http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31804&articlexml=QA-If-opposing-saffronisation-of-govt-posts-in-08072015016057
Jul 08 2015 : The Times of India (Mumbai) Q&A - `If opposing saffronisation of govt posts in cinema is leftist, then 75% of India is leftist' Anand Patwardhan is an award-winning documentary filmmaker who supports students at Pune's Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) in their ongoing strike against the appointment of actor Gajendra Chauhan as FTII's chairperson.As meetings between government and FTII students yielded no breakthrough and the strike continues, Patwardhan spoke with Anahita Mukherji on why he thinks FTII's troubled situation represents a larger issue, a reasonable way forward the NDA government could now encourage and his views on Subhash Ghai's recent recommendation to privatise FTII: *How could Gajendra Chauhan's appointment as chairperson tangibly affect FTII's functioning?* The tangible administrative effect on FTII is unpredictable but clearly, the students feel Gajendra Chauhan meets none of the criteria required for the job and was appointed only for his proximity to Hindutva. Saffronisation is visible in every government appointment related to cinema, from CBFC chair Pahlaj Nihalani, who im mediately made a laughing stock of himself by reportedly asking for 20 words to be deleted from cinema, including the word “Bombay“, to the Children's Film Society chair, Mukesh Khanna. Recent appointments in the Recent appointments in the field of education, from the Indian Council of Historical Research, the Indian Institute of Advanced Research, Banaras Hindu Univer Research, Banaras Hindu University, NCERT, all institutions of great repute, are also questionable on grounds of requisite scholarship and eligibility. That saffronisation is shockingly interfering with national security became loud and clear when ATS public prosecutor Rohi ni Salian recently revealed she was be ing asked to go soft on saffron terror. *But critics claim another kind of ideological domina tion, saying only leftists are welcome at FTII what are your thoughts?* Are Adoor Gopalakrish nan and Resul Pookutty left ists? If you define all those who do not like saffro nisation as leftists, 75% of this country would be leftists. *Why have sustained student protests against Chau han, joined by alumni and noted filmmakers too, yielded no results?* This is not Congress rule where despite massive corruption, the government was somewhat vulnerable to public pressure. pressure. The Sangh Parivar's made of different mettle. As you can gauge from the Vasundhara Raje and Sushma Swaraj episodes, they have decided to brazen out anything and everything, no matter what the consequences. *What could a reasonable compromise be in FTII's current scenario?* I think this is an opportunity for the party in power to set a healthy precedent by making the appointments procedure both consultative and transparent. Not only should students and faculty of FTII be involved, but also the illustrious alumnus of the institution, irrespective of political colour. Every subsequent government should then diligently follow such a process. *You mention illustrious FTII alums. Filmmaker Subhash Ghai is one who doesn't feel Gajendra Chauhan's appointment would have much impact and privatisation is a remedy for FTII's troubles what is your view?* Since Mr Ghai has a privatised film school that allegedly sits on government land, his views on privatised education are not surprising. What is surprising is why anybody would seek his views. -- Peace Is Doable -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Green Youth Movement" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To post to this group, send an email to [email protected]. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/greenyouth. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
