In the world of political satire, the name ‘cartoonist Irfan’ resonates as a synonym for quintessential wit and piquant commentary. Armed with an insatiable wit, an incisive understanding of socio-political dynamics, and an unwavering commitment to his craft, Khan stands as an illustrious figure in the fraternity of cartoonists from India. His intricate depictions of contemporary political scenes exhibit a peculiar blend of thought-provoking messages and subtle humour, capturing the essence of India's varied political atmosphere over time.
It all began in 1982 when cartoonist Irfan started shaping his dexterous illustrations for the popular Hindi daily Dainik Bhaskar,a local newspaper of Gwalior, his hometown, six years later he organized his solo cartoon exhibition at India’s most famous art gallery in Delhi-Sridharani, Triveni. After that, there was no looking back.
The nineties were times when newspapers were still the most popular means of mass communication. Irfan joined the Times group Hindi daily Nav Bharat Times in Lucknow in 1992. No other Hindi newspaper in the city was publishing political cartoons then. The concept became so popular that within months ten other newspapers had cartoon corners in their pages. Irfan shifted to Delhi in 1994, and his journey in national media began,leaving an indelible mark at the Economic Times, The Financial Express, and The Asian Age. The then editor-in-chief of The Economic Times, Swaminathan Aiyar soon recognized his talent, and invited him to join his team. Irfan moved up the ladder with Prabhu Chawla in The Financial Express, MJ Akbar in The Asian Age, Shekhar Gupta in The Indian Express and with Om Thanvi in Jansatta.
It was here that the electronic media beckoned him. He joined Zee News, becoming the first cartoonist for electronic media. He used to draw a cartoon of the week every Sunday on-screen in “Morning Zee”. Soon he came up with his own show Shakhsiyat, in which he would interview celebrities from all spheres of life while drawing their sketch. He was invited to work for NDTV India, crafting political satire for the puppet show 'GUSTAAKHI MAAF' after that.
Another show Itni Si Baat on Sahara Samay soon came up. Irfan had invaded the tube and his popularity rose by leaps and bounds. Irfan's innovative approach shone through once again when he began creating live cartoons for ABP News, a practice he continues till date.
Irfan’s courageous cartoons have not been without repercussions. In 2007 a controversial Cartoon on the Former Chief Justice of India YK Sabharwal sketched by Irfan Khan of Mid-Day newspaper raised many eyebrows, which was showing the people's’ view of Sabharwal’s dealing. The whole Midday team was held guilty and sentenced to four months' imprisonment by Delhi High Court. The issue brought the media around the world together in protest. However, true to his rebel spirit, Irfan continued his work unfazed by the controversy, his cartoons now serve as study material in the NCERT curriculum.
Cartoonist Irfan's work reached international audience during his time with The Asian Age when he joined the rosters of Time magazine's cartoonist, Ranon R. Lurie's cartoon magazine, CARTOON NEWS. He also made significant contributions to the Far Eastern Economic Review, a Hong Kong-based publication. His illustrations for Singapore's ISAAA publication, where he created characters named MANDY and FANNY for the 'FUTURE OF SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE' education on biotech corps, are noteworthy. Irfan was selected to represent India in Tokyo in The Tenth Asian Cartoon Exhibition organized by Japan Foundation in 2005.
Presently, cartoonist Irfan continues to enrich the pages of Newsclick.in, The Hindu, Navodaya Times, and Lokmat Samachar with his penetrating cartoons.
In addition to his cartooning, Irfan has been sharing his insights through workshops at several prominent mass communication schools. His solo cartoon exhibitions on topics like Save Girl Child, Global warming, Terrorism, and South Asian political issues, have won accolades. Irfan has also collaborated with the Election Commission of Delhi and the UP state election commission for voter awareness. He has come up with three cartoon collections, namely; Punchline, My Delhi and Kargil Kartoons.
It has been a roller–coaster professional ride for cartoonist Irfan Khan who was presented the prestigious Kaka Hathrasi Award from the Delhi Government in 2010, and the Jashne Adab Vyangy Shikhar Samman in 2021.
"My work keeps me young and agile; it gives a great perspective to everything. I can convey harsh facts of life in such a subtle manner that it looks like I am kicking someone hard with kid gloves. Caricature and cartoons are after all my life-line." Irfan told TwoCircles.net after receiving the Kaka Hathrasi award.
Cartoonist Irfan’s journey is a testament to persistent devotion and undeterred free speech. His cartoons are not merely graphics to laugh at; they are powerful tools sparking dialogues and inspiring change. One appropriate line for Irfan Khan could be – when the pen is mightier than the sword, he makes sure it is also funnier.
