Ranga: Redefining the lines

Cartoonist N.K. Ranganath, better known as ‘Ranga’ died of a massive heart attack at his brother’s residence here on Sunday m...

Cartoonist N.K. Ranganath, better known as ‘Ranga’ died of a massive heart attack at his brother’s residence here on Sunday morning, family sources said. He was 77.

Ranga, who is from Channapatna in Bangalore rural district and has been residing in New Delhi for the past four decades, arrived here on Saturday to meet his brother Anantharaman. He collapsed while having his morning tea and became unconscious. A doctor was summoned immediately but he was declared dead.

Ranga was known for his rib-tickling cartoons and his collection of about 2,000 autographed cartoons of national and international celebrities. He holds a record in the Limca Book of Records.

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Ranga worked with The Statesman and The Indian Express, and was working with the Tribune of Chandigarh till date. Ranga’s two-line sketch of Mahatma Gandhi is considered a masterpiece. He began his career with Shankar’s Weekly.

The ace cartoonist won awards such as the Durlabh Singh Award, the Delhi Rathan Award, the Priyadarshini Award and the Rajyotsava Award from the Karnataka government. On Jan 27, 2000, a commemorative stamp he designed was released in Parliament.

Condolences pour in: Expressing shock at Ranga’s demise Prime Minister A.B. Vajpayee today said Ranga was ‘‘a person of great intensity and warmth’’. Chief Minister S.M. Krishna expressed shock over the cartoonist’s death.