Student artist wins youth parliament prize for witty political sketches

A wannabe doctor and a cartoonist too! Damneet Kaur, a Class XII Medical student at Nankana Sahib Public School, possesses this unique and quirky combination with ease.

Cartooning is no mean feat for her and whenever she gets time from her busy schedule, she loves to scribble and paint. Damneet recently won the award for Most Innovative Cartoon at the Media Cartooning competition, organised by Ambit Youth Parliament 2025 under the aegis of the Causmic Club of Guru Nanak Dev Engineering College. She was awarded a cheque of Rs 5,100. As many as 24 students from her school participated in the Ambit Youth Parliament.

“The competition captured the essence of debates and discussions through creative sketches and caricatures. From witty political cartoons to artistic interpretations of key moments, it was all about adding a visual storytelling element to the topic and making serious agendas more engaging and impactful,” said Damneet, while sharing her experience.

There were four sub-categories in the competition. Two that amused Damneet the most were Parliament scene in ancient or different era and AI replacing human politicians.

“One can find the best humour in politics. Some interpret it through words, while I do it through my cartoons. Historical evidence suggests that political humour is endemic to the human experience and many assume that various political humorists or works of political humour have been responsible for producing social or political change—and can affect how individuals understand the political world,” she says.

It’s not just cartoons and caricatures that draw Damneet in. She also has a flair for painting and loves working with acrylic colours. “I can never sit idle. If I am free, I will scribble something. My hands can never rest. My drawings are a mixture of realism and cartooning,” she shares.

Speaking about her goal in life, Damneet says she aspires to become a cardiologist, but art will always remain an integral part of her journey. “Maybe I’ll bring out a book of my artwork or paint something humorous for my workspace so that the patients coming to see me have a smile on their face. Nothing is planned yet, but my ability to draw is very special to me and I plan to give it space. Happy or sad, I just scribble it away on the paper,” she signs off with a smile.

Punjab