Soumyadip Sinha, Assistant Editor and Chief Illustrator at The Hindu, shares insights into his illustrations and cartoons on the 2024 Indian general election. Exclusive on newspaperdesign.in.
As an artist, it has been my endeavor to keep my work open to interpretation. An artwork, especially in the media industry, should offer different perspectives, only then it will be accepted by the readers, or viewers. Hence, creating different layers in a visual becomes imperative.
One way of giving readers the freedom to interpret is by the use of expressions in cartoons and caricatures. Expressions are to visuals what words are to storytelling. I focus on speaking through the eyes of the characters. Typically, I draw a character with a big face and small body. While this is a very common practice in my profession because it gives the artist the space to work on the expressions, focusing on the face is also symbolic. In today’s world, it is the face, or the image, of the individual that has all the value; his or her work and ideals are ignored or forgotten.
But again, that is the way I look at it. The reader is open to his or her opinion and is welcome to contest me. After all, contradiction, and not conformity, is art.
In the satirical depiction of the Great Indian Election, a towering throne symbolizes the ultimate power that political leaders fiercely contest for. Narendra Modi, with one leg already on the throne, represents the BJP’s partial success in securing the pole position (which it ultimately did). Rahul Gandhi, struggling but hanging onto the seat, highlights the Opposition’s arduous effort to climb to the top. Various leaders, in disarray and pulling each other down, underscore the disunity among and self-interests of Opposition leaders. Below them, the common people observe this chaotic power struggle with a mix of frustration and amusement, overshadowed and neglected by the perennial political circus.
The panel, a constant feature of The Hindu’s three-month-long election coverage, shows the tug of war for the chair, between the NDA and the Opposition alliance. Nitish Kumar is shown at the end of the NDA wagon because of his potential to switch sides at will.
Elections in Tamil Nadu have been a two-cornered fight, much like boxing, for decades. But this time, there was a third contender – the BJP. Hence, for the Tamil Nadu page, we created a boxing ring with the election symbol laid as the stage where leaders from the three parties, each donning their party colors as boxing gloves, are preparing to fight. Other leaders, who make the election picture complete, cheer them on from the outside.
For the first time in history, The Hindu prominently featured a visual in front of its legendary masthead, making it a monumental achievement for me as an illustrator. In this satirical piece, we depicted the 2024 election as a racetrack where prominent leaders are furiously chasing each other. Amidst the chaos, Rahul Gandhi is desperately trying to overtake Narendra Modi, while Yogi Adityanath threatens him from behind. The Opposition’s lack of unity is evident as they stumble over one another. Meanwhile, the Election Commission whistles for the poll race to begin with eyes tightly shut, blissfully ignoring the bedlam. On the side, Amit Shah meticulously observes other party leaders, calculating every step in this high-stakes political race.
For the local pages of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, I illustrated the panels by showing political leaders trying to catch votes with butterfly nets. The idea was to show that despite all the pomp and tall talk during the campaign, it is difficult to convince the voter.
The Day of Reckoning: Election Results 2024
The front page of the results edition of The Hindu captured the essence of the 2024 Lok Sabha election results with satirical flair. The visual juxtaposes an unhappy winner, Narendra Modi, and a surprisingly confident runner-up, Rahul Gandhi, both perched on a hand symbolizing democracy. The hand, with its inked finger, underscores the power of the people. However, the ink forms an exclamation mark, signaling the dramatic and unexpected outcome of the election.
From their lofty positions, Modi’s dissatisfaction and Rahul’s poise tell a story of political irony. The illustration uses these expressions to reflect the tumultuous journey of the election, where expectations were upended, and the race was anything but predictable. Meanwhile, the common people, depicted at the bottom in their all-too-familiar place, watch the spectacle unfold with a mix of resignation and weary amusement.
This visual commentary not only highlights the results but also satirizes the ongoing drama of Indian politics, where the true power seems to lie not in the hands of the leaders but with the electorate. As Modi and Rahul play their parts in this grand theatre, the exclamation mark of the ink stands as a reminder of the surprises and ironies that define democracy in India.
In the center spread on results day, a satirical illustration captured the intense standoff between the BJP and the Opposition. On one side, the BJP brandishes its arsenal of strengths with Amit Shah presenting Narendra Modi as a deity and Yogi Adityanath hoisting the Hindutva flag, which doubles as a weapon. A faithful worshipper, donned in a saffron cape like Superman but wearing tattered clothes, beams with happiness at his Ayodhya and Ram Lalla sculptures, despite his visible poverty. On the other side, Congress and its allies wield the Constitution of India, championing democracy and the people’s needs. They highlight poverty, unemployment, poor education, the farmers’ plight, women’s issues and inflation. A young job seeker stands as a poignant symbol of the struggles. Opposition leaders, armed with the Constitution, target the Modi government while winning party flags flutter in the background. This biting visual underscores the stark contrasts and ironies in the political landscape, where grand promises and harsh realities clash.
In the grand finale of the Tamil Nadu election saga, the boxing ring once again takes center stage, showcasing the triumphs and defeats of the state’s political heavyweights. This time, M.K. Stalin emerges victorious, proudly holding the winner’s belt adorned with a prominent ‘40’ hallmark, symbolizing his impressive win of 40 seats. His triumphant stance contrasts sharply with the dejected face of Palaniswami, who just lost the fight, reflecting his disappointment.
Adding a layer of humor and irony, Annamalai stands holding an egg marked with the BJP symbol. This image serves a dual purpose: on one hand, it suggests the potential start of something new for the BJP in Tamil Nadu, akin to an egg hatching. On the other hand, it signifies a big zero, as the BJP failed to secure any seat in this election.
This satirical portrayal captures the highs and lows of Tamil Nadu’s political battleground, with Stalin’s victory, Palaniswami’s defeat, and the BJP’s ambiguous future all vividly illustrated in the boxing ring.
POLITICAL CARTOONS
I am grateful for the enriching experience at The Hindu. Learning from our esteemed seniors has been invaluable. The superb layouts by our talented designers, supervised by Mr. Kannan Sundar, National Design Editor of The Hindu have beautifully showcased my illustrations and cartoons on the page. This journey has underscored the importance of teamwork with our dedicated editors, sub-editors, and designers. Thank you all for this remarkable experience.
Brilliant … you are outstanding .
Very Very Nice Soumyadip