A true bureaucrat never truly retires. They continue to serve society and the common people, contributing through their work. Their efforts always aim to bring about positive change. Meet Ms. Sudipta Chatterjee, a retired IAS officer from the 2003 batch of the West Bengal cadre, who is now channeling her passion for social good through a unique medium – cartoon strips. Through her creative and engaging characters, she is instilling social values in children and adults alike while encouraging reading habits in an age dominated by technology.
Her debut cartoon book, ‘Yes Dear,’ which features 101 of her cartoons, was recently published and has received a warm reception. But her work doesn’t stop at creating cartoon strips in her free time. She is also using her art to impart important lessons, particularly in a world where relationships are increasingly strained.
Indian Masterminds recently spoke with Ms. Chatterjee, who retired in 2020, to learn more about her cartoons, the inspiration behind them, and her book.
MAKING CARTOONS
Ms. Chatterjee took up cartoon drawing only recently, about six or seven months ago. She creates her cartoons using 3D Paint on her computer. As she explains, the process doesn’t require extensive training or perfection. Her cartoons often focus on everyday Indian family life, the nuances of Indian society, and familiar, culturally ‘Indianized’ topics. She draws inspiration from the people and the surroundings she encounters daily, focusing on what she knows best.
She shared, “Many relationships are breaking down for various reasons. Perhaps people need to be reminded of the importance of family and social values, and laughter is a great medium for this. Cartoons, in particular, are the perfect way to bring about that laughter. That’s why I started doing this in my spare time.”
READING HABITS
For Ms. Chatterjee, creating cartoons is not just about infusing social values, but also about encouraging children to develop a reading habit. In today’s tech-driven world, people, especially children, are spending more time glued to the screens of their gadgets and less time reading. Throughout her career, especially during her tenure as the Secretary of the West Bengal Commission for Protection of Child Rights, she focused on initiatives to bring children back to books.
She shared, “Reading habits have declined among children and adults alike. However, one positive thing is that children still love cartoons. That’s why I aim to spark their interest in reading cartoon literature.”
YES DEAR
The book ‘Yes Dear’ is a collection of 101 cartoons that revolve around a typical domesticated husband who always responds with a simple “Yes, dear” to whatever his wife asks. He is affectionately called “Mister” by his wife, Molly, who is the main focus of the book. Her henpecked husband, Mr. Banerjee, has a common Bengali title, and the names add a local touch to the characters. They have a mischievous and funny son named Piku, and the other characters in the book revolve around this family dynamic. The book explores themes of relationships and marriage humour, making it enjoyable for both children of all ages and adults.
While, planning her second book, Ms. Chatterjee mentioned, “I’ve already started working on a sequel. It will feature similar characters to those in Yes Dear. I might also introduce a few new characters, but the overall theme will remain the same.”
LITERARY WORK
A versatile writer, Ms. Chatterjee has also authored her maiden novel Sandcastles, which won an award in the national e-Author novel-writing competition. Her short story collection, The Drumstick Tree and Other Stories, and her published novels, The Other People and Apostrophe S, have garnered attention. Additionally, her short stories were featured in the Curtains – a collection by Unisun Publications, which was showcased at the London Book Fair. Over the past 35 years, she has authored around 12 publications in both Bengali and English, with four of them specifically for children.
She said, “I have been a versatile writer for a long time, writing alongside my work. I write all kinds of pieces, from poetry to children’s stories. Most of my work has been in English, with a bit in my mother tongue, Bengali.”
THE IDEAS
Talking about how she gets ideas for writing or creating cartoons, Ms. Chatterjee explained, “I’ve always experimented with different genres in my writing. I believe cartoons have the power to enlighten through entertainment, much like they do in newspapers, and I’ve loved reading cartoons my entire life.”
She acknowledged, “Although I’m not a trained cartoonist and have never professionally learned to draw cartoons, I thought I could give computer drawing a try. My love for cartoons has always inspired me, and ideas come naturally because I’ve been thinking about them for so long.”
She further shared, “Through cartoons, I believe we can generate humor that resonates with people of all ages. Cartoons are a great medium to teach important social values, such as family bonds, love, affection, forgiveness, and patience.”
ABOUT HER
Originally from Kolkata, Ms. Chatterjee retired in November 2020 in the rank of Secretary, under the Department of Women & Child Development and Social Welfare, West Bnegal. Just before her retirement, she served as the Secretary of the State Child Rights Commission. A former student of Lady Brabourne College, she completed her MBA from the University of Calcutta. She now resides in New Town, Kolkata.
She shared, “I grew up with Narayan Debnath’s Handa Bhonda and Batul the Great, as well as Satyajit Ray’s Sandesh. Additionally, English comics like Asterix, Sad Sack, Garfield, and Calvin & Hobbes have always fascinated me as a teenager. I read each of them at least a hundred times, and I still revisit those strips to explore the humour that can be found in the medium of laughter.”
