The Police on late evening on Thursday issued fresh notices to the students of Students’ Association Film and Television Institute of India(FTII), Pune as chargesheet would be filed in the session’s court in Pune on Monday regarding the incidents which transpired at the Director’s office on August 17 last year.
The police have now identified 18 more students in addition to the 17 students who were named earlier in the FIR. The Police issued fresh notices to the 18 new accused and the 12 students who were on anticipatory bail to appear in the session’s court on Monday.
In total 35 students have been > accused by the Director of preventing him from performing his duty.
The duty of the director in this regard was to consult the students and faculty before taking a decision to assess the 2008 batch, said a press release issued by Association on Friday.
Despite the faculty and students pointing out that the assessment of the 2008 batch is unjust and ill-timed, the director went on to continue with the assessment under strict orders from the ministry which led to the incidents on August 17.
However, it has been nearly 7 months since the incident and now the police identify 18 more students and add them to the list of already accused students. All of this happens with the proactive participation from the FTII administration and support from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, alleged students association.
It further said that it is coming at a time when the Screenplay batch of 2013 and Film batch of 2008 are finishing their course and would be leaving campus. The 12 students on anticipatory bail have been ordered by the court not to leave Pune jurisdiction, but would be finishing the course and with these notices would be left wanting for a place to live.
“The FTII administration on one hand draws out academic schedules and deadlines and on the other hand proceeds with the court cases to corner the students. It is extremely disheartening to see the administration of a premier government run institute arm-twisting its students,” said the press release.
It lamented that the Chairman of FTII and the Governing Council remained silent with respect to the court cases when in fact the Chairman was asked by the faculty to relook at the cases during the Governing Council meeting held on January 7.
The FTII students brace themselves up to continue their struggle with the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and the FTII administration. It makes sense to see this in the context of the incidents in JNU and a progression in the current government’s approach and attempts to “criminalising dissent”, said the press release.
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.