Techie from Chennai explains demonitisation the Clavin and Hobbes way

Chennai: Since the clock struck 20.30 on November 8, 2016, Indians have been in a state of constant chaos. As we near PM Narendra Modi’s 50-day aftermath to the demonetisation of high-value notes of old Rs 500 and Rs 1,000, the queues seem to be getting longer, frustration levels higher and the ever-changing rules crazier.

Well, amid all the chaos and rule changing and trying to make sense of what’s going on like those who wish to deposit more than Rs 5,000 have to explain why they haven’t done so already, and the reason has to convince two officials as well, one Chennai-based cartoonist sought the help of the sagely duo of Calvin and Hobbes to explain all that’s going on. And it’s absolutely hilarious, while being completely spot on!

The name of the cartoonist is Ashok Krish who is Chennai-based cartoonist and sought the help of the sagely duo of Calvin and Hobbes to explain all that’s going on. He is head of Web 2.0 Innovation lab at TCS and ‘musician, blogger, columnist, meme-starter and airport dweller’, as he describes himself in his Twitter bio.

Reacting to the series of rules being changed, and rechanged and changed again, Ashok was reminded of Calvinball, a game invented by the creator of the two iconic characters Bill Watterson, in which you make up the rules as you go along. Sound familiar. Well, it did to Ashok, who soon created a brilliant Calvin and Hobbes panel, replacing the original dialogue bubbles with those relevant to demonetisation.

Ashok got another idea from the order that we need to stand before national anthem in movie threaters for a Calvin and Hobbes panel. Now, as a fallout of all the rule changing and long lines, there seems to be an increase in the level of confusion regarding the usefulness of the whole demonetisation process. Which is probably why Calvin needed to ‘mansplain’ it to Susie.

“In the situation with the national anthem being made mandatory, I was reminded of how hyper nationalism, Us vs them exclusive membership rules and the expectation of visible displays of loyalty and patriotism was best captured through a reference to Calvin’s GROSS (get rid of slimy girlS) club,” he told indianexpress.com.

This is one of the stories tweeted by Ashok Krish