Paandu Story

About me - It’s a long way

I am a hobby cartoonist, enjoy drawing cartoons on various subjects / themes. Any thing I see funny, would like to put it on paper. I am practicing my hobby from college days to till date. Now it is become my passion.

Just like many other Kids I too was good in free hand drawing and I had no opportunity to take it as profession. After my studies I joined Bhilai Steel Plant in 1965 and spent my most active part of my life over 35 years in Bhilai. The itching of cartoon drawing continued beside my work at the Shop Floor in most tough environmental conditions of the Steel Plant. However, I could contribute my work to In house publications of the Company and for the local News Dailies and Magazines. I acquired some knowledge about cartoon drawing skills through Raye Burns School of Cartooning , New Delhi in 1965.

As there was no much opportunity to show my work to the public, I started conducting my one Man show of Cartoons in various places of the country. The appreciation from the cartoon lovers and encouragement from the Company motivated me to go for new ventures. Now, I have the credit of conducting over 50 one man show of Cartoons all over the country, a national record.

I was happy as I could win many laurels at national and international levels in Cartoon Contests.

My first Love for playing Cricket which had started from College days continued and represented my Steel Plant team for over 12 years. In the mean time I got qualified as Cricket Umpire and posted in the panel of Madhya Pradesh State Cricket Association for officiating matches in Divisional and All India Cricket Tournaments.

Playing Shuttle Badminton which I started to keep myself physically “Fit’ is still continuing.

Cartooning, playing Cricket and Badminton beside my regular plant duties and house hold jobs continued in parallel. some times I uused to Really, 24 hours a Day

Viewing my interest in Cartooning and accomplishment I was transferred from technical side working at tough shop floor to Public Relations Department, of the Company , thanks to authorities of the Bhilai Steel Plant Management as it recognized my creative work and wanted to utilize my services in this field . In Public Relations I could find more time for my cartooning too and could do many things with the assistance of the management. Cartoon Slide shows on Energy, Cost control, HRD etc. Conducting Cartoon Contests, Cartoon Work shops etc. Cartoons for Hoardings, Cartoon Posters on Safety, Environment, anti smoking, wastage, .. Cartoons for Tech Journals…..

. I was doing the Flip animation in my School days.. when, even I didn’t know the meaning of Animation. I came to know about it after many years.

Well, the Computer animation was not known much at that time and at Public Relations Dept I had an attempt for animation using VHS video camera…

It is funny, crude method to get movement of cartoon drawings. I prepared over 600 drawings on safety subject on Xerox paper like flip Book animation. Believe me, our team got the movement. in video tape. But slow movement.

After my VRS in 2001, I settled back in Bangalore. Soon I was given the responsibility of holding hon. Post of President, Karnataka Cartoonists Association, till 2005.

Kept going with my hobby. Have been Drawing Cartoons for the news dailies and Publications, participating in Inter National cartoon Contests. I

Now , I have opportunity to practice animation too. Have created several simple animation in Macromedia Flash animation for entertainment and posting it to You Tube and Metacafe.

Acquiring Diploma in cartooning from Raye Burns School , has benefited me to conduct Cartoon Work Shops for the young aspirants.. The students who aspires to become a good cartoonist one day must know the simple elements and basic principles of Cartoon drawing. To know the construction of human body and its action to its proportion is a must before it is exaggerated to bring humour in the work.

This applies to those who practice Animation too. Even though the great innovations in Animation Technology have reduced the skill and manual work of the animator the possession of creative mind is a must. The creative ideas will come only through regular practice.

It is good that the Animation is now become popular and developed confidence among the student to take up as professional course. Several reputed Animation Training Centres in the main Cities of the country have come up and are providing the desired courses. Also helping to provide the jobs for the successful students.

I am happy that my cartoons at International Cartoon contest have been recognized over 25 times. I have been participating regularly in the international Cartoon contests for the

past 15 years. My achievements have been entered in India Book of Records 10 times, in Limca Book of Records 14 times, Unique world record 3 times, World amazing Record .. My achievement of conducting over 50 one Man show of cartoons between 1980 to 2017 also has been adjudged as a national record.

This has motivated me to keep going with my hobby and to go for a new venture.

Hope, my achievement may also motivate the young talents.