IO SCRIPT

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/cartoons/ninans-
world/Demonetisation/cartoonshow/55455668.cms

On 8th November 2016, the Government of India announced the demonetization of all ₹500
and ₹1,000 banknotes of the Mahatma Gandhi series. The government claimed that the
action would stop the use of black money used to fund illegal activity and terrorism.

However, the sudden nature of the announcement—and the prolonged cash shortages in
the weeks that followed—created significant disruption throughout the economy. People
seeking to exchange their bank notes had to stand in long lines and several deaths were
linked to the inconveniences caused due to the rush to exchange cash.

Social and political cartoons provided a criticism on the situation.

The cartoon is informative in that it encompasses the source of the problem as well as its
onslaught on the general public. However, owing to the fact that everyone was by then
aware of the queues outside the ATMs, the cartoon is more than informative, in that it
mocks the management of the demonetization.

The Parliament in the background suggests that it is the source of the situation that is being
depicted.

In addition the symbols that are seen in the space above the Parliament House indicate that
in the week that followed the move to demonetize, there were heated debates amongst the
members of the Government and the Opposition. The first symbol in the series shown is
that of the rupee implying that it is at the center of the debate while the rest of the symbols
like the exclamation marks, the hashtag and the asterix sign is often used in cartoon strips
to indicate abusive language that might be used. This implies that the ministers were
engaged in verbal debates and accusations in the Parliament sessions while the general
population suffered outside.
◦ The major part of the cartoon is populated by a long line. The phrase ‘serpentine
queue’ is illustrated through the long and line that seems to have no beginning but that
ends in the opening of the serpent’s mouth. The body of the snake is thick, made up of a
cluster of people in each section showing that the large population of India is collectively
affected by the government’s move.

◦ The Prime Minister Narendra Modi is seen emerging out of the serpent in an
attempt to show that he has used the queue to run away from the accusations being
thrown at him and his move in the Parliament. In another interpretation, the fact that the
serpent is throwing him out identifies him with the serpent, blaming him squarely for the
failure of the demonetization.
◦ The board pointing ahead with ‘ATM deposits withdrawals and exchange’ written on
it shows that despite the endless queue, the people are nowhere near the destination.

The political cartoon uses symbols, captions and graphics to make fun of the government’s
decision is demonetisation.