Bengaluru: On a cloudy Saturday morning, a hall filled to the brim largely with cartoonists from across the country gathered to celebrate the life and legacy of one of the city’s most celebrated artists — the late Maya Kamath.The Indian Institute of Cartoonists, in association with the Kamath family, marked the 75th birth anniversary of the cartoonist, who passed away in 2001, with the prize distribution ceremony of the Maya Kamath International Cartoon Contest and the presentation of the Barton Award for Lifetime Achievement in Excellence in Cartooning to veteran cartoonist Subhani Shaikh.This year’s international contest, themed on gender justice and women’s rights, drew an overwhelming response, attracting entries from 1,078 cartoonists representing 75 countries.An exhibition featuring the works of the foreign cartoonists selected for this year’s awards will remain open to the public at the Indian Cartoon Gallery until June 27.As former colleagues and fellow artists reminisced about Maya’s sharp wit, distinctive style and enduring influence, it was her nine-year-old granddaughter Yamini who perhaps captured the essence of her artistry most poignantly. “She did not draw too many lines, she just drew enough,” Yamini said.Those economical yet powerful strokes once chronicled the city, politics and society with remarkable clarity. Even 25 years after her passing, the lines Maya Kamath drew continue to inspire generations of cartoonists.
