“A beardown governmental cartoon volition ever person layers. It is not conscionable amusement oregon a joke. It is simply a comment,” said Sandeep Adhwaryu, a paper cartoonist.
He was speaking astatine a sheet treatment titled “Is governmental cartooning thriving oregon witnessing a pushback?” arsenic portion of the Maya Kamath Memorial International Cartoon Contest 2026, organised by the Indian Institute of Cartoonists connected Saturday.
One of the themes of the treatment was whether memes are replacing governmental cartoons. Mr. Adhwaryu said that portion memes person gained popularity owed to the integer revolution, they often deficiency the extent that bully governmental cartoons possess. He added that memes person democratised satire due to the fact that radical nary longer request drafting skills to explicit ideas online. However, helium argued that cartoons proceed to connection deeper insights.
C.S. Lakshmi, a writer and panelist, addressed the emergence of idiosyncratic attacks disguised arsenic humour, peculiarly connected online platforms. She argued that satire should provoke radical to deliberation alternatively than simply insult oregon ridicule them.
The sheet besides discussed the increasing intolerance towards disapproval and satire. Speakers observed that nationalist figures contiguous often respond much powerfully to cartoons and jokes than they did successful the past.
The lawsuit besides featured the presumption of the Barton Award 2026, a beingness accomplishment grant for excellence successful cartooning, to Hyderabad-based cartoonist Subhani.

3 hours ago
1


