.Mario Miranda - no more.

Mario Miranda exited the canvas of his life today,
that's what all the tabloids and newspapers say.
He was born in1926 in Loutolim in the state of Goa
With a really long name Mario João Carlos do Rosario de Britto Miranda,

As a little boy, he spent his time sketching catholic priests and drawing on home walls,
So his mum gave him a blank book,
'Diary' which he lovingly called.

He got his break as a cartoonist with 'The Illustrated Weekly'
And his creations of Miss Fonseca and Miss Nimbupani appeared in Economic Times and Femina regularly.
His works were even featured in MAD and PUNCH, the international publications,
And was awarded the Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan by our nation.

But when I think of Mario Miranda, I remember his cartooning at Cafe Mondegar
And his paintings of Goa and the Goan 'susegar'.
I also remember his 'Salaam Bombay' and seeing his cartoons at the Bandra restaurant Elco,
Just as you climb the staircase to the first floor.

He made people on his canvas come alive
Making us laugh and giggle at their anatomical size.

Now the Gods will be working doubly hard you see,
Cause' its not that easy reproducing cartoonist like these.

So farewell Mr. Miranda, may God grant you eternal rest,
You were the greatest and will always be remembered for your cartooning with its jest.