Caricature in Print Media: A Historical Study of Political Cartoons in Colonial India (1872-1947)

Abstract

With the growth of print media in the nineteenth century there was development of national consciousness and social awareness among the middle class educated gentry of India. Thebeginning of cartoons started in India with the Colonial influence and gradually the visual culture became a significant part of the print media. The present paper intends to unfold a narration of the growth and development of political cartoons in India in the colonial period and to understand the representation of the then contemporary political situation with humour and caricature. The article tries to look into the racial arrogance, the colonial outlook towards Indians and a reaction of the Indians through the vernacular political cartoons.