Noted artists, including the likes of Anjolie Ela Menon and Subodh Gupta, have come out in support of eminent writers who have relinquished their state awards in protest against incidents indicative of “rising intolerance in India”.
Over 400 artists have so far signed a statement pledging solidarity with the writers and termed the current situation “alarming”. The statement was released here by Safdar Hashmi Memorial Trust (SAHMAT) at its office on Feroze Shah Road.
Condemning the murders of rationalists such as M.M . Kalburgi, Narender Dhabolkar and Govind Pansare, the artists have questioned the “silence” of Prime Minister Narendra Modi over these deaths and also incidents such as Dadri lynching.
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The artists, also including London-based Anish Kapoor, K.G. Subramanyan, Nilima Sheikh and Krishen Khanna, said the fear that has gripped the country is “unprecedented”, and called for a “challenge to the divisive forces through varied forms of appeal and protest, articulation and refusal”.
Asked whether there was any difference in the viewpoints of the BJP-RSS mainstream and what was being described as fringe, they said the government was now trying to take its political views to prestigious institutes by appointing heads who suited their ideology rather than taking these decisions based on credentials of those selected.
“I have noted with growing alarm the taking over by the government of nine cultural institutions so far, including replacement of the heads of all nine institutions such as National Museum, IGNCA, FTII and Nehru Memorial Library. said Ms. Menon.
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Over 400 artists have signed a statement pledging solidarity with writers who have relinquished awards