After Chandrayaan 3 Success, Netizens Slam Old NYT Mangalyaan Cartoon

Following the eagerly awaited touchdown of ISRO's ambitious Chandrayaan-3 Moon Mission, social media platforms were inundated with messages of congratulations. Individuals conveyed their elation regarding this historic mission, with many acknowledging Isro's substantial advancements in the realm of space exploration.

Amidst the exuberant responses, a segment of the online community swiftly criticised an older cartoon that had been featured in the New York Times back in 2014.

New York Times cartoon in 2014. Who’s laughing now pic.twitter.com/mRairxuJDC

— Ananth Krishnan (@ananthkrishnan) August 23, 2023

Thank you New York Times. Thank you for the racial jibe & the ridicule. Thank you for doubting our abilities. Thank you for laughing at us.

Today we did not knock on the door. Today, we kicked the door down.

Now, go and draw a new cartoon. Go…#Chandrayaan3 pic.twitter.com/hxbwwNeRSD

— Major Gaurav Arya (Retd) (@majorgauravarya) August 23, 2023

From being mocked in a 2014 via cartoon to now becoming the FIRST country to land on the moons South pole, how times have changed!
Vishwaguru jai bharat 🇮🇳❤️#Chandrayaan3 #IndiaOnTheMoon pic.twitter.com/UMG3jE4EZH

— Yashvi. (@BreatheKohli) August 23, 2023

Time to look back at this racist cartoon by the New York Times. #Chandrayaan3 pic.twitter.com/co2r4CmE2d

— Srishti (@TechellaTea) August 23, 2023

For those who may not be familiar, a significant outcry ensued subsequent to the publication of this cartoon, created by Heng Kim Song. The cartoon portrayed a farmer with a cow knocking on the door of a room labeled "Elite Space Club," while two individuals inside were shown reading a newspaper article about India's achievements. This cartoon was presented alongside a piece titled "India's Budget Mission to Mars."

The New York Times newspaper subsequently issued an apology for the cartoon. Many individuals promptly pointed out how Isro's successful Chandrayaan-3 mission served as a powerful response to the offensive cartoon.

India's Mars Mission, also known as Mangalyaan, effectively inserted a robotic probe into Mars' orbit last month. With a total expenditure of 4.5 billion rupees ($74 million), this mission stands as one of the most cost-efficient interplanetary space endeavors ever conducted. Notably, this accomplishment gains further significance considering that only the United States, Russia, and Europe had previously achieved Mars missions, making India's successful inaugural attempt particularly remarkable.

Andrew Rosenthal, the editorial page editor of the New York Times, clarified that the cartoonist's intent was to underscore how space exploration is no longer confined to affluent Western nations. Rosenthal emphasized that the cartoon was never intended to demean India, its government, or its populace.