Alarmed over the rapid erosion of autonomy of national institutions of culture, more than 130 artists have signed a letter protesting against the government’s decision to remove, almost overnight, people of eminence and proven track record and questioning the cultural policy being shaped by the government
The move, initiated by former Lalit Kala Akademi chairman Ashok Vajpayi two days ago, has gathered support among artists, academics and authors.
The letter sums up the ire of the artists: “A President of India appointee, the Lalit Kala Akademi chairperson Kalyan Kumar Chakravarty with a PhD in art history has been unceremoniously removed and a culturally non-descript administrator has been appointed, duly authorised to exercise all powers of the general council, executive board and the finance committee of the Akademi for three years.”
The protesters pointed out that the Crafts Museum was in a similar plight, forced to yield space for an ill-conceived Academy of Crafts. As was the case of the recently transferred Director-General of National Museum, who had considerably improved the functioning of the institution.
The signatories include historian Romila Thapar and artist Ghulam Mohd. Sheikh, Vivan Sundaram, playwright Girish Karnad, dancers Mrinalini Sarabhai and Mallika Sarabhai, media critic Shohini Ghosh, artist historian B. N. Goswamy, and musician T. M. Krishna.
More than 130 artists have signed letter protesting the government’s moves
