Are political cartoons facing pushback? Experts debate

Newspaper cartoonist Sandeep Adhwaryu said, “A strong political cartoon will always have layers. It is not just fun or a joke. It is a commentary.”

“Is political caricature evolving or witnessing pushback?” He was speaking at a panel discussion titled: As part of the Maya Kamath Memorial International Cartoon Competition 2026 organized by the Indian Cartoonists Institute on Saturday.

One of the topics of discussion was whether memes were replacing political cartoons. Mr Adhwaryu said although memes have gained popularity due to the digital revolution, they often lack the depth that good political cartoons have. He added that memes have democratized satire because people no longer need drawing skills to express their ideas online. However, he argued that the cartoons continued to provide deeper information.

Author and panelist CS Lakshmi touched on the rise of personal attacks disguised as humor, especially on online platforms. He argued that satire should encourage people to think rather than simply insult or ridicule them.

The panel also discussed increasing intolerance towards criticism and satire. Speakers observed that public figures today react more harshly to caricatures and jokes than in the past.

The event also included presenting the Barton Award 2026, a lifetime achievement award for excellence in cartooning, to Hyderabad-based cartoonist Subhani.