Balangir, April 2: Cartoonist brothers Abani Rath and Aswini Rath have added yet another feather in their cap as the Limca Book of Records acknowledged them as the only cartoonist brother duo. The magazine has included the brother duo, popularly known as Aswini-Abani, in the latest edition of their record book.

The record book certifies that the brothers are the only such combination in the field who ideate and draw together since 1989.

Abani Rath, the younger of the two, is very happy to have got the rare recognition.

“I feel honoured to be part of the record book. It is a very good feeling, especially when such a renowned forum rewards you. It was a recognition we strived for years,” said Abani.

The brothers have to their credit several awards including the Grand Prize in the International Net Oil Cartoon Contest, France, in 2010, the Special Mention Prize in the 2nd Web International Cartoon Festival, 2003, in China and the Honourable Mention Prizes in the 15th, 16th and 17th Daejeon International Cartoon Contest in Seoul, South Korea, in 2006, 2007 and 2008.

In the year 2013, the cartoonist brothers scaled new heights as the Indian Institute of Cartoonists, Bangalore, organised an exhibition of their work for fifteen days.

(TOP) THE CARTOON THAT WON RECOGNITION AND THE CARTOONIST BROTHERS ASWINI RATH AND ABANI RATH OF BALANGIR. TELEGRAPH PICTURESSUDEEP KUMAR GURU

Aswini-Abani thus became the first ever cartoonists from Odisha to be invited by the prestigious institute to exhibit their works. The institute has earlier held exhibitions of the likes of R.K. Laxman, Sudhir Dhar and Mario Miranda.

They consider cartoonist David Lowe as their role model and appreciate a host of Indian cartoonists such as Sankar Pillai, R.K. Laxman, Sudhir Dhar and Bal Thackeray. In their early 40’s now, the duo have been drawing cartoon since childhood and they are the most published cartoonists in the media in Odisha. “While there are plenty of instances of duos in the field of music direction, film direction, story, script, lyrics and even book writing, we happen to be the first such case in the cartoon sector,” says Abani. He emphasised that certain cartoonists only inspire them and they never tried to imitate them.

“Over the years, we have worked hard to develop our own distinguished style,” Abani said.