Q) Through these years, what has been the source of inspiration of your cartoons?
My family and friends are the subject, inspiration and audience for my work. Not only that, current events taking place in the world also inspire me to make spontaneous cartoons on the particular subject.
Q) You are known for portraying the idiosyncrasies of the Indian community staying in United States. Explain as to why have you indulged in this ingenious act.
I love art and humour. Cartooning is the perfect medium for it and I am good at both. No Indian tried this medium in USA. I love observing people and can’t stop
Mahendra Shah
there. So, using my skill of drawing, satire and humour, I like to put it into action. People don’t have time to read or watch; but cartoon conveys the quick message and brings smile instantaneously on their faces without spending much time. When they see a cartoon, they can relate right away the character with them, their spouse, children or friends and get a big kick out of it!
Q) How do you think of maximally impacting your readers’ perception through your cartoons?
My goal is for people to be able to laugh at themselves. Sometimes people don’t realise how humorous their behaviour is. People meet at the parking lot of the temple to exchange groceries, thinking they might go for prayer as well since they are there! That is amusing to me and I am sure upon reflection, amusing to those who undertake it.
Q) What elements of everyday life do you keep in mind while drawing a cartoon?
Anything! Where I can put my hands on! I observe my wife on phone talking to a friend and an idea kicks in; people in buffet line at the party let an idea crop up in my mind; bride and bridegroom during wedding ceremony also create a platform for a piece of cartoon. Their movement, action, chatting, behaviour is my inspiration for cartoon.
Q) What do you try to convey through your daily depictions?
I try to bring out the irony of a situation—and in some case hypocrisy with humour and satire. Rest I leave up to the readers as to how they want to take it. I am not a preacher, just a cartoonist.
Q) How do you look at the current political turmoil in India through your humoristic eyes?
It is corrupt, we can only smile. I think what is most humorous is the lengths some politicians go to under the assumptions they won’t get caught. I don’t wait a second to reach to the drawing board after watching cartoon-worthy news; be it corruption, election, bribery or scandal.
Q) How have you contributed towards strengthening the bonds of Indian community staying in Pittsburgh with India?
Indians in Pittsburgh are from different part of India, culture, religion, race and social lifestyle with having various multiple choices. Only one thing in common among those is my cartoons. Every Sunday morning, they are looking forward to view my cartoon on laptop with their first seep of tea. I call it “Chai with Mahendra!” This is my contribution towards strengthing the bonds of Indian community staying in Pittsburgh with India; and when I hear from them that “You made my day!” I feel the same way.
I make sure my subjects are not only Indians in America but also applicable to daily life in India and world with all the aspects of life including family, social, religious, political, sport, entertainment, bollywood, Hollywood; you name it and will find my cartoon on that particular topic!
Q) Which is your most acclaimed cartoon till date?
To date I have made more than 700 cartoons. It is hard for me to judge which one is most acclaimed. I have left it for the viewers. During my cartoons exhibition, I ask viewers to select best of all the cartoons and fill out in a paper with their name. At the end of the show, I read them and find out which cartoonhas received the maximum appreciation. After that, I award my cartoon book to the winner. So far, a depiction on Kanyadan has received most acclaims. It is about increased divorce rate and what a bride’s father sometimes thinks during wedding
in reference to:
My family and friends are the subject, inspiration and audience for my work. Not only that, current events taking place in the world also inspire me to make spontaneous cartoons on the particular subject.
Q) You are known for portraying the idiosyncrasies of the Indian community staying in United States. Explain as to why have you indulged in this ingenious act.
I love art and humour. Cartooning is the perfect medium for it and I am good at both. No Indian tried this medium in USA. I love observing people and can’t stop
Mahendra Shah
there. So, using my skill of drawing, satire and humour, I like to put it into action. People don’t have time to read or watch; but cartoon conveys the quick message and brings smile instantaneously on their faces without spending much time. When they see a cartoon, they can relate right away the character with them, their spouse, children or friends and get a big kick out of it!
Q) How do you think of maximally impacting your readers’ perception through your cartoons?
My goal is for people to be able to laugh at themselves. Sometimes people don’t realise how humorous their behaviour is. People meet at the parking lot of the temple to exchange groceries, thinking they might go for prayer as well since they are there! That is amusing to me and I am sure upon reflection, amusing to those who undertake it.
Q) What elements of everyday life do you keep in mind while drawing a cartoon?
Anything! Where I can put my hands on! I observe my wife on phone talking to a friend and an idea kicks in; people in buffet line at the party let an idea crop up in my mind; bride and bridegroom during wedding ceremony also create a platform for a piece of cartoon. Their movement, action, chatting, behaviour is my inspiration for cartoon.
Q) What do you try to convey through your daily depictions?
I try to bring out the irony of a situation—and in some case hypocrisy with humour and satire. Rest I leave up to the readers as to how they want to take it. I am not a preacher, just a cartoonist.
Q) How do you look at the current political turmoil in India through your humoristic eyes?
It is corrupt, we can only smile. I think what is most humorous is the lengths some politicians go to under the assumptions they won’t get caught. I don’t wait a second to reach to the drawing board after watching cartoon-worthy news; be it corruption, election, bribery or scandal.
Q) How have you contributed towards strengthening the bonds of Indian community staying in Pittsburgh with India?
Indians in Pittsburgh are from different part of India, culture, religion, race and social lifestyle with having various multiple choices. Only one thing in common among those is my cartoons. Every Sunday morning, they are looking forward to view my cartoon on laptop with their first seep of tea. I call it “Chai with Mahendra!” This is my contribution towards strengthing the bonds of Indian community staying in Pittsburgh with India; and when I hear from them that “You made my day!” I feel the same way.
I make sure my subjects are not only Indians in America but also applicable to daily life in India and world with all the aspects of life including family, social, religious, political, sport, entertainment, bollywood, Hollywood; you name it and will find my cartoon on that particular topic!
Q) Which is your most acclaimed cartoon till date?
To date I have made more than 700 cartoons. It is hard for me to judge which one is most acclaimed. I have left it for the viewers. During my cartoons exhibition, I ask viewers to select best of all the cartoons and fill out in a paper with their name. At the end of the show, I read them and find out which cartoonhas received the maximum appreciation. After that, I award my cartoon book to the winner. So far, a depiction on Kanyadan has received most acclaims. It is about increased divorce rate and what a bride’s father sometimes thinks during wedding
in reference to:
"65-year-old Mahendra Shah has been living in Pittsburgh area of United States since 1974. Though he doesn’t have any formal training in cartooning, he is widely known for his witty take on the lives of the immigrant Indians in America through his cartoons. Excerpts from an e-mail interview with Pravasi Today"
- http://www.pravasitoday.com/i-bring-hypocrisy-of-a-situation-with-humour (view on Google Sidewiki)
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