FTII Standoff: Govt keeps door open, but talks of ‘right’

PUNE: Some hope of a breakthrough in the Film and Television Institute Of India (FTII) standoff came on Tuesday with the Union Information & Broadcasting Ministry responding to a letter from the Students' Association of FTII. Their strike entered its fifth day on Tuesday.
FTII’s director D J Narain, who held a press conference, said, “The government has responded to the letter from the students' association of FTII.The letter mentions two points -- the ministry is willing to discuss all relevant issues raised by the students, and it has requested them to restore normalcy to the campus at the earliest.”
“The letter, which was addressed to the students' body, also states that the government holds the right to appoint anyone to the post of the chairman of the governing council. But, it is willing to discuss the issues with students' representatives,” Narain said.
The letter does not mention a timeframe about the discussions, nor how and where it will be facilitated, he added.
The association, in its letter, had protested against the appointment of Gajendra Chauhan as chairperson of the governing council. According to them, the appointment was 'politically motivated'. The body claimed that they were not against political affiliations of an individual, but to the absence of credentials.
The protesting students alleged that Chauhan, who played Yudhishthir in B R Chopra's Mahabharat on television, is not 'academically up to the task'. The association also listed various other issues that need attention.
‘Protest will continue’
Responding to the Information & Broadcasting Ministry's reply to their letter, the students’ association of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) held a press conference at the school grounds. The students reiterated that their protest would continue as the ministry is yet to address their demand regarding the appointment of Chauhan.
The members said, “On July 18 at 11am we are expecting FTII alumni from across the country to visit the campus and lend their support to the protest. In a televised interview today, Chauhan was questioned by FTII students on whether he has the ability to conduct acting classes at the institute, given that he has been an actor. Chauhan was candid enough to admit that he would not be able to conduct any classes. He claimed he was a good administrator and so was considered for the post.”
The association came down heavily on the statement saying that the institute’s administrative post is held by the director and that as the chairperson of the governing council, one has to be in the know of arts.
Said the body, “If tomorrow we were to approach him regarding some issues with the syllabus, how would he address it if he is not academically inclined? Just being an able administrator is not enough.”
Chauhan, in his defence, has repeatedly said that he be given a chance to prove his mettle. But students at the institute reiterate that the new chairperson does not have the credentials to lead such an institute of repute that boasts of students who have done ‘far more in their capacity than the present chairperson’.
“We have the utmost respect for Gajendra Chauhan, but he is not suited to the post that he has been appointed. Besides, he is already talking of changing the ‘ideology’ of the students, and the other members appointed to the board by the government are also talking of bringing a change into the culture of films being made,” said the students.
“Ideology is not something you can flush out from a person’s system. It is an ingrained part of a person’s mind. As for the ‘culture’ of films being made and the alleged threat to take students to task if they continue to make such films — this is a serious issue,” they claimed.
The students’ association was adamant about continuing with the strike till the government acts on their demand of removing Chauhan from the post of the chairperson of the governing council.
“On June 17 and 18, protests will be held in Kozhikode and Kochi respectively. Eminent Ghazal singer Shahabaz Aman will be leading the protest at Calicut,” said the body.
The students reasserted that the only and primary point of their protest is the lack of credentials of the appointed chairman, especially in comparison with the previous luminaries that have held the post before him.
“Our protest is solely to uphold the autonomy of the institute, something we are apprehensive may get compromised if a person without adequate qualifications or an impartial point of view is appointed,” said the president of the association, Harishankar Nachimuthu.
The association is holding discussions at various levels at the institute to arrive at a consensus on their various demands before initiating talks with the Information & Broadcasting Ministry. Wednesday will see further development towards a possible resolution of the entire issue, he said.