A renowned cartoonist here is using his strokes for a social cause which is dear to his heart.
Meet Mangesh Tendulkar, one of the leading Marathi cartoonists known for his subtle humour targeting politicians and uncovering inconsistencies in the common man's life. And a sure place to see him in action — usually not expected of a cartoonist — is traffic signal points in this burgeoning city, bursting at its seams and known for its chaotic traffic scenario.
For many vehicle drivers and two wheelers riders in the city, the old figure of Tendulkar with a white beard, handing over pictures sketched by him on road safety has now become a familiar sight.
After the signal turns red, he gingerly walks up to the drivers of the halted vehicles, talks to them softly about the 'Dos and Don'ts' and leaves them with a cartoon projecting the dangers of rash driving.
Tendulkar who has now completed a decade of his personal drive of creating traffic and road safety awareness said, "I have realised the futility of expecting miracles from the police machinery and municipal corporation. Since I am a cartoonist by profession, I thought I should use my medium to educate people and save lives. My cartoons aim at changing the temperament of drivers, and I have been getting encouraging responses".
Tendulkar whose works are regularly exhibited in various city art galleries, is kept company by the relatives of those who have died in road accidents here.
"Their presence creates a sympathetic attitude among the vehicle drivers as they read the printed road safety instructions handed over to them," he says.
One of the cartoons sketched by Tendulkar shows a mangled vehicle after an accident with the projection of a hand of the victim holding mobile phone.
The caption that goes with it is "Out of range!". "Pune, which is the cultural capital of Maharashtra and now the IT and auto hub, is expanding and stretching in all directions, with the population touching 40 lakh, resulting in an increasing number of traffic woes. I am afraid, if things do not improve, the city will have problems of greater magnitude than being confronted by Mumbai," he feels.
Even when he goes out of Pune for his exhibitions, the cartoonist carries his traffic sketches with him and visits the road traffic signals there to distribute them amongst common people, most whom do not know his identity.
A highly appreciative traffic police chief of Pune, Manoj Patil, said, "Prominent social personalities like Tendulkar are doing a great job which even the police cannot do despite their enforcement powers."
