Eminent cartoonist Sudhir Tailang, who for decades sketched contemporary political figures and captured the vagaries of Indian politics and public figures with the deft strokes of his pen in a humorous manner, passed away on Saturday, after fighting brain cancer for over two years.
Tailang died at his East Delhi residence in Mayur Vihar a few weeks after coming home from hospital after doctors gave up all hope of curing his brain tumour. The cartoonist, who would have turned 56 on February 26, is survived by his daughter and wife. He was awarded the Padma Shri in 2004.
Tailang, who worked for a number of newspapers including Hindustan Times, The Indian Express, The Times of India and the Illustrated Weekly, with The Asian Age being his last employer, was admitted to Medanta Medicity Hospital in Gurgaon in December but was brought home around a month ago
As a cartoonist, many politicians including Indira and Rajiv Gandhi, AB Vajpayee, PV Narasimha Rao, Manmohan Singh and Narendra Modi bore the brunt of his humour.
“He was fighting brain cancer since 2014 very bravely. However, after last Diwali, his condition deteriorated and he was admitted to Medanta Hospital. We brought him home in mid-January when the doctors said there was nothing more they could do. He passed away at 1 pm today,” said Aditi, Tailang’s daughter.
He would be cremated at 2 pm on Sunday at the lodhi Road crematorium. Suffering from GBM-4 stage brain tumour, Tailang had undergone two surgeries and chemotherapy during the course of his treatment over two years, Aditi said.
Born in Rajasthan’s Bikaner in 1960, Tailang had his first cartoon published in a newspaper at the age of 10 in 1970. It was in 1982, when he got his first major break in Illustrated Weekly of India, Mumbai. late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was the first subject of Tailang’s pen.
As a child, the cartoonist was fascinated by comics such as Tintin, Phantom and Blondie, which are known to have inspired him to opt for a creative career.
In 2009, he had come out with a book of cartoons titled “No, Prime Minister”, which carried cartoons on Manmohan Singh.
Congress president Sonia Gandhi condoled the passing away of the noted political satirist. “Saddened at his untimely death, Gandhi said that his depiction of contemporary events through cartoons and fearless commitment to the right to artistic expression will be forever remembered,” the AICC tweeted.
Former Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah also expressed grief over the passing away of Tailang. “Very sorry to hear about cartoonist Sudhir Tailang. Was a big fan of his tongue-in-cheek humour. May he rest in peace,” Omar tweeted.