{{Short description|Indian cartoonist (1938–2021)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2021}} {{Infobox person | name = Yesudasan | image = C.j.yesudass 2013.jpg | image_size = | alt = | caption = Cartoonist Yesudasan in 2013 | birth_name = | birth_date = {{Birth date|1938|06|12|df=y}} | birth_place = Bharanikkavu, kayamkulam, British India | death_date = {{death date and age|2021|10|06|1938|06|12|df=y}} | death_place = Kochi, Kerala, India | citizenship = Indian | known_for = Various cartoon characters in newspapers like Malayala Manorama and magazines. | education = | alma_mater = | employer = | occupation = Cartoonist, Columnist, Script-writer | years_active = | spouse = Mercy Yesudasan | children = Sanu Yesudasan, Sethu Das, Suku Das | parents = | relations = | awards = | signature = | website = {{URL|http://yesudasan.info}} | footnotes = }}
'''Chackalethu John Yesudasan''' (12 June 1938 – 6 October 2021), also known as '''Yesudasan''', was an Indian political cartoonist from Kerala. He was the founding chairman of the Kerala Cartoon Academy<ref>{{Cite web |date=5 May 2017 |title=Five-day caricature and cartoon festival begins |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kochi/five-day-caricature-and-cartoon-festival-begins/articleshow/58527487.cms |website=The Times of India |access-date=6 October 2021 |archive-date=10 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170910133821/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kochi/five-day-caricature-and-cartoon-festival-begins/articleshow/58527487.cms |url-status=live }}</ref> and chairman of the Kerala Lalithakala Akademi.<ref name='kesari'>{{Cite web |date=11 February 2021 |title=Cartoonist Yesudasan bags Swadeshabhiman-Kesari award |url=https://english.mathrubhumi.com/books/books-news/cartoonist-yesudasan-bags-swadeshabhiman-kesari-award-1.5429893 |website=Mathrubhumi |access-date=6 October 2021 |archive-date=14 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210214054631/https://english.mathrubhumi.com/books/books-news/cartoonist-yesudasan-bags-swadeshabhiman-kesari-award-1.5429893 |url-status=live }}</ref>
==Early life == Yesudasan was born on 12 June 1938 in Bharanikkavu near kayamkulam in the Alappuzha district of modern day Kerala to Chakalethu John Mathai and Mariamma John. He completed his education in Bharanikkavu, Edappally, and Mavelikkara. He obtained his bachelor's degree from the Catholicate Faculty in Pathanamthitta.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|date=6 October 2021|title=Cartoonist Yesudasan passes away|url=https://news8plus.com/cartoonist-yesudasan-passes-away/|access-date=10 October 2021|website=News8Plus-Realtime Updates On Breaking News & Headlines|language=en-GB}}</ref>
== Career == Yesudasan published his first cartoon in 1955 in a magazine called ''Asoka'' published from Kottayam. He entered the world of political cartoons in 1960, drawing for ''Janayugom'', the Malayalam daily of the Communist Party of India.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|agency=TNN|date=7 Oct 2021|title=yesudasan: Noted cartoonist Yesudasan dies at 83 in Kochi {{!}} Kochi News|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kochi/noted-cartoonist-yesudasan-dies-at-83-in-kochi/articleshow/86833333.cms|access-date=10 October 2021|website=The Times of India|language=en}}</ref> He worked there for three years, drawing a pocket cartoon with the character ''Kittumman'', after which he joined ''Shankar's Weekly'' in Delhi. From 1969, he was the editor of ''Balayugam'', a children's magazine in Malayalam and edited ''Asadha'', ''Cut-Cut'' and ''Tuk-Tuk'', popular satirical magazines on politics and cinema.<ref name=":4" /> He joined the Malayala Manorama group in 1985 as staff cartoonist, running cartoon columns in the paper and ''The Week'' magazine.<ref name=":4" /> He worked with the group until his retirement in 2010.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title=Yesudasan: A cartoonist with endearing humour|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2021/oct/07/yesudasan-a-cartoonistwithendearing-humour-2368518.html|access-date=9 October 2021|website=The New Indian Express|date=7 October 2021 }}</ref> Some of the recurring characters that he created included Mrs ''Nair'', ''Vanitha'', and ''Ponnamma Superintendent''.<ref name=":2" /> His cartoons served as a commentary on contemporary political events and were noted to be bold and added a fearless criticism of the political developments of the day.<ref name=":1" />
He was the founding chairman of Kerala Cartoon Academy and had also served as the president and chairman of the Kerala Lalithakala Akademi.<ref name=":1" />
Yesudasan authored four books—''Aniyara'', ''Pradhama Dhrusti'', ''Post Mortem'', and ''Varayile Nayanar''. He also wrote the dialogues for the Malayalam political satire film ''Panchavadi Palam'' by director K. G. George.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |date=10 October 2020 |title='Panchavadi Palam': KG George's political satire that never gets old |url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/panchavadi-palam-kg-george-s-political-satire-never-gets-old-135029 |website=The News Minute |access-date=6 October 2021 |archive-date=18 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201018111938/https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/panchavadi-palam-kg-george-s-political-satire-never-gets-old-135029 |url-status=live }}</ref>
==Awards== Yesudasan received the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Indian Institute of Cartoonists in 2001.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Govind |first=Ranjani |date=6 February 2019 |title=Housing telling lines |url=https://www.thehindu.com/books/books-authors/platform-for-showcasing-cartoons/article26193502.ece |website=The Hindu |access-date=6 October 2021 |archive-date=7 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210507014358/https://www.thehindu.com/books/books-authors/platform-for-showcasing-cartoons/article26193502.ece |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2021, he won the ''Swadeshabimani-Kesari'' award, the highest honour given by the Government of Kerala for media persons, for his contributions to the cartoon and media sector.<ref name='kesari' /> He was also the cartoonist of the year award winner of the Thiruvananthapuram Press Club in 1990 and 1992.<ref name=":3" />
== Personal life == Yesudasan was married to Mercy. The couple had three sons and lived in Kochi.<ref name=":1" />
Yesudasan died in Kochi on 6 October 2021 at the age of 83 from a heart attack caused by COVID-19 during the COVID-19 pandemic in India.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.outlookindia.com/website/story/india-news-famous-political-cartoonist-c-j-yesudasan-dies-of-covid-19/396790 | title=Famous Political Cartoonist C J Yesudasan Dies of Covid-19 | date=6 October 2021 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Veteran cartoonist Yesudasan dies at 83|url=https://www.onmanorama.com/news/kerala/2021/10/06/kerala-cartoonist-yesudasan-no-more.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211006081026/https://www.onmanorama.com/news/kerala/2021/10/06/kerala-cartoonist-yesudasan-no-more.html|archive-date=6 October 2021|access-date=6 October 2021|website=OnManorama}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Known for his fearless sketches, renowned Kerala cartoonist Yesudasan passes away at 83|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2021/oct/06/known-for-his-fearless-sketches-renowned-kerala-cartoonist-yesudasan-passes-away-at-83-2368314.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211006081027/https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2021/oct/06/known-for-his-fearless-sketches-renowned-kerala-cartoonist-yesudasan-passes-away-at-83-2368314.html|archive-date=6 October 2021|access-date=6 October 2021|website=The New Indian Express|date=6 October 2021 }}</ref>
He is a member of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church and his funeral took place at St. Mary Chapel in Chittoor.<ref>{{cite web |title=St. Mary's Orthodox Cathedral Ernakulam |url=https://www.stmarysorthodoxcathedralekm.org/ |website=YouTube |access-date=19 June 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Cartoonist Yesudasan Funeral |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IfgkyrqUtMs |website=youtube.com |publisher=Manorama News |access-date=19 June 2024}}</ref>
== References == {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{Commons category|Yesudasan}} *[http://yesudasan.info/ Official website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111127065130/http://yesudasan.info/ |date=27 November 2011 }} *{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20070523131410/http://www.cartoonistsindia.com/htm/pr_yesudasan.htm Yesudasan's profile at Indian Institute of Cartoonists]}} *[http://cartoonistyesudasan.blogspot.in/ Yesudasan's Blog]
{{Cartoonists from Kerala}} {{Authority control}}
Category:Indian satirists Category:Malayali people Category:1938 births Category:2021 deaths Category:People from Alappuzha district Category:Writers from Kerala Category:Indian editorial cartoonists Category:20th-century Indian writers Category:Deaths from the COVID-19 pandemic in India