The Common Woman is here to talk about women's issues & a Laxman created her!

With Laxman's blessings

Rimanika, according to her mother and RK IPR director Usha Laxman, spoke to her grandfather about The Common Woman a while ago. “He told her, 'Go ahead',” Usha Laxman shares with Catch.

The idea, she says, came pretty early to Rimanika, thanks to an interview.

“In 2005, when CNN-IBN award was given to dad, he was asked what he had to say about The Common Man in the years to come. He said, 'I've done my job. Now if you want the legacy to be carried forward you must ask my granddaughter, she's the only artist in the family,'” Usha recounts.

Back then Rimanika was only around nine years old. On being asked if she'd like to draw The Common Man in the future, she said she'd rather create The Common Woman.

“After this, when she discussed it with her grandfather, he said 'Brilliant idea, please take it forward,'” says her mother.

Rimanika also sought permission from her grandmother before announcing the series, and even mentioned it at her grandfather's shraddhanjali, Usha Laxman recounts. “Since then it's been on her mind, to launch something.”

The cartoonist

The 21-year-old plans to “pick up on all the issues that are women related.”

“It's like the granddaughter of The Common Man has lived through The Common Man and seen all that he's been observing all the while. And she's now stepping in to take up these issues and see how she can resolve them and find a solution,” says Usha.

However, she wouldn't be attempting all the cartoons, as there are far more experienced hands at RK IPR to do the job.

“Vikas Sabnis, who is a senior cartoonist, is one of the main cartoonists on board with our company. The idea that has come from my daughter, he'll showcase it through his cartoons. He is basically a freelancer who contributes to one Marathi and one English paper.

“You can see his works in Afternoon Despatch & Courier newspaper, he's contributed to Mid-Day. In fact, he's completed 50 years with Afternoon Despatch,” she says.

Usha Laxman believes that Prime Minister Narendra Modi “has taken up women's issues in a very serious way, bringing a lot of solutions to it.” This made us ask whether The Common Woman would keep gender politics in mind while talking about Indian politics.

“Yes, absolutely,” she says, adding, “The Common Woman is not only political but there are so many women-related social issues today. As we speak the Nirbhaya verdict is going to happen...” suggesting that it's something The Common Woman would have addressed.

Can Rimanika do it?

Carrying Laxman's legacy forward is a tough feat, especially given the fact that Laxman would never shy away from calling a spade a spade, unabashedly addressing issues reporters would often tread carefully around.

In a time when both gender and politics, and gender politics in particular, is not only of much interest to readers, but also a burning issue, it is imperative that The Common Woman have a sound, unwavering voice.

As much as her presence is needed in a world where women are shamed for being raped and talking on cellphones under the same breath, it would be a shame if she fails to go beyond the obvious.

But Usha Laxman has full confidence in her daughter. “No better person could have done it, as it comes from the kin of Mr Laxman,” she says, proudly.

On being asked if The Common Woman, granddaughter of The Common Man, is characterised on Rimanika, just as the older cartoon was an alter-ego of Laxman's, Usha says, “Maybe yes, maybe no. It is, though, a concept that has sprung from her which she wants to do for her grandfather. The actual cartoons will be done by senior cartoonists like Vikas and a few others who will come on board.”

When and where

The most obvious question left to ask was where we can find The Common Woman cartoons, and when will they launch.

“It would be published in one of the newspapers here in Mumbai. There are a couple of newspapers [we're in talks with] like DNA, Mid-Day. We'll finalise that and launch the series,” Usha said.

“We are targeting June-July [for a release] but it depends on who we zero it down to. But we are planning a formal launch,” she added.Now we have our fingers crossed for this series, because if it's as good as the premise sounds, Indian women will finally have a cartoon to wake up to in the morning and smile.

Now we have our fingers crossed for this series, because if it's as good as the premise sounds, Indian women will finally have a cartoon to wake up to in the morning and smile.