Late Mr. R. K. Laxman, a legendary cartoonist of India sketched cartoons in the Times of India, a leading daily newspaper, for the last 50 years.

In each cartoon there appears Laxman's 'Common Man' as a silent and voiceless witness to political happenings in the country. His 'Common Man' earned name and fame in India and abroad.

Late Mr. R. K. Laxman was associated as Professor Emeritus with the Symbiosis Institute of Media and Communication. He had been a frequent visitor to Symbiosis since 1985. Late Mr. Laxman and his wife Kamla, kindly granted permission to Symbiosis to install the statue of 'Common Man' in front of Symbiosis Vishwabhavan building. The statue is 8 feet in height and cast in bronze.

The statue of Laxman's 'Common Man' was unveiled by Hon’ble Shri. K. R. Narayanan, the then President of India on 19th December 2001.