On son’s request, he drew last cartoon for ISRO of ‘common man on Mars’

The ISRO paid tribute Laxman by posting online his cartoon of the “common man” reaching Mars.

ONE of the last cartoons that R K Laxman drew depicted “the common man” on Mars. This cartoon, Laxman’s son Srinivas said, was his first and last request to his father to draw.

“The Mars Orbiter Mission (Mangalyaan) was to complete 100 days in the orbit on New Years Day. Months prior to that, Dr S Arunan, the man who commanded the mission, requested me to ask my father to draw a cartoon for the occasion,” he said. Knowing the fragile health of his father, Srinivas called his mother Kamala to forward the request.

“My mother had assured me that the cartoon would be drawn but as the deadline drew closer, I began to frequently follow up on its progress. One December morning my mother asked me to come to Pune immediately,” he said. Fearing the worst, Srinivas rushed there.

Story continues below this ad

“When I reached home, my mother gifted me two large cartoons depicting the common man with the tricolour on Mars. I immediately sent the cartoons to ISRO’s Bangalore office,” he sad.

Meanwhile, the ISRO on Tuesday paid tribute Laxman by posting online his cartoon of the “common man” reaching Mars.

Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram