Shekhar Gurera, also known as Chander Shekhar Gurera, is an Indian editorial cartoonist,[1] illustrator, and graphic designer. He publishes regular cartoons with comments about India's political and social trends. His daily pocket cartoons appear in several English, Hindi, and regional language daily newspapers Punjab Kesari, Hind Samachar, Jag Bani, Nava Bharat, Central Chronicle The Pioneer, Sanmarg and Navodaya Times among others. He started his cartoon career in 1984 as a freelancer.

Shekhar Gurera
Born (1965-08-30) 30 August 1965 (age 59)
Occupation(s)Cartoonist, caricaturist, illustrator, designer
Years active1984–present
SpouseRekha Gurera
Children2
Websitewww.shekhargurera.com
Signature
ShekharGurera.com sign logo

Biography

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Gurera was born on 30 August 1965 in Moga, Punjab[2] India. He started his pre-university (11th) from DAV College, Abohar, but graduated with a degree in Science from Multani Mal Modi College at Patiala in 1986. After shifting to Gurgaon, Haryana he got the degree in Applied Arts from College of Art at New Delhi in 1990.[3][4]

Career

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During 1973 Gurera's first cartoon was published in Veer Pratap, a Hindi newspaper from Punjab, as he was awarded in an on-the-spot competition. During his school days he continued his skill of cartooning and sketching as hobby only. During 1984 he professionally started contributing to Punjab Kesari as freelancer while pursuing Science graduation at Patiala.[5]

Projects

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Shekhar Gurera's regular creations in collage form (2013)
 
Self-caricature, by Shekhar Gurera

Kargil Cartoons

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In 1999, Gurera drew a series of Kargil Kartoons, on-the-spot cartoons of Indian soldiers passing through the New Delhi railway station on their way to Kargil. The cartoons on the Kargil War were later exhibited at The Lalit Kala Academy, New Delhi on 25–31 July 1999, followed by the chain exhibition of cartoons at Jaipur, Chandigarh, Patna and Indore.[6]

Future Lens

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Since 2001, he publishes the weekly feature Future Lens. This column features a celebrity from sports, films, politics or other fields and depicts them as they'd look with 30 years added to their present age. These pictures are created by painting digitally, which makes them look like actual photographs.[7][8]

NPC Calendar 05 & 16

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A chain of cartoons for the Calendar 2005[9] and 2016 of National Productivity Council about the different ways of productivity.

Exhibitions (Solo & collective)

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Date Exhibition Organised by
16 July 1997 3rd Asian Cartoon Exhibition at Tokyo, Japan Japan Foundation
23 Dec. 1998 – 5 Jan. 1999 3rd Asian Cartoon Exhibition at New Delhi, India Japan Foundation
16–29 Jul. 1999 Kargil Cartoons at New Delhi, India (Later on also at Chandigarh, Jaipur, Patna and Indore) Lalit Kala Academy
7–28 Jan. 2017 Solo exhibition at Indian Cartoon Gallery, Bangalore.[10][11] IIC

8th Regional 3R Forum

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In 2018, Conservation in Indian Living Demonstrated through Illustration in the booklet of 8th Regional 3R (Reduce, Recycle, Reuse) Forum. The event was organized with the cooperation of State Government of Madhya Pradesh and Government of India under the auspices of United Nations Regional Development Center (UNCRD) at Indore (9–12 April 2018).[12]

Awards and honors

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Books and articles

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  • Suryodaya Ki Dharati Japan Se (1997) – a weekly series of 10 travelogue articles, published in Punjab Kesari, Jag Bani and Hind Samachar[24]
  • Kargil Kartoons (1999) – during the Kargil War, with the involvement of seven other cartoonists, compiled a collection of cartoons about the Indian defense forces[25]
  • Laugh as you Travel (2000) – on the occasion of completing 150 years of Indian Railways a collection of 50 cartoons made by Kaak and Shekhar Gurera[26]
  • Je Suis Charlie cartoons (2015) – to show solidarity with the victims of the attack on French satirical paper Charlie Hebdo[27]

References

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  1. ^ PIB, Government of India. access date: 22 July 2010. List of Accredited Journalist, 2010 (no300 in List by Name)
  2. ^ People from Moga, by Books LLC (Author)
  3. ^ Another Feather in the cap of Cartoonist Gurera The Times of India, New Delhi : Jan20, 1999
  4. ^ Master of Mirth : Shekhar Gurera (Page26-27), under the series Great Indian Cartoonists by Mrinal C. Cartoon Watch : Dec.2015
  5. ^ Career in Satire, Cartoonist' Interview (Page26-31) POOL 83 : July 2017
  6. ^ "Humour for warriors up front," Archived 28 September 2013 at the Wayback Machine Indian Express, 14 July 1999.
  7. ^ Future Lens (now and after 30 years) Future Lans (Video)
  8. ^ "Crystal Ball Gazing : Hrithik Roshan in 2035," The Times of India, New Delhi: 27 July 2000.
  9. ^ Cartoons for the NPC, Calendar: 2005.
  10. ^ Art review by Gurudatta NS Sanketh Kannada Prabha, Bangalore, 7 January 2017.
  11. ^ WORLD OF SHEKHAR GURERA' – NEWS9 News9, 11 January 2017.
  12. ^ Conservation In Lifestyle: Indian Heritage 8th Regional 3R Forum : 9–12 April 2018
  13. ^ Honored by the Balram Jakhar; Punjab Kesari, Jalandhar : Mar.22,1982
  14. ^ Honored by the PM, Rajiv Gandhi; Evening News, New Delhi : Feb.19,1990
  15. ^ Honored by The President, Giani Zail Singh; Punjab Keaari, New Delhi : Jan.31,1990 १९८९
  16. ^ Honored by the PM, P. V. Narasimha Rao Navbharat Times, New Delhi : Nov.30, 1992
  17. ^ 20th Matri Shree Award Announced; Indian Express, New Delhi : May6,1996
  18. ^ 3rd Asian Cartoon and Art Exhibition; Manga Hai Kya, Comics : Shekhar Gurera
  19. ^ Madan Mohan Malaviya Memorial 7th Annual Award:2011 ; Excellence in Cartooning
  20. ^ MCG announces Shekhar Gurera as official Brand Ambassador UNI, 30 January 2018.
  21. ^ कार्टूनिस्ट शेखर गुरेरा को ब्रांड एम्बेसडर बनाया गया; Punjab Kesari, Jan.31, 2018.
  22. ^ Haryana Garima Awards 2019 to Shekhar Gurera ; PalPalIndia, Oct.24, 2019
  23. ^ कार्टूनिस्ट शेखर गुरेरा के खाते में एक और उपलब्धि; Punjab Kesari, Dec.25, 2019.
  24. ^ A series of 10 articles published in Punjab Kesari, Jag Bani and Hind Samachar Dec23,1997 : सूर्योदय की धरती (जापान) से
  25. ^ Kargil Kartoons a collection of cartoons
  26. ^ An article by Ram Kishore Parcha published in Swatantra Bharat, Lucknow on Aug26,2000 : रेलवे यात्रा पर कार्टूनों की एक उम्दा बानगी
  27. ^ Indian cartoonists at the Press Club of India in New Delhi voice solidarity after the Charlie Hebdo attack, 9 January 2015 : The Hypocrisy of Democracy