Eminent cartoonist RK Laxman dies at the age of 94

Eminent cartoonist RK Laxman passed away on Monday evening, media reports said. A Padma Vibhushan awardee, Laxman’s health had taken a turn for the worse and he was on mechanical ventilator support, news reports said on Monday morning. [caption id=“attachment_2065201” align=“alignleft” width=“380” class=" “]  Cartoonist RK Laxman. File image[/caption] “Laxman took a turn for the worse after he slipped into a ‘very critical state’, following which he has been put back on mechanical ventilator support,” medical sources earlier in the day told The Hindu. Last week, there was a slight improvement in Laxman’s health condition, who was undergoing treatment since last week, the Pune-based Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital said in a statement. The hospital had further said that the eminent cartoonist was not yet able to communicate, though “there was some improvement in his level of consciousness”. Laxman, 94, was admitted to the Mangeshkar hospital last week after suffering from a urinary infection that led to a multi-organ failure. A Magsaysay laureate, Laxman’s cartoons regaled generations since 1950s. However, a few years ago he stopped drawing due to ill health. With PTI inputs