Dr M R Ramesh Kumar
M ário João Carlos do Rosário de Brito Miranda (2 May 1926-11 December 2011), popularly known as Mario Miranda or Mario de Miranda, was an Indian cartoonist and painter originally from Loutolim. Miranda had been a regular with newspapers in Mumbai, though he got his popularity with his works published in The Illustrated Weekly of India. He was awarded India’s second highest civilian award, the Padma Vibhushan (posthumously) in 2012.
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Miranda was born in Daman, then in Portuguese India, to Catholic parents. At an early age, he would draw caricatures and sketch on the walls of his home, until his mother brought him a blank book. He then began making personalised postcards for his friends, charging them a token amount, in the 1930s and 1940s. Mario Miranda’s early cartoons presented vignettes of Goan village life, a theme he is best known for even today. He would maintain diaries from the age of 10 sketching the life around him. Miranda started his career in an advertising studio, where he worked for four years, before taking up cartooning full-time. He got his first break as a cartoonist with The Illustrated Weekly of India which published a few of his works. His drawings and cartoons also brought him an offer to work at the Current magazine. His creations, such as Miss Nimbupani and Miss Fonseca, appeared on a regular basis in Femina, Economic Times, and The Illustrated Weekly of India.
Mario won a grant by the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation and lived in Portugal for year. He travelled to many countries, either working or conducting exhibitions. Miranda returned to India for good in the late 1980s to Mumbai, where he worked with noted cartoonist, RK Laxman. Thereafter, Miranda met artist Habiba Hydari. They got married and had two sons, Rahul and Rishad.
He held solo exhibitions in over 22 countries, including the United States, Japan, Brazil, Australia, Singapore, France, Yugoslavia, and Portugal. After retirement, Miranda lived in his ancestral home, at Loutolim, a village in Salcete, with his wife Habiba. Even after he retired, Miranda’s work was seen regularly in Mumbai publications, and he was invited to travel to countries such as Mauritius and Spain, and draw their local cultures. On December 11, 2011, Miranda died of
natural causes at his home in Loutolim.
A special cover on Mario De Miranda, released by the Department of Posts, Goa Division, on December 15, 2021.
Mario de Miranda remains one of Goa’s most beloved cultural icons, whose lively and humorous depictions of everyday life captured the soul of the region with unmatched charm. Through his distinctive line drawings, he brought to life the bustling streets, village scenes, and social interactions of Goa, blending satire with affection. His work transcended language and geography. appearing in leading publications and earning him national and international recognition. A philatelic tribute to Mario celebrates not only the artist but also the legendary figure. Stamps, covers, and cancellations featuring Mario’s artwork or commemorating his legacy serve as miniature canvases that travel across borders, carrying his artistic vision to a global audience. These philatelic items encapsulate history, art, and identity. making them valuable educational tools as well as cherished collectibles. Through carefully curated exhibits, one can trace the evolution of his artistic journey and appreciate how his illustrations reflected changing times while retaining a timeless appeal.
A philatelic exhibition on this theme becomes more than a display, it transforms into a cultural narrative. It invites viewers to explore Goa through Mario’s eyes, to experience the humour and humanity embedded in his sketches, and to understand his contribution to Indian art and heritage. Such a tribute not only honours his birth centenary but also inspires future generations to value creativity, observation, and storytelling.
There will be a single frame philatelic exhibition on the theme ‘Mario Miranda – A Philatelic Tribute’ at the Philatelic Bureau, Panjim in connection with the birth centenary of Mario Miranda from May 5 onwards.
