Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 13: It is a moment of pride for J&K as Manoj Chopra, senior cartoonist of Punjab Kesari from Jammu has been conferred with the prestigious Cartoon Watch Lifetime Achievement Award at the Cartoon Festival 2025 held in Raipur, Chhattisgarh.
He is the only cartoonist from J&K to receive this national honour.
The award was presented by the Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh, Vishnu Deo Sai, in the presence of Deputy Chief Minister, Vijay Sharma, MP Brijmohan Agrawal, senior journalist, Dr. Himanshu Dwivedi and noted dignitaries from art, literature and media.
Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Sai said that cartoons are not only a medium of entertainment but also serve as a mirror of society, highlighting serious issues through humour and satire.
He applauded Manoj Chopra for his decades-long contribution to the art of cartooning and his role in spreading awareness on social and national issues.
It is pertinent to mention here that the award instituted by Cartoon Watch, has previously been given to legendary cartoonists including Bal Thackeray, R.K Laxman, Pran and Abid Surti.
Manoj Chopra began his career in 1996 and worked with different newspapers. Presently he is associated with Punjab Kesari since 2008. Over his career, he has published more than 22,000 cartoons in national and international platforms. His works have received appreciation in India and abroad with exhibitions across more than 30 countries.
He is also the recipient of several awards including the Maya Kamath Memorial Award for Political Cartooning, the Academy Award by J&K Academy of Art, Culture and Languages, international honours in China, Iran, Poland, Brazil and Romania and has represented India in multiple global cartoon contests. His illustrations were also featured in the film ‘The Accidental Prime Minister’.
Now, Chopra has become the first and only cartoonist from J&K to be honoured with this national Lifetime Achievement Award.
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