Laxman's bond with Thackeray lasted several decades

January 27, 2015

Having worked together in the Free Press Journal in 1947 as political cartoonists, the bond between Bal Thackeray and noted cartoonist R K Laxman remained intact through the passage of time, spanning decades.

The last gesture the Shiv Sena chief made to his cartoonist friend was sending a bouquet to Laxman at his Pune residence when the latter turned 91 on October 24, 2012.

Thackeray had earlier visited him in hospital after Laxman suffered a stroke; he had also visited the latter at his Pune house. Laxman, 94, passed away in Pune this evening after suffering multi-organ failure.