My Visit to the Cartoon Museum
Cartoons were a part of our lives since we were in the crèche watching cartoons on the TV while waiting for our parents to come and pick us from our kindergarten. We have all tried making a cartoon in our life and they all were happy with whatever shape, size, colour, name they had. My visit to the cartoon museum has been long awaited as finally I could see the cartoons sorted and curated as per the time lapse. Some refreshing memories of Chacha Chaudhary, Shikari Saboo, R K Laxman, Eskay, not having any formal education for cartoons these cartoonists have had world fame and have made our country proud.
While visiting other museums of the country and meeting curators who offer workshops of various nature and film festivals, India has been screening cartoon film fests since many years at the National Children’s Film Society located at Peddar Road, Mumbai.
At this unique cartoon museum, one can have a look at all kinds of cartoons from pre-independence to modern day illustrations of cartoons that appear in regional language as well as international publishing. The Cartoon Museum is open for all from Tuesday 2:00pm to 4:00pm and they have a special heritage walk every 2 Saturday beginning at 10:30am. Ms. Priya Kulkarni-Gohad is the curator and an assistant professor for history at Modern College, Pune University also part of the media department. Priya says, that many researchers who study political science, arts, performing arts and history of India and looking for some editorial history or a play write or even an inspirational story board. The building where the cartoon museum resides was the home for the Governor of the Bombay Presidency, as mentioned by Priya. She also states that as they have completed a year Shri Suraj Sriram Eskay had designed or drawn a mascot for the cartoon museum who has not yet been named. Karmakar was a friend whom we started to work at the Central Mall, Future Group though the dean shares the same last name only hoping to know if they are related and Dr. Gosavi is a known archaeologist, whom I have met a few years ago during the Covid discussing about eco-village and conservation.
On the 13th Jan 2024, there is an exhibition of illustrators and cartoonist who have made cartoons for any brands, magazine or even as a self-discovery of being cartoonist. All are invited to visit and view this collective exhibition by cartoonist, students, editorial and any one inspired to express their views about anything in a form of a cartoon. If you happen to visit the cartoon museum some of these books are available to read for reference and research.
If you want to display your illustrations and cartoons just get them along with you and they will display it for the day on 13th Jan 2024. At the end you will lovely surprises as bookmarks and now the university will soon offer a course on cartoon art, have plans to add cartoons a teaching pedagogy for kids who are in primary school.
