Slain Cartoonist Was to Return to Calcutta

Cartoonist Bernard Verlhac, who was killed in the terror attack on the Charlie Hedbo office in Paris, visited Kolkata in 2005 and was planning another trip to the city later this year.

He drew under the name of Tignous, and his impressions of the city will be on display at the Alliance Francaise du Bengale stall at the Kolkata International Book Fair from January 28 to February 8.

Neela Majumdar, former president of Alliance Francaise du Bengale, has a journal of sketches drawn by Tignous and other cartoonists during his visit to the city when France was the theme country at the book fair.

“A group of three French cartoonists and an Indian cartoonist came out with their impressions of the city every day at the fair in 2005. I have a copy of the journal which was distributed at the book fair,” Ms. Majumdar told The Hindu.

“I appeal to those who may still have the copies of the journal of sketches to approach Alliance Francaise or bring it to our stall at the book fair,” Ms. Majumdar said.

She recounted how Tignous and the other cartoonists visited various places in the city. They visited Kumartuli, Indian Coffee House and College Street in Kolkata and even made trips to Chandanagore and Belur Math in the suburbs. Ms. Majumdar remembered Tignous as a “sweet person with a very sharp wit.” She also has a Tignous sketch of Lord Ganesha with four arms in her personal collection.