SHABIHA NUR KHATOON
Rohan Chakravarty, a qualified dentist and ardent wildlife conservationist, decided to quit the medical profession to follow his passion for cartoons and for raising awareness about wildlife and the environment early in his life. His creations, published under the banner of Green Humour, are distributed internationally and draw upon issues of global ecological importance. Recently, the wildlife and environment cartoonist won the WWF International President’s Award for his efforts to change attitudes towards nature in a ceremony held in Manado, Indonesia. The award is a top accolade given by WWF in recognition of leadership among young conservationists under the age of 30 from around the globe. In an interview with Sunday POST, the artist speaks about his love for cartoons and nature. Excerpts:
Have you created something special for World Environment Day?
At present I am working on several projects but nothing specific to World Environment Day. All my works are related to conservation. I am planning to focus on ocean and marine habitats. No matter what career one chooses, one should give priority to the environment and work for conservation. Young filmmakers should make documentaries on environment related issues and problems.
What is it that attracts you to wildlife?
Nagpur, my hometown, is surrounded by many beautiful wildlife sanctuaries. In 2005, I visited the Nagzira Wildlife Sanctuary and the first sight that struck me was a gorgeous tigress taking a bath in one of the water holes. The effect of that trip was so strong that I decided to focus on wildlife. Though I am a qualified dentist, conservation is my real calling and luckily I found that out when I was still a student. I have always been madly in love with the wilderness, but it was on World Environment Day in 2005 that my real passion for the natural world urged me to take my work forward.
How was the transition from dentistry to cartoon making?
It has been a roller-coaster ride. By qualification I am a dentist, but I never practised it. In fact, wildlife and the scenic beauty attract me always. Initially, I stared self-training for illustrations, cartooning and animation design. After a year, I secured a job as an animation designer at a multimedia firm that brought me to Bangalore. By the time, Green Humour also started developing and was being published in a few places. In December 2013, Universal Press Syndicate’s Gocomics picked Green Humour for online syndication, making it the first series of comic strips from India to be distributed internationally. In 2014, I decided to quit my job.
How was the experience of hosting a solo exhibition of your creations held in 2014?
2014 was surely a great year for me as it was my first solo exhibition in Bangalore. In fact it was the best thing to have happened in my career. The event turned out to be a bumper success and brought together wildlife enthusiasts, professionals, writers, students and artists from various parts of the city.
You have received many awards and accolades. Which one do you feel especially proud to have received?
Receiving awards always makes one feel good and I cherish all the moments, but the one closest to my heart was the compliment I received from Belinda Wright, the feisty conservationist and wildlife warrior. She was the recipient of the Sanctuary Asia Lifetime Service Award, while I received the Young Naturalist Award. It was during a conversation with her that she told me, ‘There are quite a few like me but there’s just one like you’. That remark encouraged me greatly, more than any award has.
As a cartoonist, please share a memorable moment that is still fresh in your mind?
I remember the day when I received an e-mail from a reader in Peru who was planning to adopt a Pygmy Marmoset (the world’s smallest monkey threatened by the exotic pet trade) as a pet, but decided otherwise after reading my comic about the illegal marmoset trade.
