Who hates Mondays, loves lasagna, has no filter and is orange all over? No, I’m not talking about POTUS Trump, I’m talking about another creature, one that added laughter, value and insight to most of our lives: You guessed it, it's Garfield. The cat that said what we were all thinking, and he turns forty in the coming week.
I had my first brush with Garfield at age 8 or so, the little strip would come in a supplement of a national daily, and it would be the only part of the newspaper I read for the next six years.
I’d cut out the comic strips and paste them in my scrapbook; Garfield was snarky, honest, fat, always hungry and little lazier than acceptable. He was my spirit animal and in many ways still is.
The strip that started out in 1978, now holds the Guinness World Record for the most widely syndicated comic strip, with over 200 million people reading it every day.
To add to this, Garfield has dozens of record-breaking best-selling books, award-winning animated television series, movies and over 400 licensed products ranging from toys, games, backpacks, and costumes to bedding, credit cards, diapers et al.
Garfield is the brain child of famed cartoonist Jim Davis, who came up with the idea when he was an assistant on a comic strip called ‘Tumbleweeds’.
Before Garfield, who shot to be an instant success, Jim was working on another strip called ‘Gnorm Gnat’ which was scrapped before it could take off.
But like they say, whatever happens, happens for the best.
We had the honour of speaking to legend to get an insight into what went into creating the most iconic cat character that continues to resonate with all ages, ethnicities, genders and races through these years.
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Ahead of the 'World Day Against Child Labour' on June 12, an estimated 130 children from different slums of the city assembled at the Indian Museum today and pledged to raise their voices against the social menace.
The Kolkata chapter of NGO Child Rights and You (CRY) organised a programme for the children this morning on the museum grounds as part of its efforts create awareness on the issue.
The volunteers also made arrangements for a painting and science model exhibition on this occasion.
Filmmaker Srijit Mukherjee, music composer Anupam Roy and child actor Sara Sengupta, who played the titular role in 'Uma', lent their support to the cause.
The children gifted their paintings to all three of them.
Music composer and lyricist Anupam Roy said he was happy to be a part of the programme today.
"A child should sing, paint and study, not wash dishes at households or eateries," he opined.
Sara Sengupta, who recently received accolades for her performance in 'Uma', said she had a good time interacting with kids of her age at the programme today.
"The creative display here reminds me of my global warming project in the school. Every child is entitled to school education, I stand with CRY," she said.
The child actor also vowed to support similar campaigns in the future.
Describing the initiative as the "need of the hour", film director Srijit Mukherjee said people should ensure in their every day that no child is employed in their neighbourhood.
