Tokai (cartoon character)
Encyclopedia
Tokai the longest survived cartoon character of Bangladesh
, is a creation of Rafiqun Nabi or Ronobi, as he is widely known. Tokai, a street urchin of age below ten, is not only a character, it is a phenomenon
in Bangladesh, acting as a witty outlet of the feelings of the people about current political and socio-economic condition of the nation. In fact the word tokai has become the colloquial synonym for street kids or dumpster divers
in Bangladesh. Having bald head and pot-belly, Tokai became a national asset of Bangladesh. People love Tokai because he reflects their own thoughts in a simple yet witty manner. Tokai, who represents the most deprived people in the society, is the most loved cartoon character in Bangladesh.
In 1976, Ronobi returned from a three-year printmaking
course in Greece
. He thought about creating a character in this time. A street child used to live outside Ronobi’s home who died later. Based on him and remembering how he asked Ronobi questions whenever he opens the door, Ronobi planned to portrait
a street urchin. He thought this boy would be the perfect picture of thousands of penniless live in Bangladesh.
So he transformed his thought into the cartoon
. And from the very beginning, the innocent looking cunning little boy won the hearts of the readers. Readers flooded Ronobi with letters praising his Tokai and making suggestions for Tokai cartoons.
Upon receiving such enthusiasm among the readers, Ronobi began to use Tokai to express his own observations about Bangladeshi society in the hope that it might influence politicians and policy makers. Tokai has something to say about everything and he always criticises all political parties
and all politicians.
Tokai appeared in Weekly Bichitra from 1978 to 1999. Tokai was an inseparable item of this magazine during this period. But after changing of the editorial board of Bichitra, Tokai has appeared in the magazine Weekly 2000 in 1999. Since then Tokai became a part of weekly 2000. After more than 25 years of the appearance of Tokai, the continuing poverty in Bangladesh makes him as relevant today as he was in 1978.
. Usually he is clad in a lungi
that is barely reached to his knee. His upper body is bare and his swollen belly is prominent in the drawings. He has shaven head and thin limbs. His age is below ten, or more precisely, is about eight. He lives on the footpaths
or in the big unused construction pipes strewn about the city of Dhaka. Just like the real Tokais, he lives on left-overs of others or food thrown away in dustbins. He has a very innocent face and expression.
But the most lovable thing of Tokai is, despite of his apparent destitute status, he is always cheerful making fun and uttering witty scathing reflections on things around him, which constitute contemporary society. The precocious talkativeness is a major attribute of Tokai, as is his usual Dhakaite language (Regional pronunciation of Dhaka).
Another amazing thing of Tokai is that he is known by the name of his class rather than a real proper name!
of Tokai lies in his dialogues. Sometimes he speaks like a philosopher. once asked if he knows what a family is, the homeless Tokai reflects, 'I know what mine is—footpath, dustbin, the crows etc'.
In another cartoon, when someone expresses surprise at his swollen belly, a smiling Tokai reasons that he has 'eaten' a lot of 'speeches' given on the occasion of the children's day
.
Often Tokai makes fun of the society's hypocrisy. Asked what his vow is on the children's day, a grave Tokai says, 'To grow up soon'.
As is normal in cartoons, Tokai's world is also full of fantasies
. Tokai often talks to cows, crows and other animals. To the fantasy of a crow wondering what would happen if it could exchange life with Tokai, the puzzled boy answers, 'What else! We would having our meal at this very same garbage bin like we are now!'
In one drawing, a man asks Tokai what he would do if he suddenly became rich. The unscrupulous urchin replies, 'Would ask like you the same question to the Tokai of that time.'
The cartoons of Tokai often have satires, sometimes directly, sometimes indirectly. When asked what he did at the Eid, the Tokai says, 'Did acting of being happy'.
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
, is a creation of Rafiqun Nabi or Ronobi, as he is widely known. Tokai, a street urchin of age below ten, is not only a character, it is a phenomenon
Phenomenon
A phenomenon , plural phenomena, is any observable occurrence. Phenomena are often, but not always, understood as 'appearances' or 'experiences'...
in Bangladesh, acting as a witty outlet of the feelings of the people about current political and socio-economic condition of the nation. In fact the word tokai has become the colloquial synonym for street kids or dumpster divers
Dumpster diving
Dumpster diving is the practice of sifting through commercial or residential trash to find items that have been discarded by their owners, but that may be useful to the dumpster diver.-Etymology and alternate names:...
in Bangladesh. Having bald head and pot-belly, Tokai became a national asset of Bangladesh. People love Tokai because he reflects their own thoughts in a simple yet witty manner. Tokai, who represents the most deprived people in the society, is the most loved cartoon character in Bangladesh.
History
Tokai was started in the year-beginning issue of Saptahik Bichitra (An Weekly Magazine) on May 17, 1978. Since then, Tokai appeared in the weekly magazine Spatahik Bichitra and later in Spatahik 2000 (Weekly 2000- another weekly magazine) continuously. Apart from a six months break, Tokai has never been absent from making fun of current political and/or social issues.In 1976, Ronobi returned from a three-year printmaking
Printmaking
Printmaking is the process of making artworks by printing, normally on paper. Printmaking normally covers only the process of creating prints with an element of originality, rather than just being a photographic reproduction of a painting. Except in the case of monotyping, the process is capable...
course in Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
. He thought about creating a character in this time. A street child used to live outside Ronobi’s home who died later. Based on him and remembering how he asked Ronobi questions whenever he opens the door, Ronobi planned to portrait
Portrait
thumb|250px|right|Portrait of [[Thomas Jefferson]] by [[Rembrandt Peale]], 1805. [[New-York Historical Society]].A portrait is a painting, photograph, sculpture, or other artistic representation of a person, in which the face and its expression is predominant. The intent is to display the likeness,...
a street urchin. He thought this boy would be the perfect picture of thousands of penniless live in Bangladesh.
So he transformed his thought into the cartoon
Cartoon
A cartoon is a form of two-dimensional illustrated visual art. While the specific definition has changed over time, modern usage refers to a typically non-realistic or semi-realistic drawing or painting intended for satire, caricature, or humor, or to the artistic style of such works...
. And from the very beginning, the innocent looking cunning little boy won the hearts of the readers. Readers flooded Ronobi with letters praising his Tokai and making suggestions for Tokai cartoons.
Upon receiving such enthusiasm among the readers, Ronobi began to use Tokai to express his own observations about Bangladeshi society in the hope that it might influence politicians and policy makers. Tokai has something to say about everything and he always criticises all political parties
Political Parties
Political Parties: A Sociological Study of the Oligarchical Tendencies of Modern Democracy is a book by sociologist Robert Michels, published in 1911 , and first introducing the concept of iron law of oligarchy...
and all politicians.
Tokai appeared in Weekly Bichitra from 1978 to 1999. Tokai was an inseparable item of this magazine during this period. But after changing of the editorial board of Bichitra, Tokai has appeared in the magazine Weekly 2000 in 1999. Since then Tokai became a part of weekly 2000. After more than 25 years of the appearance of Tokai, the continuing poverty in Bangladesh makes him as relevant today as he was in 1978.
Tokai in brief
The get up of Tokai is that of the common street children in DhakaDhaka
Dhaka is the capital of Bangladesh and the principal city of Dhaka Division. Dhaka is a megacity and one of the major cities of South Asia. Located on the banks of the Buriganga River, Dhaka, along with its metropolitan area, had a population of over 15 million in 2010, making it the largest city...
. Usually he is clad in a lungi
Lungi
The Lungi , also known as a sarong , is a traditional garment worn around the waist in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Burma, Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, the Horn of Africa and the southern Arabian Peninsula...
that is barely reached to his knee. His upper body is bare and his swollen belly is prominent in the drawings. He has shaven head and thin limbs. His age is below ten, or more precisely, is about eight. He lives on the footpaths
Sidewalk
A sidewalk, or pavement, footpath, footway, and sometimes platform, is a path along the side of a road. A sidewalk may accommodate moderate changes in grade and is normally separated from the vehicular section by a curb...
or in the big unused construction pipes strewn about the city of Dhaka. Just like the real Tokais, he lives on left-overs of others or food thrown away in dustbins. He has a very innocent face and expression.
But the most lovable thing of Tokai is, despite of his apparent destitute status, he is always cheerful making fun and uttering witty scathing reflections on things around him, which constitute contemporary society. The precocious talkativeness is a major attribute of Tokai, as is his usual Dhakaite language (Regional pronunciation of Dhaka).
Another amazing thing of Tokai is that he is known by the name of his class rather than a real proper name!
Insight of Tokai
Tokai has a very nice sense of humour and a knack of telling simple yet painful truths. Tokai is always pointing at the hypocrisy and inhumanity, anomalies and loopholes of the society with a playful witty language. But Tokai never speaks of any revolution or change. Nor he demands anything of the existing social system. His uttering rather gives the sensitive mind food for thought. He just points at the peculiarity of the society.Examples of wit and satire in Tokai cartoons
The fameCelebrity
A celebrity, also referred to as a celeb in popular culture, is a person who has a prominent profile and commands a great degree of public fascination and influence in day-to-day media...
of Tokai lies in his dialogues. Sometimes he speaks like a philosopher. once asked if he knows what a family is, the homeless Tokai reflects, 'I know what mine is—footpath, dustbin, the crows etc'.
In another cartoon, when someone expresses surprise at his swollen belly, a smiling Tokai reasons that he has 'eaten' a lot of 'speeches' given on the occasion of the children's day
Children's Day
"Children Day", as an event, is celebrated on various days in many places around the world, in particular to honor children. Major global variants include a Universal Children's Day on November 20, by United Nations recommendation...
.
Often Tokai makes fun of the society's hypocrisy. Asked what his vow is on the children's day, a grave Tokai says, 'To grow up soon'.
As is normal in cartoons, Tokai's world is also full of fantasies
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
. Tokai often talks to cows, crows and other animals. To the fantasy of a crow wondering what would happen if it could exchange life with Tokai, the puzzled boy answers, 'What else! We would having our meal at this very same garbage bin like we are now!'
In one drawing, a man asks Tokai what he would do if he suddenly became rich. The unscrupulous urchin replies, 'Would ask like you the same question to the Tokai of that time.'
The cartoons of Tokai often have satires, sometimes directly, sometimes indirectly. When asked what he did at the Eid, the Tokai says, 'Did acting of being happy'.
