When one hears the name Hemant Morparia, two distinct professional titles spring to mind - a respected radiologist and a renowned cartoonist. Morparia’s tale is of creative touch and vivid imagination, a remarkable journey that effortlessly integrates a medical career with an influential presence in the world of print media. His detailed radiographic discoveries juxtaposed with his humorous illustrations, offer us a rendition of life in a liberated yet down-to-earth style.
Cartooning: Deep Beginning from a Medical Corner
While his contemporaries were donning the robes of traditional medical professions, Hemant Morparia started sketching his career differently. During his residency at KEM Hospital, Mumbai, he fell in love with the world of cartooning. His dual career spanning over 25 years as a cartoonist, while practicing radiology, is indeed a testament to his immense talent and passion.
Recognised as a seasoned daily cartoonist for illustrious publications such as Mumbai Mirror, Mid-Day, and the former front page cartoonist for Bombay Times, Hemant Morparia’s artistry extends the geographical boundaries. His works have echoed in foreign newspapers such as the New York Times, Al-Jazeera, Toronto Star, and Sud Ouest. With over 15,000 published cartoons, Morparia has sketched his thoughts on politics, urban issues, sports, and spirituality, contextualising thought-provoking satire and comedy.
As recognition of his cartooning prowess, Morparia was invited to be the judge at the prestigious World Press Cartoon contest in 2008, becoming the first, and till date, the only Indian to be bestowed with this honour. He had also enjoyed a cartoon residency in France. In 2013, he was invited to the city of Carquefou for a cartoon exhibition and conference. Further affirming his influence in 2011, Hello! magazine listed him ninth amongst the 10 most powerful people in Indian media.
Morparia does not restrict his creativity to papers and pencils. He has also dipped his hands into the world of sculpting caricatures and has held multiple exhibitions worldwide. His photographic exhibition in 2014, titled 'Abstractions in Nature', served as a showcase for his diverse artistic aptitude.
Morparia’s art has taken the form of the written word with several published books, like “Fanatics and Their Antics,” “Say Hah!” (medical cartoons), and “Pyar Ke Side-Effects” (cartoons on love, sex, and dating). His exhibitions in reputed galleries, such as the National Gallery of Modern Art 2002, Mumbai, testify his stature in the cartooning world.
Despite his cartooning fame, Morparia’s commitment to his medical profession is unwavering. After securing a post-graduation in Radiodiagnosis in 1988, he served as a lecturer for the Mumbai University for three years. He has made substantial academic contributions with 12 published scientific papers, some introducing innovations in the field of radiodiagnosis. He currently practises at Breach Candy Hospital, NM Medical and ST. Elizabeth Hospital, demonstrating that matters of importance, like tissues, are nearly always in shades of grey.
Hemant Morparia, an inspired cartoonist, and steadfast radiologist, bridges the worlds of medicine and media with his precise diagnoses and discerning sketches. A figure who paints medical science in shades of vibrancy and brings social narratives to life with a subtle wit, Morparia is proof that passion no matter how diverse, can be pursued harmoniously, making a significant impact in more than one realm.
