Yesudasan

2021-11-07T18:52:43Z

2405:201:F001:2DBB:68A0:7A35:7437:12C3:

{{Short description|Indian cartoonist}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2021}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Yesudasan
| image = C.j.yesudass 2013.jpg
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption = Cartoonist Yesudasan in 2013
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1938|06|12|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Bharanikkavu]], [[Travancore]], [[British India]]
| death_date = {{death date and age|2021|10|06|1938|06|12|df=y}}
| death_place = [[Kochi]], [[Kerala]], India
| nationality = Indian
| citizenship = Indian
| known_for = Various cartoon characters in newspapers like [[Malayala Manorama]] and magazines.
| education =
| alma_mater =
| employer =
| occupation = Cartoonist, Columnist, Script-writer
| years_active =
| spouse = Mercy Yesudasan
| children = Sanu Yesudasan, Sethu Das, Suku Das
| parents =
| relations =
| awards =
| signature =
| website = {{url|http://yesudasan.info}}
| footnotes =
}}

'''Chackalethu John Yesudasan''' (12 June 1938 – 6 October 2021), popularly known as '''Yesudasan''', was an Indian political [[cartoonist]] from [[Kerala]]. He was the founding chairman of the [[Kerala Cartoon Academy]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=5 May 2017 |title=Five-day caricature and cartoon festival begins |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kochi/five-day-caricature-and-cartoon-festival-begins/articleshow/58527487.cms |website=[[The Times of India]] |access-date=6 October 2021 |archive-date=10 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170910133821/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kochi/five-day-caricature-and-cartoon-festival-begins/articleshow/58527487.cms |url-status=live }}</ref> and chairman of the [[Kerala Lalithakala Akademi]].<ref name='kesari'>{{Cite web |date=11 February 2021 |title=Cartoonist Yesudasan bags Swadeshabhiman-Kesari award |url=https://english.mathrubhumi.com/books/books-news/cartoonist-yesudasan-bags-swadeshabhiman-kesari-award-1.5429893 |website=[[Mathrubhumi]] |access-date=6 October 2021 |archive-date=14 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210214054631/https://english.mathrubhumi.com/books/books-news/cartoonist-yesudasan-bags-swadeshabhiman-kesari-award-1.5429893 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Early life ==
Yesudasan was born on 12 June 1938 in [[Bharanikkavu]] near [[Mavelikkara]] in the [[Alappuzha]] district of modern day [[Kerala]] to Chakalethu John Mathai and Mariamma John. He completed his education in [[Bharanikkavu]], [[Edappally]], and [[Mavelikkara]]. He obtained his bachelor's degree from the Catholicate Faculty in [[Pathanamthitta]]. <ref name=":2">{{Cite web|date=6 October 2021|title=Cartoonist Yesudasan passes away|url=https://news8plus.com/cartoonist-yesudasan-passes-away/|access-date=10 October 2021|website=News8Plus-Realtime Updates On Breaking News & Headlines|language=en-GB}}</ref>

== Career ==
Yesudasan published his first cartoon in 1955 in a magazine called ''Asoka'' published from Kottayam. He entered the world of political cartoons in 1960, drawing for ''[[Janayugom]]'', the Malayalam daily of the [[Communist Party of India]].<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|last=7 Oct|first=TNN /|last2=2021|last3=Ist|first3=12:50|title=yesudasan: Noted cartoonist Yesudasan dies at 83 in Kochi {{!}} Kochi News|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kochi/noted-cartoonist-yesudasan-dies-at-83-in-kochi/articleshow/86833333.cms|access-date=10 October 2021|website=The Times of India|language=en}}</ref> He worked there for three years, drawing a pocket cartoon with the character ''Kittumman'', after which he joined ''[[Shankar's Weekly]]'' in Delhi. From 1969, he was the editor of ''Balayugam'', a children's magazine in Malayalam and edited ''Asadha'', ''Cut-Cut'' and ''Tuk-Tuk'', popular satirical magazines on politics and cinema.<ref name=":4" /> He joined the [[Malayala Manorama]] group in 1985 as staff cartoonist, running cartoon columns in the paper and ''[[The Week (Indian magazine)|The Week]]'' magazine.<ref name=":4" /> He worked with the group until his retirement in 2010.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title=Yesudasan: A cartoonist with endearing humour|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2021/oct/07/yesudasan-a-cartoonistwithendearing-humour-2368518.html|access-date=9 October 2021|website=The New Indian Express}}</ref> Some of the recurring characters that he created included Mrs ''Nair'', ''Vanitha'', and ''Ponnamma Superintendent''.<ref name=":2" /> His cartoons served as a commentary on contemporary political events and were noted to be bold and added a fearless criticism of the political developments of the day.<ref name=":1" />

He was the founding chairman of [[Kerala Cartoon Academy]] and had also served as the president and chairman of the [[Kerala Lalithakala Akademi]].<ref name=":1" />

Yesudasan authored four books—''Aniyara'', ''Pradhama Dhrusti'', ''Post Mortem'', and ''Varayile Nayanar''. He also wrote the dialogues for the Malayalam political satire film ''[[Panchavadi Palam]]'' by director [[K. G. George]].<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |date=10 October 2020 |title='Panchavadi Palam': KG George's political satire that never gets old |url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/panchavadi-palam-kg-george-s-political-satire-never-gets-old-135029 |website=[[The News Minute]] |access-date=6 October 2021 |archive-date=18 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201018111938/https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/panchavadi-palam-kg-george-s-political-satire-never-gets-old-135029 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Awards==
Yesudasan received the Lifetime Achievement Award by the [[Indian Institute of Cartoonists]] in 2001.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Govind |first=Ranjani |date=6 February 2019 |title=Housing telling lines |url=https://www.thehindu.com/books/books-authors/platform-for-showcasing-cartoons/article26193502.ece |website=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=6 October 2021 |archive-date=7 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210507014358/https://www.thehindu.com/books/books-authors/platform-for-showcasing-cartoons/article26193502.ece |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2021, he won the ''Swadeshabimani-Kesari'' award, the highest honour given by the [[Government of Kerala]] for media persons, for his contributions to the cartoon and media sector.<ref name='kesari' /> He was also the cartoonist of the year award winner of the [[Press Club, Thiruvananthapuram|Thiruvananthapuram Press Club]] in 1990 and 1992.<ref name=":3" />

== Personal life ==
Yesudasan is married to Mercy. The couple had three sons and lived in [[Kochi]].<ref name=":1" />

Yesudasan died in Kochi on 6 October 2021 at the age of 83 from a heart attack.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Veteran cartoonist Yesudasan dies at 83|url=https://www.onmanorama.com/news/kerala/2021/10/06/kerala-cartoonist-yesudasan-no-more.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211006081026/https://www.onmanorama.com/news/kerala/2021/10/06/kerala-cartoonist-yesudasan-no-more.html|archive-date=6 October 2021|access-date=6 October 2021|website=OnManorama}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Known for his fearless sketches, renowned Kerala cartoonist Yesudasan passes away at 83|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2021/oct/06/known-for-his-fearless-sketches-renowned-kerala-cartoonist-yesudasan-passes-away-at-83-2368314.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211006081027/https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2021/oct/06/known-for-his-fearless-sketches-renowned-kerala-cartoonist-yesudasan-passes-away-at-83-2368314.html|archive-date=6 October 2021|access-date=6 October 2021|website=The New Indian Express}}</ref> He was under treatment for [[COVID-19]] and was discharged after testing negative approximately a week prior to his death.<ref name=":0" />

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Yesudasan}}
*[http://yesudasan.info/ Official website]

*[http://www.cartoonistsindia.com/htm/pr_yesudasan.htm Yesudasan's profile at Indian Institute of Cartoonists]
*[http://cartoonistyesudasan.blogspot.in/ Yesudasan's Blog]

{{Cartoonists from Kerala}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Indian cartoonists]]
[[Category:Malayali people]]
[[Category:1938 births]]
[[Category:2021 deaths]]
[[Category:People from Alappuzha district]]
[[Category:Writers from Kerala]]
[[Category:Indian editorial cartoonists]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian writers]]

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Yesudasan