Prime Minister Narendra Modi is said to work tirelessly around the clock. A section of the media can hardly rest too, thanks to a new feature of Modi’s public image: his snow-white, lush and seemingly increasingly elongated beard.
Modi’s beard has been one of the most striking features of 2020. Drawings made before the coronavirus pandemic and the ensuing national shutdown in March have had to be discarded in recent months to more accurately reflect the latest image of the wise man of the Leader.
“The white beard that has begun to flow during the confinement gives his carriage a wise appearance,” said journalist Saba Naqvi in an essay for Scroll.in. “… Modi’s greatest talent lies in understanding the audience. Therefore, your image calibration has been a work in progress for two decades. Increasingly, these days the images that Modi chooses to present to the world touch subliminal buttons: saffron, sage, penance, service, etc. “
How have cartoonists responded to this latest element of Modi’s ever-evolving public persona? Scroll.in asked three commenters for their opinions on Modi Before and Modi Now.
EP Unny, ‘The Indian Express’
“Narendra Modi’s beard has reached Tagalog proportions. Let’s see what happens to him after the Bengal elections. And the hair is also getting longer. We cartoonists have to keep up.
“There are no fixed intervals for when I retouch the image of Narendra Modi, certainly at least twice a year.
Modi first became involved in cartoons during the Gujarat riots [in 2002]. So it seemed distant and distant. The appearance was quite static, but for the natural aging during his main ministry. Perhaps the Gujarati cartoonists who observed it closely noticed other changes. Certainly, since he became prime minister, the image has visibly transformed. The whole presence has changed: the clothes, the accessories. “
“Modi’s face is not difficult to do. But where it becomes a challenge is that it doesn’t let you stay with the same image for long. By the time you focus on it, change your attitude to project another impression. So the lazy cartoon with rubber stamps doesn’t work.
“I have never seen another person’s appearance change in this proactive way. Age certainly affects appearance. Other than that, behavior changes in most cases in response to political luck. There are leaders who seem suddenly lost when they lose power and come back to life when they are back in the chair. Some like Jawaharlal Nehru never looked the same after the 1962 war with China. “
Satish Acharya
“When I draw independent cartoons, I mean some photos and I see the details on a face. This is a detailed cartoon. But when drawing editorial cartoons, the cartoons don’t need to be detailed. I usually simplify the face to draw caricatures in editorial cartoons. So since I draw more of that person in my drawings, I don’t even mean photographs, to keep the same style. But I keep following the latest videos and photos of Modi and if I find any changes to her face, I keep updating them.
“I have drawn very few of his cartoons when he was the prime minister of Gujarat. His beard had black and dark gray hair. And he didn’t have a well-groomed appearance. After becoming prime minister, he began to focus on his looks, appearance, clothes, and style. I remember doing a lot of cartoons with him before the 2014 election. Most of them wore a simple kurta and had a messy beard and unkempt hair. That look went well for his campaign of the ‘chaiwala’ aspiring to be the prime minister of this country.
“But once he became prime minister, it was amazing to see him change his clothes so often, even in one day. It was evident from his appearance that he was in the safe hands of a team of stylists. “
“But now I am amused by the growing beard. I have a feeling this is also part of a brand building strategy.
“Cartoon is a visual art. So I usually use his beard as an element of cartoon ideas.
“The faces of most of our leaders change very slowly. Sonia Gandhi had untied her hair, but then her ponytail became a fun part of her cartoon. Rahul Gandhi used to appear in public with a clean shaven appearance. At that time, he was shown as a baby in cartoons. Little by little he began to sport a beard, perhaps to show the look of a mature leader. Even during the confinement, he had a shabby appearance, which the cartoonists updated in their cartoons.
“But I can safely say that no leader has changed his appearance as often as Narendra Modi. Sometimes people wonder, what happened to the humble image of chaiwala? But BJP’s IT cell took good care of all those questions. “
Manjul
“Narendra Modi became the center of attention when he was the prime minister of Gujarat. At the time it looked very different. His beard was barely a stubble. His face wasn’t that bright either.
“Cartoons keep changing because a person’s appearance keeps changing. It also depends on how long the leader lasts.
“Generally, cartoonists draw a cartoon and keep it for reference. I’m a lazy person, so every time, I draw from memory. So Modi’s appearance keeps changing in my cartoons due to the last image I’ve seen. I always remember it. When someone is the prime minister, they tend to draw that person almost daily. The way I drew Modi in 2014 is different because it has changed dramatically. “
“The beard first appeared when it appeared on television to announce the national shutdown. My hunch is that he was avoiding meeting his barber due to the virus. Now even if you draw Santa Claus, people will mistake him for Modi.
“Modi is easy to draw. The beard makes it easier. A certain quality of your face makes you interesting. People often talk about Indira Gandhi’s nose, for example. When we drew Manmohan Singh, the blue turban was always there. In Modi’s case, the beard has become something of a part of his personality. Then you can take liberties. “
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