The one-horned rhino with a smile

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LINK:

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1061127/asp/northeast/story_7053604.asp

 

Games mascot takes comic-strip plunge

- Organisers willing to try out everything to generate publicity for

sports extravaganza

IMTIAZ AHMED

 

Guwahati, Nov. 26: From mascot to comic-strip hero, Brand Rongmon is

going for gold even before the National Games has begun.

 

The one-horned rhino with a smile is already a popular mascot, equally

at ease posing for posters and hobnobbing with crowds at roadshows

being organised as part of the 100-day countdown to the Games. Now, he

seems ready to join the constellation of comic-strip heroes and vie

for attention with the likes of Phantom, Mandrake and Modesty Blaise

in various newspapers from next month.

 

But why a comic strip hero?

 

Games organisers say Rongmon stands for strength, dignity,

determination, humility and boundless patience — traits that are

generally associated with a hero.

 

Dummies have already been prepared with the help of a cartoonist from

Manipur, Jagadish Sharma — who has worked for a comic magazine in New

Delhi, a source said. But nothing has been finalised as yet. Whoever

is chosen to breath life into the mascot must possess good knowledge

of sports and the geography of Assam apart from flair for

story-writing, the organisers added. " The first objective of the comic

series will be to popularise Rongmon among the people who will, in

turn, publicise the National Games in due course. Rongmon, after all,

has the attributes of a hero, " publicity committee convenor Prateek

Hajela told The Telegraph.

 

He, however, admitted the initiative was in an infant stage. " We are

looking for a good cartoonist and sponsors, without whom we cannot

proceed further. If everything goes as planned, the comic strip will

be in print by December, " said Hajela.

 

The strips will be published in select newspapers of the state.

 

Though, according to initial plans, the series will be published daily

till the commencement of the Games, Hajela said everything would

depend on the popularity of the comics and availability of sponsorship.

 

Along with the comic strips, the publicity committee also proposes to

put up posers related to the National Games as part of an SMS

campaign. There will be cash prize for one correct entry everyday.

 

But not everybody is as excited about the propaganda. The Assam

Olympic Association (AOA), in fact, is annoyed with the way the

publicity exercises are being carried out.

 

In an emergent meeting here last afternoon, the association took

exception of the way Rongmon was being presented before the people.

The meeting observed that it was a " dishonour " to the sports culture

in the state to have " some non-sporting persons " accompany the mascot

in the campaign, that is being conducted at an " exorbitant " cost.