San Francisco — Cartoonist Scott Adams, creator of the beloved comic strip Dilbert, passed away in January 2026 at age 68 following a battle with metastatic prostate cancer. His death has reignited discussions about Asok, the hardworking Indian intern character who became an iconic symbol of South Asian representation in American pop culture for over three decades.
Asok, a young and earnest software engineer turned intern in the Dilbert universe, represented millions of Indian and South Asian professionals navigating corporate America's often absurd workplace culture. The character's journey through office politics and his earnest attempts to succeed despite systemic dysfunction resonated deeply with the diaspora community.
Key Facts
• Scott Adams revealed his Stage 4 prostate cancer diagnosis in May 2025, stating he had the same condition as President Biden, and continued producing content until his death in January 2026.
• Dilbert was first published on April 16, 1989, and became the first syndicated comic strip to include an email address, creating direct dialogue between Adams and fans for over three decades.
• In February 2023, Adams faced widespread criticism and professional consequences after making remarks interpreted as racist, leading major newspapers including the Los Angeles Times and Washington Post to drop the strip, though he later relaunched it as Dilbert Reborn on alternative platforms.
Asok was introduced as a naive but talented intern character who represented South Asian professionals entering American corporate environments. The character worked under the Pointy-Haired Boss and often served as a foil to the cynical experienced workers like Wally and Dilbert.
His earnest optimism and cultural differences became a recurring source of humor that never punched down at his heritage.
For Indian and South Asian readers, Asok became surprisingly significant representation in mainstream American media during the 1990s and 2000s. He was portrayed as technically competent and ambitious, challenging stereotypes while maintaining his distinct cultural identity.
His presence in office scenes demonstrated that diverse workforces were becoming normal in American corporations.
The character's legacy reflects broader changes in Silicon Valley and tech industries where South Asian professionals became dominant forces. Asok's journey paralleled real stories of Indian immigrants building careers in America's booming tech sector.
Adams's comic timing and observational humor made workplace dysfunction relatable across cultural lines.
Fans and cultural commentators have noted that Asok represented an evolution in how South Asian characters appeared in American entertainment. Rather than being a stereotype or punchline, he was a fully realized character with his own arc, relationships, and struggles.
This helped normalize South Asian presence in professional American spaces.
Adams wrote in a statement released through his ex-wife:
This sentiment extends to how his characters, including Asok, influenced workplace culture conversations and representation.
The question now emerges about how Dilbert's legacy will evolve following Adams's death and the controversies that marked his later career. While Adams faced serious backlash for remarks many considered racist, his work created characters like Asok that genuinely contributed to more nuanced representation of South Asian professionals in American culture.
Do You Know?
Adams became the first syndicated cartoonist to include his email address in Dilbert in 1993, creating a pioneering direct dialogue with readers that predated social media by years and helped shape how cartoonists engaged with audiences.
Key Terms
• Metastatic Cancer: Cancer that has spread from its original location to other parts of the body; in Adams's case, prostate cancer that spread to his bones.
• Syndication: The process of selling comic strips, articles, or content to multiple newspapers and media outlets simultaneously for publication across different regions.
• South Asian Diaspora: Indians, Pakistanis, Bangladeshis, and other South Asian peoples living outside their countries of origin, particularly in the United States.
Image from Wikimedia Commons