Far from promoting arts, the Lalit Kala Akademi has become the abode of charges and counter-charges. At the centre of the latest controversy is former Akademi secretary Sudhakar Sharma against whom three chairpersons have, during their respective tenures, levelled serious allegations of financial irregularities and maladministration.
From the time of Ashok Vajpeyi’s tenure from 2008-11 to the last chairperson Kalyan Kumar Chakravarty, who was removed a few days ago, all have levelled charges against Mr. Sharma.
He was dismissed from service in 2013 but was reinstated in 2014 by former Culture Minister Sripad Naik, a night before the Minister himself was transferred to AYUSH, leading to speculation in some circles about the clout wielded by Mr. Sharma.
Mr. Sharma denies all charges and says the truth will come out.
‘No clean chit’Sources in the Ministry confirmed that an independent inquiry was currently on examining the charges levelled against Mr. Sharma. “The Ministry has not given a clean chit to him. But we are also examining whether former chairperson [Kalyan] Chakravarty conducted himself according to the constitution of the Akademi," a senior official in the Ministry said.
While investigations continue, back in 2012, as chairperson of the Akademi, Balan Nambiar, had written to Mr. Sharma seeking an explanation for the disappearance of paintings and destruction of some of the works in the safe keep of the Akademi.
Asset of the organisation“The main asset of the Akademi is the collection of works of arts of eminent Indian artists accumulated since 1954. Unfortunately, maintaining and safeguarding the collection have been neglected and indifferently handled by the administration in recent years. This is a serious matter as these works of the masters are national assets and the Akademi happens to be the guardian of the collection. I am afraid what I have noticed is only the tip of the iceberg of mismanagement of the Akademi collection. It is the secretary as the administrative head of the Akademi who must be held responsible for this situation. If he cannot fix responsibility for these lapses within Akademi, it must be presumed that he must be held personally responsible,” he wrote.
Victim of conspiracyMr. Nambiar’s charge is countered by the Ministry of Culture which says it was in receipt of a correspondence from 64 artists who have praised Mr. Sharma for his work and have apportioned blame on Mr. Chakravarty. Officials in the Akademi say some of the signatures are forged.
Friends of Mr. Sharma insist he was a victim of a larger conspiracy to defame him.
“When a committee was set up under the chair of Prof. K.N. Dixit to authenticate works in 2012-14, it was not allowed to function and their work stopped abruptly,” sources said.
As far as the Ministry is concerned, officials indicate the government respects the autonomy of Akademi and will not interfere in its work.
