Gadkari pays tribute to R.K. Laxman on his birth anniversary
Synopsis
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari paid tribute to Padma Vibhushan R.K. Laxman on his birth anniversary on 24 October. The legendary cartoonist and creator of the iconic 'Common Man' strip was born in 1921 and remains a towering figure in Indian satire and cultural memory.
Key Takeaways
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari posted a tribute to R.K.
Laxman on his birth anniversary, 24 October 2026 .
Laxman was born on 24 October 1921 and is widely regarded as India's greatest cartoonist.
He created the 'Common Man' character for his daily strip 'You Said It' , one of India's most iconic cultural contributions.
Laxman was awarded the Padma Vibhushan in 2005 , India's second-highest civilian honour.
He passed away on 26 January 2015 — Republic Day — at the age of 93 .
His October 24 jayanti is observed annually by artists, officials, and cultural institutions across India.
A pen that made India laugh — and think. On the birth anniversary of Padma Vibhushan R.K. Laxman, Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari offered his tribute to the legendary cartoonist and writer on Saturday, 24 October 2026.
Posting on X with the hashtags #आर_के_लक्ष्मण and #RKLaxman, Gadkari wrote: 'Greetings to the famous caricaturist and writer, Padma Vibhushan R.K. Laxman ji, on his birth anniversary.'The man who drew India's conscience
Rasipuram Krishnaswami Laxman, born 24 October 1921, spent more than half a century holding a mirror up to Indian society — one daily cartoon at a time. His iconic strip 'You Said It', featuring the wordless, wide-eyed 'Common Man', ran for decades and became one of the most recognised visual metaphors for the ordinary Indian citizen navigating a complex, often absurd, political world. The 'Common Man' — dhoti-clad, bespectacled, perpetually bewildered yet resilient — was never a caricature of failure. He was a witness. That quiet, watchful figure standing in the margins of every national crisis and political drama made Laxman's work as much social documentation as satire.A legacy honoured at the highest level
Laxman was awarded the Padma Vibhushan, India's second-highest civilian honour, in 2005. He also received the Padma Bhushan and the Ramon Magsaysay Award, among other recognitions. He passed away on 26 January 2015 — fittingly, on Republic Day — at the age of 93. His 24 October jayanti is observed annually by artists, cultural institutions, and public figures across the country. The tribute from a senior Cabinet minister underscores how deeply Laxman's work is woven into India's national memory — cutting across the political spectrum he spent a lifetime gently skewering. For as long as there is an India with a Common Man, R.K. Laxman's pen will never truly run dry.Point of View
A long-serving minister and former party president, such gestures align with a broader public identity built on accessibility and connection to the everyday citizen.
NationPress
24 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
When is R.K. Laxman's birth anniversary?
R.K. Laxman was born on 24 October 1921 , and his birth anniversary — or jayanti — is observed every year on that date.
Who is the 'Common Man' in R.K. Laxman's cartoons?
The 'Common Man' is a fictional character created by R.K. Laxman — a silent, dhoti-clad, bespectacled everyman who appears as a bystander in the 'You Said It' strip, representing the ordinary Indian citizen.
What awards did R.K. Laxman receive?
R.K. Laxman was awarded the Padma Bhushan , the Padma Vibhushan in 2005 , and the Ramon Magsaysay Award , among other honours.
When did R.K. Laxman pass away?
R.K. Laxman passed away on 26 January 2015 — Republic Day — at the age of 93 .
Why did Nitin Gadkari post about R.K. Laxman?
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari posted a tribute on X to mark R.K. Laxman's birth anniversary on 24 October 2026 , joining a wider tradition of public figures honouring the iconic cartoonist on this day.
