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Kochi: Famous cartoonist CJ Yesudasan, better known as Yesudasan, died in Kochi on Wednesday.
He underwent treatment for COVID-19 at a private hospital in Kochi a few weeks ago and left the hospital after testing negative for the disease. His death came while he was resting at home after recovering from the illness.
The 83-year-old man recovered from the COVID-19 infection a week ago.
Yesudasan, known for his political cartoons, had been active in the field for six decades and rose to the rank of the most prominent cartoonists in India. He was the founding president of the Kerala Cartoon Academy. He was also president of the Kerala Lalithakala Akademi.
Yesudasan had also worked with Manorama for a long time.
CJ Yesudasan was born on June 12, 1938 as the son of Chakalethu John Mathayi and Mariyamma (Achiyamma) in Bharanikavu in Mavelikkara. He was educated in Bharanikavu and Mavelikkara. He later obtained a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Pathanamthitta Catholicate College.
He worked as a cartoonist at Malayala Manorama from 1995 to 2010. His column “Mrs. Nair” in the weekly Vanitha and the pocket cartoon “Ponnamma Superintendent” in the daily Malayala Manorama were very popular.
He began his career as a designer in a magazine published by Kottayam. He later worked in Janayugam, Sankar’s Weekly, Balayugam and Cut-Cut publications. Yesudasan has also launched publications like Tik-Tik, Tak-Tak and Asadhu.
He wrote books such as “Pradhama Drishti”, “Aniyara”, “Postmortem”, “Varayile Nayanar”, “Varayile Leader” and “Thazhekkirangi Varunna Zha”. He wrote dialogues for “Panchavadipalam”, the famous satirical film directed by KG George. He also wrote the screenplay for the film “Ente Ponnu Thamburan”.
Yesudasan has repeatedly received the award for best cartoonist from the state government. He received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Indian Institute of Cartoonists, Bangalore in 2001.
He has also won accolades including the Swadeshabhimani Award, the BM Gafoor Award, the V Sambasivan Memorial Award, the PK Manthri Memorial Award and the NV Pylee Award.
He is survived by his wife Mercy and his children Sanu Y Das, Sethu Y Das and Sukudas.
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