Humour, Science & Storytelling: 4 Creative Lessons from Rohan Chakravarty
Can humour make art more powerful?
🗞️ This week’s Samachar is from my conversation with Rohan Chakravarty (▶️Audiogyan Ep. 253)
Rohan Chakravarty crafts witty cartoons and illustrations that spotlight wildlife and environmental conservation. With more than 500 cartoons drawn, he possibly has the world’s largest online repository of cartoons on wildlife and the environment under the banner of Green Humour. The cartoons have appeared in some prestigious national and international publications including The Hindu, Sanctuary Asia, Current Conservation, GoComics, WWF, and others.
1️⃣ Why do people care more about celebrities than wildlife?
Short Answer: No PR for Dragonfly
Long Answer: In my workshops, I show people a Bollywood couple, two politicians, and a dragonfly. They can name the celebrities in seconds but struggle with the dragonfly. The irony is that dragonflies play a bigger role by eating mosquitoes and preventing disease. Movies, ads, and news keep celebrities in our minds. But wildlife? It stays in the background. This is why people care more about fame than forests. If we can name every movie release but not the birds in our backyard, what does that say about us?
Do you know it is International Polar Bear Day today (27th Feb)?
2️⃣ What is the toughest part of your job?
Short Answer: Balancing humor and science.
Long Answer: A cartoon has to be funny, accurate, and clear—but how do you keep it all balanced? If it’s too funny, it risks losing credibility. If it’s too scientific, it loses humour. I spend hours researching every topic before picking up my paintbrush. My thumb rule is “If I can understand it, my readers can too.” It’s not just about drawing animals, it’s about communicating complex ideas in a way that sticks.
Is there any science in humor?
3️⃣ Why bring cheetahs when lions need help?
Short Answer: PR stunt.
Long Answer: India’s lions have been waiting for years to get a second home. Scientists warned that keeping them in one place is risky as disease outbreaks have already wiped out a fourth of their population. A proposed solution was to move some of them to another park. But then, politics happened. The relocation stalled. Instead, the government went ahead with a high-profile cheetah reintroduction project in the same park. An entire tribe was relocated for lions. The cheetahs, however, got the green light to make great headlines.
By the way, where are those cheetahs?
4️⃣ What advice do you have for aspiring cartoonists?
Short Answer: Daydream more, Scroll less.
Long Answer: The best ideas don’t come when you’re doomscrolling on Instagram. They come when you’re bored, observing or daydreaming. Overconsumption kills creativity—especially when artists spend more time chasing trends than developing their own voice. The trick? Read widely, explore beyond your niche, and don’t rush to post every idea online.
Check Rohan’s work (greenhumour.com) and follow him on Instagram.
Talking to a Wildlife Cartooning was a real treat. What stood out most was his humility in openly accepting his limitations in areas beyond his expertise while speaking passionately about designs he has mastered through years of relentless work. His wit and sharp storytelling transformed complex ideas into engaging, bite-sized insights. This was more than just a conversation, it was a masterclass in humour, science, and creativity. If this sounds interesting, dive into the full episode on 👉 Spotify | Substack | Apple Podcasts.
Happy International Polar Bear Day! Rohan’s fun tribute to the Arctic’s coolest legends.
