Students of Film and TelevisionInstitute of India ( FTII) are on strike since last 93 days. Their demands are
legitimate or not may be the matter of debate. However one thing is clear, everybody
associated with FTII i.e ministry, administration and students can not claim
innocence in this matter and everybody is stretching the issue too far.
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| Photo courtsey Ravi Karandeekar |
Right now this issue is
focused on the appointment of Gajendra Chauhan as the President of FTII and Chairman of the Governing
Council (GC). Students have also
objected to the Rahul Solapurkar, Anagha Ghaisas and Narendra Pathak as
members of the Council. However, it seems that agitation is now focused
only on Gajendra Chavan.
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| Photo Courtsey Ravi Karandeekar |
There is no doubt that nominations or appointments on
several authorities or Institutes like FTII are always politically motivated.
It is also agreed that process of such appointments must be transparent. There
may be some substance in argument on credentials of Gajendra Chavan. But it is
also fact that President of FTII or chairman of its Governing Council doesn’t
have any special powers. Decisions are taken in governing council meetings on
“majority carries the point” basis. Then how come appointment of members who
doesn’t have any special power or authority became such a “big issue”?.
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| Photo courtsey Ravi Karandeekar |
FTII is an autonomous body under the Ministry of Information
and Broadcasting and is registered under the Societies’ Registration Act of
1860. There are a total 26 members in the Society and a President. Themembers
are appointed by the Central Government under various categories. The 26
members elect 13 members for the GC. The general superintendence, direction,
control and administration of the affairs of the Institute, its property and
income vests with the GC. The President of FTII is by default the Chairman
of the GC. The GC has powers to appoint other committees and the Academic
Council and the Standing Committee on Finance are formed by the GC.
The GC, as the apex body of the FTII, is responsible for making all major
policy decisions of the Institute in consonance with its aims and objectives.
In any event, the 4 members of the GC against whom allegations have
been made cannot take or manipulate any decision. Then why are the Government
and more particularly the students making a prestige issue on this point?
Removal of Gajendra Chauhan may solve this problem immediately.
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| Photo Courtsey Firstpost.com |
Then why is the Government not doing that? And why have the
students stalled the functioning of FTII? This is specially significant
because politically affiliated members are in a minority in the GC and it
is crystal clear that these so called politically affiliated members on the
GC cannot make any difference in the functioning of FTII. Then what is
bothering the students?
Since last 18 months i.e
from 4 March 2014, GC is not in place in FTII. And it has made no difference
to the functioning of the Society. The tenure of the GC being 3 years, the
newly constituted committee will get only 18 months tenure because the members
will be appointed retrospectively i.e from 4 March 2014. And hardly 4 or 5
meeting would take place in 18 months.
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| Photo Courtsey Mid day |
Past history of institution shows that hardly any luminary
has participated in such meetings. So big names do not make any difference
to the functioning of the Society. Further, there is always the chance of
this issue landing up in a court of law due to the political overtones in
this agitation. No one can then predict the outcome; however by that time this
Committee’s tenure will certainly be over.
Support to student’s agitation grew multifold after the
Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi entered the fray. And as media is
covering it 24x7, it has now become fashionable to support blindly put
one's name behind it! Surprisingly, Rahul Gandhi did not do anything for
FTII when he was the ruling dispensation and had full authority and over a
decade to take steps for the betterment of the FTII? The tenure of the
earlier committee ended on 3 March 2014 and the Code of Conduct came in to
force on 5 March. Why did not UPAII appoint the FTII Committee? Why Rahul
Gandhi and his government let the opportunity to appoint the new GC slip to
the NDA II?
Recently actors Vidya Balan, Pallavi Joshi and Anjum
Rajabali have also supported the student’s agitation urging the President
to declare FTII as a Centre of Excellence and de-link it from the
Ministry of Information and Broadcasting by making it an autonomous
institution. Pllavi Joshi while supporting agitation said, "Creativity
and great work is an impossible target to reach in a cloud of negativity”. She should have added that politics and art
rarely go together! Vidya Balan and Pallavi Joshi are both appointed on
FTII GC.Pallavi has tendered her resignation.
Instead of supporting the agitation, Vidya and Pallavi
should join FTII and transform the Institution. If one one 'wrong' person
make so much difference then two right persons should make much more
positive difference to the Society. However, no one is coming forward for
the betterment of FTII but appear to be interested in supporting agitations
and allegations.
Vidya balan has also talked of de-linking FTII from the
Information and Broadcasting Ministry and making it autonomous. FTII is already
autonomous, now what de-linking will achieve only Vidya Balan may reveal. One
can attach several connotations to the word "de-linking" and many
of them could be serious.
FTII Students’ Association has already alleged that the
Union Information and Broadcasting Minister,
Arun Jaitley has hinted that if students do not “cooperate” with the
Ministry to resolve the stand-off over the appointment of Gajendra Chauhan, it
could lead to FTII’s privatization. Earlier, such agitations in FTII have ended
in the termination of the course or temporary closure of the film
wing. In such circumstances,students should help run the Institutee and
not nip the intention of closing the Institute or its privatization in the
bud.
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