Support from various sections strengthens FTII strike

Students from universities across the nation, film industry members show solidarity with the protests

The students’s movement at the Film and Television Institute of India  (FTII) since the appointment of  Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) member and television actor Gajendra Chauhan,seemed to have gained support from various sections in the society.

On Tuesday over 40 alumni gathered at the Bhavan’s campus in solidarity with the on going strike at FTII. The unrest has snowballed into an  ideological battle between the government and the students.

Support has also started pouring in from the industry with people like Kalki Kochelin, Onir and Santosh Sivan publicly stating their views against the ministry’s decision.  

The student’s association of FTII has called Chauhan’s appointment lacking in “academic, administrative and artistic credentials in the field of Art and Film education.” They have openly challenged this move which according to the association is a tactic to curb the institution's autonomy. The students warned after the recent recruitment trend witnessed in organizations like NFDC and CBFC has refused to take the ‘bait.’

“Our protest is not a personal attack on an individual, but merely an appeal that a person, who, despite being entirely clueless about the rich history and traditions of our Institute, has been appointed as the Chairman, be removed from the post with immediate effect,” Rtwick Goswami, a second year student at FTII told  Business Standard.

The strike which enters its seventh day today is using music, street plays, graphiti and songs to spread their word. Much like the  #HokKolorob  movement last year (against the Vice- Chancellor of Jadavpur University which ultimately led to his removal) the strike at FTII has inspired support in various campuses across India. A protest march was organised by the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students’ Union on Tuesday criticising the government’s stance towards the FTII students. On Wednesday Jadavpur University along with Satyajit Ray Television and Film Institute in Kolkata marched in solidarity with the students in Pune. They shouted slogans demanding the resignation of Chauhan and supporting the student’s claim.

“Pain is temporary. Film is forever,” says a writing on the wall of the institute’s rebellious corner reflecting the current ambiance of a mutinous bunch of students.  However, the government seem to be in no mood for negotiation. At a time when BJP’s employment politics has come under consistent attack especially in the field of art and culture, the FTII campus seem to have risen to the challenge of spear heading a movement against an otherwise invincible opponent.