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Political cronyism, an attempt to institutionalize saffron in the field of Art
Highlights
For any pioneered artist, politics in art is a misery that contaminates the liberty of being innovative, with ideological hindrances. Art in Politics, indeed on the other hand is a sustaining reality that reflects the technique of artfully prejudicing, lying and being deceptive which has now undeniably become a necessity to rise to a level of political kingship in our country. Overlapping of both the contexts of Art with an oblivious attempt to preach an ideological propaganda for political benefits perhaps could drag a nation to a danger where the fundamental liberty of Artists to survive on a creative space could become impossible.
For any pioneered artist, politics in art is a misery that contaminates the liberty of being innovative, with ideological hindrances. Art in Politics, indeed on the other hand is a sustaining reality that reflects the technique of artfully prejudicing, lying and being deceptive which has now undeniably become a necessity to rise to a level of political kingship in our country. Overlapping of both the contexts of Art with an oblivious attempt to preach an ideological propaganda for political benefits perhaps could drag a nation to a danger where the fundamental liberty of Artists to survive on a creative space could become impossible.
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The appointment of Gajendra Chauhan as the new chairman of Film and Television Institute of India has triggered a violent protest by students of FTII and unearthed a query that was buried sometime ago under unfulfilled promises – ‘Will the moral face of BJP overshadow the political base of the party?’. And now it seems, the party’s ever pertained attempt of ‘saffornizing’ the institutions and councils have successfully been flourishing and have started affecting students due to a contagious ‘ideological-borne political virus’.
Students of the Film and Television Institute of India, Pune (FTII) went on an indefinite strike that started from 12 June 2015 as a mark of protest against the appointment of Gajendra Chauhan as the new Chairman of the institute. It is a matter of pride that FTII earlier had qualified and reputed people like Adoor Gopalakrishnan, Girish Karnad, Shyam Benegal, U.R. Ananthamurthy as the Chairman. The list of Chairmen who have served also includes Saeed Akhtar Mirza following the end of whose term in 2014 FTII remained without one. While names of Jahnu Barua, Santosh Sivan, Rajkumar Hirani were picked as the possible candidates following Saeed Akhtar Mirza by the Information and Broadcast Ministry, the final appointment of Gajendra Chauhan came as a shock not just to current students and the alumni, but also the film fraternity across the nation.The concern is not just of political nepotism. When a ruling party has the power to appoint authorities , it shouldn’t be on the basis of the person’s ideological or political compatibility with the party , infact the persons academic excellence and career achievements should be considered primarily like anywhere else as an obvious proficiency qualification. Even-though the concept of meritocracy could have been never firmly prevailed in the near history of the party, an attempt to change for a qualitative and rational result is to be made for better reasons. Chauhan, whose popularity stands on his role as Yudhishtir in the mega serial Mahabharat aired on Doordarshan during early 90s has no notably significant contribution to even qualify as a footnote or a passing reference in the history of Indian cinema and television as per the veterans in the field. It is obvious that Chauhans appointment is strongly on the basis of his close relation with BJP for nearly 20 years. He is also a party member since 2004.
Apart from Chauhan there are also other dubious appointees in the governing council as per the students of FTTI. One such appointee is Shilash Gupta, an FTII alumnus who according to many of the current students and alumni is "known for making propagandist films for the Hindu right wing". Following the news of his appointment, a hilariously obsequious short film on the life of Prime Minister Narendra Modi directed by Gupta has surfaced online. Appointment of Anagha Ghaisas , another allegedly ‘propagandist film maker’ has also drawn attention from many of the professionals in the field and created a concern in the industry regarding the aftermaths of such decisions.
It is indeed not for the first time a decision by the BJP has been alleged for a right winged- Hindutva agenda. When the UPA accused BJP of politicizing the censor board, the government turned its eye blind and proceeded to pack the panel with those who have inviolable links with the saffron party. Earlier this year the Information and Broadcast Ministry appointed Pahlaj Nihalani as CBFC chief which also stimulated a question of prejudice in the active current of opposition’s allegation and criticisms. Nahlani is being associated with propagandas related to political conquests and ideological slanting since he made a campaign video for Modi titled ‘Har ghar Modi’ during pre-election time. The persisting loophole for clarification is of the Party’s stand on the fundamental Ideas of the Nation’s democracy. When the power of decision making becomes an absolute, does it invoke a circumstance for a totalitarian regime or a staunchly authoritative government? It is indeed inappropriate from the government’s side to destruct the hereditary values of Art that has been prevailed in the nation subjected to the evolvement and growth of a large part of the society, by bringing incapable and unqualified people as the head of the institutions for the cause of Party’s manifested ideological belief. Such a kind of solid political agenda perhaps could even alter the very base of concurrent fame and reputation of Indian cinemas, since the dynamic essence of artistic quality could be lost or veiled by political beliefs, right from the stepping stone of the future film makers and artists -from their very own educational institution itself.
-Nadeem Ahmed
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