MUMBAI
Kanika Mishra is the first woman to receive an international award for 'courage in editorial cartooning'. The award will be given by Cartoonists Rights Network International (CRNI) on October 11 in San Francisco, USA.
Each year CRNI gives this award to a cartoonist who demonstrates exceptional courage in the exercise of free speech rights under extraordinary circumstances. Mishra was selected for her valour and exercise of free speech by continuing to draw cartoons against religious leader Asaram Bapu even after receiving numerous threats. She shares her award with cartoonist Majda Shaheen from Palestine.
Joel Pett, president of CRNI, in a press release stated that Kanika Mishra reacted in the most powerful way she could and continued to portray Asaram Bapu's outrageous hypocrisy through her cartoons. "This award represents all the girls in India. It means that Indian girls are brave too. Now, people should stop seeing India as a place where women have no voice," said 34-year-old Mishra who received death threats from Asaram's followers.
Mishra had drawn her first cartoon on Asaram Bapu when the news of him being missing came out. Asaram Bapu had been accused of sexually abuse right after he made a critical statement regarding the Delhi rape case. On August 31, 2013 Mishra drew a 16-year-old girl and named her Karnika. 'Karnika Kahen' (Karnika says) became a regular comment on religion and politics on Facebook and Twitter. She drew her second cartoon in four hours right after the news of Bapu getting arrested came out and published it online. "Once the TV channels picked up my cartoons, I started getting threat calls. The followers of the godman hacked my internet accounts and took my pictures and started blackmailing me to take my page and cartoons down. They made a vulgar page about me and drew obscene cartoons on me. My husband and I couldn't sleep at night and didn't venture out of the house," said Mishra, who however, did not stop drawing.
Her mother was worried about her security and asked her to draw cartoons for children instead. "The more these religious followers attacked me, the stronger my cartoons became. I knew that if I remained silent, it would be a great disservice to Indian women," said Mishra.
She claims that there was no support from senior Indian cartoonists who termed her work juvenile and pathetic. She says the reason is because she made unbiased political commentary on all powerful parties which didn't sit well with them.
Born and brought up in Lucknow, Mishra had a penchant for cartoons even as a child. She completed her degree in fine arts from there and began drawing cartoons for children in the local paper Swatantra Bharat when she was 18-years-old. After graduation, she left for Delhi where she worked with various media houses but was not taken seriously as a political cartoonist. "In India, people can't think of a woman having political opinions, especially a woman cartoonist. New talent and ideas are not welcome. I wanted to be creative freedom and unbiased but companies are polarised," she said. She settled in Mumbai 10 years ago and runs a graphics website with her husband and currently does freelance animation and illustration projects.
She wishes to make Karnika Kahen a regular animation piece on social networking sites that comments on social issues.
'Jahan Kaam, Wahan hum': PM Modi pitches leadership mantra to students during Pariksha Pe Charcha
Raheja Developer's 42-floor The Leela Sky Villas to bring ultra-luxury to Central West Delhi
Cristiano Ronaldo doesn't have any tattoos, reason will leave you SHOCKED, it is...
Prayagraj sees unprecedented crowds, traffic jams leave devotees without food, water amid Mahakumbh
Tirupati Laddu Prasadam row: CBI arrests four people in ghee adulteration case
JEE Mains 2025 Result: NTA JEE Session 1 result to be declared on..., know how to download scorecard
Donald Trump reveals BIG plan, says committed to 'buy and own' Gaza, allow others to...
Radhika Merchant dances her heart out at her friend's wedding to 'Anarkali Disco Chali', Watch
Did Lionel Messi’s son Thiago score 11 goals in single match for Inter Miami? Here's the truth
India vs England: Rohit Sharma goes past Chris Gayle in all-time ODI list led by Shahid Afridi
Ed Sheeran BREAKS silence after Bengaluru cops stop his street performance: 'It wasn't just...'
India gains, Pakistan struggles: Forex reserves rise to Rs 55300044 crore, Pak's decline continues
IND vs ENG: Rohit Sharma returns to form before Champions Trophy, slams 32nd ODI century vs England
'Mummy daantegi...': Little boy screams as tiger pulls his shirt at zoo, WATCH viral video
Manipur CM N Biren resigns nearly two years after ethnic violence in state
Viral Video: Women travel in train toilet to Maha Kumbh, internet says "Is this a joke?
Vicky Jain's 'bizarre' comment leaves wife Ankita fuming with anger, netizens declare him 'red flag'
Bengaluru cops stop Ed Sheeran's street performance, video goes viral - Watch
Viral video: Lion spotted on moving jeep? Here’s the truth
YouTuber Gaurav Taneja reveals he was 'shocked' over his wife's decision to...
Teddy Day 2025: Date, history and significance of the fourth day of Valentine’s week
'Sugar is the biggest toxin...': Naga Chaitanya calls sugar more toxic than alcohol and tobacco
‘Over for Blinkit, Zepto’, this startup claims ‘delivering humans’ in 10 minutes, shocks netizens
Pratik Gandhi on his struggles, managing job with acting: 'Chaar gante sona luxury tha' | Exclusive
Why did Kumar Vishwas' wife cry after Manish Sisodia lost Delhi Elections: 'Not always power...'
'Fast and Furious' cars collision creates a Rohit Shetty scene on Indian road, viral video
'Go to the room, cry...': Salman Khan's wisdom on love, breakup is all you need this Valentine's Day
Parvesh Verma, BJP leader who defeated Arvind Kejriwal, makes BIG claim, says, 'we have to do...'
Sumona Chakravarti on joining Kapil Sharma show: 'Went from Ram Kapoor's sister to...'
Is Elon Musk still interested in buying TikTok? Tesla CEO provides BIG update, claims...
Groom's mother and mama join hands to burn the dance floor down, viral video sets internet on fire
What is historic 'Blue Gold', costlier than real gold?
Salman Khan opens up about his daddy issues with Salim Khan: 'How can he be right all the time...'
Powerful 7.6 magnitude earthquake jolts Caribbean, tsunami advisory issued
Salman Khan supports Sooaj Barjatya, pens note on his OTT debut, calls his show Bada Naam Karenge...
Little girl's energetic dance to 'London Thumakda' leaves netizens in awe, WATCH viral video
Meet man who left IIT, later earned Rs 286 crore in just 20 weeks by...
Viral Video: Sadhus playing cricket at Mahakumbh mela wins hearts online, watch
Happy Chocolate Day 2025: Wishes, WhatsApp messages, quotes to share with your partner on February 9