Agitating students of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) on Thursday called upon Prime Minister Narendra Modi to resolve the deadlock over the controversial appointment of TV actor-turned BJP politician Gajendra Chauhan as chairman of the institute’s governing council more than two months ago.
“We urge the Prime Minister to visit the campus and end the impasse,” said Vikas Urs, spokesman of the FTII Students’ Association (FSA).
Mr. Urs and four others were arrested after the police stormed the campus on Tuesday midnight and slapped with charges of rioting and unlawful assembly. They were accused of holding FTII director Prashant Pathrabe ‘hostage’ after the latter stood firm on going ahead with the controversial assessment of the incomplete diploma projects of some students of the 2008 batch. They were later released on bail.
Meanwhile, the FTII faculty has come out strongly in support of the students. In a letter to the Information and Broadcasting (I&B) Ministry, the faculty criticised Mr. Pathrabe’s actions.
Kedarnath Awati, president of the FTII Teachers’ Association, accused Mr. Pathrabe of spreading “misinformation in the public domain” and “deliberately running a false campaign to malign the image of the protesting students.”
“The teachers of the FTII condemn the manner in which students were picked up by the police in the dead of night in the absence of senior members of the administration,” the letter stated.
No admissions this year
With no end in sight to the crisis, I&B Minister Arun Jaitley informally told reporters in New Delhi that there would be no intake of students this year.
Here is a look at the FTII imbroglio that has been going on for weeks now:
FTII Limbo
Gajendra Chauhan, an actor-turned-politician, was appointed as the chairman of Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) on June 9, 2015. His appointment triggered an >indefinite strike by students of the institute on June 12.
Who is Chauhan?
Mr. Chauhan is best known as 'Yudhisthira' in the Mahabharata TV series aired on Doordarshan in 1988-90. He has been associated with BJP for over two decades but formally joined the party in 2004.
Why protest?
Students of FTII have questioned Mr. Chauhan's body of work and "creative credentials." The students doubt if Mr. Chauhan can fill the shoes of predecessors like R.K. Laxman, Syam Benegal, Girish Karnad and U.R. Ananthamurthy.
Political vendetta?
Students claim that Mr. Chauhan's appointment is an attempt of the ruling party to foist its right-wing agenda upon the Institute.
Supporters
Besides, prominent film personalities, All India Students' Association (AISA), the Kolkata-based Satyajit Ray Film Institute, and students at the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) are all coming out strongly in support of the striking students.
If they don't want you, they don't want you. Pushing for the chairmanship is getting you no where. Let self pride play a role and retire
- >Rishi Kapoor
FTII needs to be in safe hands. Students need somebody who they can trust and look up to. It's their future which is at stake here.
>- Rajkumar Rao
This is something we should be talking about and by this we will clearly know that it is a mistake and that he has no credentials...If I would have been in place of Chauhan and I would have seen that my fraternity does not want me, I would have withdrawn.
>- Amol Palekar
Don't think what the students are asking for is illogical, don't think they are asking for the moon. They are just asking for a fair chance, a fair opportunity, correct faculty, correct syllabus.
- Ranbir Kapoor
I have neither been approached by students nor by authorities. But being an alumnus of this institute to which I owe my film career, I am more than willing to step in and sort out matters if given the chance to do so.
- >Shatrughan Sinha
Prominent chairmen
Anwar Jamal Kidwai (1974 - 1977)
First chairman, founder of Mass Communication Research centre at Jamia Millia Islamia.
>R.K. Laxman (1977- 1980)
Legendary cartoonist, Padma Bhushan, Vibhushan. Known for creating the character "Common Man".
> Shyam Benegal (1981 - 1983) (1989 - 1992)
Known for pioneering parallel cinema. Recipient of Dadasaheb Phalke Award among others.
> Mahesh Bhatt (1995- 1998)
Award-winning director, screenwriter, producer in mainstream Hindi cinema.
>U.R. Ananthamurthy (2005-2008) (2008-2011)
Eminent author, Padma Bhushan. Pioneered Navya movement in Kannada language.
