World’s First ever Ph.D. on political cartoons is done by an Indian!
Trailblazer Dr. Praveen Tiwari and his much talked of Ph.D. are all making headlines these days as the celebrated author and researcher is now officially registered in the World Book of Records, London and India Book of Records for his remarkable work.
The impact of political cartooning is very well known to all, but if ever we want to dive into the deep details of the subject, the research leads us nowhere. However, there is good news for those who really want to get some worth some reference about the Indian Political Cartooning. With completing his Ph.D. on the Importance of Indian Political Cartooning in 2006, famous Indian TV Journalist/Author Dr. Praveen Tiwari has become the first journalism researcher in the world to do Ph. D. in this domain. He has completed his Ph.D. from DAVV Indore. This research has been done under the Guidance of Dr. M. S. Parmar who’s now the Vice Chancellor of Kushabhau Thackrey Journalism University.
Need of the Research
We read history in words, but it’s written in cartoons also. From Gandhi to Modi, cartoonists are making a record of all the political happenings in their own way. This research contains such historical cartoons also to keep this art form alive. Legendary Cartoonist Padma Shri Sudhir Tailang himself wanted to do some research work of Indian Political cartooning. Unfortunately, he is now only in our memories, but his wish has been completed by Dr. Praveen Tiwari. Tailang has already written his views on Praveen’s research which will be used as the introduction of a book based on it. This research contains information about the history of Indian Political Cartoons, Biographies of Legendary Cartoonists, Development of Cartooning in India and the Current Scenario.
He had done a Ph.D. on the desired subject of Political Cartooning in Mass Communication with special reference to Indian Context. This Ph.D. was awarded by DAVV Indore in 2007. This thesis proves that political cartooning is a strong tool of journalism.
How the idea clicked?
Due to the lack of awareness and editorial importance, this art form is gradually dying in Indian Journalism. Dr. Praveen Tiwari was a part of workshop held in Bhopal in 2002 where the legendary Cartoonist R. K. Laxman gave his precious tips to the budding cartoonists. Praveen, one of these cartoonists, considers it as the luckiest opportunity of his life. After that he met with cartoonists.
“When I started searching for literature on Indian Political Cartoons, the quest led me nowhere. There was no literature available on such vital topic. I had then decided to do a research on this topic. First of all, I submitted a dissertation as the final year student of Masters in Mass Communication. Further my guide Dr. M. S. Parmar encouraged me to do a wider research on the same subject”-Dr. Praveen Tiwari
Methodology and Source
He had no idea that he is the first among all the researchers in the world who is going for his Ph.D. in Political Cartooning. As the research progressed, he began to realize that no earlier work has been done on this subject. Praveen started gathering every small thing that was published about Indian Political cartoons. Personal interviews with cartoonists like Laxman, Tailang, Unny, Shekhar Gurera, Irfaan, Rajendra Dhodapkar etc. was a great source of information for this research.
Soon to be a Book
This research is going to be published in a book form very soon. This will be a concise version of complete research work. It’s a much needed literature on Political Cartoons as we don’t have any detailed work done in Indian Political Cartooning. Dr. Praveen Tiwari has dedicated this book to the cartooning legend Late R. K. Laxman and late Sudhir tailing.
Exclusives of the book
This book contains interviews of Late R. K. Laxman, Late Sudhir Tailang, Unny, Shekhar Gurera, Ismail Lehari, Rajendra Dhodapkar and many more pioneer of Indian Cartooning. It also contains important information about the Indian History of Political cartooning along with the brief biographies of legends like Shankar, Bal Thackrey, Abu, Ranga, Vijayan, Mario etc.
References for the story
http://www.ktujm.ac.in/PhDcartooning.pdf (official website of KTU)
http://worldbookofrecords.uk/records/record_detail/dr.-praveen-tiwari186 (World Book of Records)
http://indiabookofrecords.in/first-ph-d-holder-in-political-cartooning/ (India Book of Records)
