Narayan Debnath, creator of Nonte Fonte, passes away

Eminent Indian cartoonist Narayan Debnath, creator of ‘Nonte Fonte’, ‘Handa Bhonda’ and ‘Bantul the Great’, has passed away at a private hospital in Kolkata on Tuesday.

The 97-year-old cartoonist was suffering from prolonged illness. He was admitted on December 24 and was immediately put on ventilator support.

Debnath was awarded Padma Shri in 2021. Earlier, he was awarded Bangabibhsuan in 2013 and the Sahitya Academy Award.

Narayan Debnath is survived by two sons and a daughter.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee condoled the death of the cartoonist.

“Extremely sad that the noted litterateur, illustrator, cartoonist, and creator of some immortal characters for children’s world, Narayan Debnath is no more. He had created Bantul the Great, Handa- Bhonda, Nonte- Fonte, figures that have been etched in our hearts for decades,” she tweeted.

ARR