Artwork: By author
Arun Inamdar

Arun Inamdar
(M.Sc. '76 Geo/Ph.D '86 EarthSci H9) Arun Inamdar is an example of the breadth and depth of talent in IIT Bombay. A geologist by training and a retired Professor of the Centre for Studies in Resources Engineering, he is a perceptive cartoonist and a caricaturist with a soft corner for the campus and its ecology. His caricatures have brought smiles to an array of celebrities who have visited the campus and his cartoons hold up a mirror to our follies without causing offence.
I believe, introducing ‘Art’ has been one of the most challenging tasks of our education, as it involves exploring one’s ‘creativity’ and while doing this, one has to be utmost cautious about not harming the very purpose of this exercise.
As such, I was never formally trained in sketching/drawing. Whatever happened during my school days under the garb of art classes, can, at best, be termed as ‘learning on your own’ without getting even the rudimentary introduction/guidance, which I wish to provide here.
Not very long ago, during my visit to S. Africa, our guide-cum-cabbie surprised us all by a weird but practical gem of advice for protecting big cats. Said he: ‘If you ever want anything to be conserved, link it up to your food/livelihood. So, the best way for mankind to stop worrying about the survival of big cats is by starting to eat them, regularly!’ No need to say, I was simply floored by his logic!