhere to eternal bliss, let him chuckle in appreciation at our attempt to celebrate his 96th Birthday, focusing upon the cartoons in which he figured. |
|
News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security Produced by Lake House |
The organizers of the ceremony to commemorate the 96 Birth Anniversary
of President J.R. Jayewardene, have, in their wisdom assigned me quite an
intriguing task. I have been requested to introduce the anthology titled 'J.R.
in Cartoons' which is being launched at this commemorative ceremony.
