Monday, April 2, 2001		Article

E-com-enabled cartoon site

CARTOONIST Paresh Nath (35) has launched a virtual gallery of his work in form of www.internationalcartoons.com. Paresh, who hails from Orissa, earned worldwide recognition for his work as the winner of the United Nations Correspondents Association Ranan Lurie Political Cartoon award for the year 2000 in cartoon competition.

This e-commerce enabled cartoon site, designed and hosted by Indiamart Intermesh Ltd, not only exhibits the collection of Nath’s versatile cartoons but also enables visitors to receive cartoons through e-mails on a subscription basis and offers other "cartooning-on-demand" services online to publications world-wide.

Through this site, Paresh wants to provide the visitor moments of information and entertainment through cartoons. "Indian cartoons must be appreciated worldwide if they have quality and universal touch. And the Web is my medium to reach the masses." Besides, the Web site will also attract international publications on lookout for meaningful cartoons on international and human-rights issues.

Internationalcartoons.com presents updated cartoons and caricatures by Mr Nath under various sections. The Global Toons section deals with the burning political issues of the world while the National Toons highlights the political scenario in India in a way that amuses the visitor. The UN Toons, projecting the whole world as a global village, reflects issues that concern the United Nations in its pursuit to make the world a harmonious place.

The Biz Bout contains corporate cartoons, representing trends in the world business, economy and trade. Parescope — a cartoon-strip from the cartoonist, extracts incidents from literature, anecdotes and theatre. Caricatures section brings out the celebrities of international and national arena ranging from various fields.

Visitors to internationalcartoons.com can subscribe to receive free cartoons in their mailboxes initially for a period of 30 days and can further subscribe on a fee basis. The e-commerce enabled Web site even allows visitors to request for custom-cartooning services and individual caricatures etc.

Paresh was a member of the panel of jurors for international poster contest of UNFPA in year 1992 and 2000. He is also an empanelled cartoonist of DAVP, Information and Broadcasting Ministry, Government of India.

The cartoonist also plans to write books on yoga and mysticism in near future.

— TNS