FTII row: The story so far

Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) is India's pre-eminent institution for pursuing and learning the art of filmmaking. The institute is hailed globally for producing stellar professionals for decades. But in the last several months, FTII has been mired in a controversy that has hogged headlines and raised uncomfortable questions over the government's high-handed role in managing such institutions.

From sporadic protest in campus over appointment of chairman, FTII protests gained political overtones, with latest round being a midnight crackdown. The situation is fast turning out to be a major source of embarrassment for the Modi government. On Tuesday night, 5 students were arrested from the campus after police received an FIR from FTII director, Prashant Pathrabe. The students have been charged with obstructing a public servant from doing his duty - a non-bailable offence - besides destruction of property, voluntarily causing hurt, criminal intimidation and rioting. Some more may be detained or arrested on Wednesday. 

This is a fresh twist in the ongoing 70-day old FTII student protest. 

So here is a quick recap 

Why are the students protesting?

FTII students are protesting against the appointment of Gajendra Chauhan as the chairman of the hallowed institute for 'lacking vision and artistic credentials'. Gajendra, best known for playing Yudhisthira in the epic TV drama Mahabharata, has acted mostly in B-grade movies since then. Students allege that he lacks the qualification required to head an institute of FTII's stature. According to an RTI reply, Chauhan was selected for the top job on dint of a mere one paragraph CV. The government also overlooked names such as Amitabh Bachchan, Jahnu Barua, Govind Nihalani, Adoor Gopalakrishnan, Raju Hirani and Aamit Khan to select him for the post. Students allege that Gajendra Chauhan's allegiance to the ruling BJP is the only reason behind his selection.

For filling vacancy in FTII Society too, government has chosen people perceived to be close to the saffron camp, overlooking many better qualified individuals.

Protesting Gajendra Chauhan's selection, students began their strike in FTII on June 12. This has continued for 70 days with no signs of the logjam being broken.

Support for the protesting students

From filmmakers to politicians and other student organisations, most have roundly criticised the government for mishandling the FTII issue and have demanded the ouster of Gajendra Chauhan.

Santhosh Sivan, Pallavi Joshi and National Award-winning filmmaker Jahnu Barua resigned as members of the FTII Society after the row broke out. Bollywood, not famous for being vocal about controversial issues, has also made its voice heard in this controversy. Several top stars like Salman Khan, Ranbir Kapoor, Rishi Kapoor, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Anupam Kher, Sudhir Mishra, Sayeed Mirza, Resul Pookutty, Adoor Gopalakrishnan, Kiran Rao, Soumitra Chatterjee among others have supported the cause of the students.

Watch: Ranbir Kapoor comes out in support of students​

FTII's students and alumni have been in touch with Delhi University, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Jamia Milia Islamia in Delhi, Jadavpur University and the Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute in Kolkata as well as colleges in Ahmedabad and Pune, where they say they have had “positive interactions” with other student bodies

Many politicians have also lent their support to the FTII protest. Rahul Gandhi went to the campus to express his solidarity and accused RSS ideology of promoting mediocrity in the country. Arvind Kejriwal reacting to the latest flare-up has offered to relocate students to New Delhi till the impasse is resolved. He has also offered to set up a permanent institute if government doesn't pay heed to student demands.

Government's reaction to the entire controversy

The government has so far dug its heels in the entire fiasco, refusing to remove Gajendra Chauhan, despite the wide opposition against him. A student and alumni delegation met Information and Broadcasting Minister Arun Jaitley on July 3, but the meeting failed to provide any solutions. According to a press note circulated by protesting students, Jaitley hinted at the eventual privatisation of FTII. Jaitley, though, assured the students that FTII would enjoy all academic freedoms. However, there has been a breakdown in talks since. 

MoS of the I&B Ministry Rajyavardhan Singh has been more combative, accusing Rahul Gandhi of politicising the entire controversy. He tweeted after the Congress Vice President visited FTII saying, "And with Rahul Gandhi's Pune visit it has become clear that the strike has taken a political colour or it is a political strike from the beginning,"

Gajendra Chauhan's reaction

As the man at the heart of this controversy, Gajendra Chauhan has been nonchalant throughout its ebb and flow. Rather than going on the defensive, he has rejected all the accusations hurled at him. "I am sad that I did not get a chance to perform. I was given a responsibility but I am being prevented from fulfilling it," he said. He has also claimed that career achievement can't be the only deciding factor in such an issue.

Opinion: FTII doesn't deserve the government's stepmotherly treatment

The latest flare-up

The latest flare-up is not strictly about Gajendra Chauhan fiasco, though related to it. The issue taken up this time by the agitating students was the administration's decision to conduct assessment of incomplete diploma film projects of the 2008 batch, which they called "irrational, unjustified and unfair." On Monday, the director of FTII, Prashant Pathrabe, was gheraoed for nearly six hours. Police was called and the gherao was eventually lifted on Monday.

Attributing ulterior motive to the decision of assessment, the FTII Students Association (FSA) has alleged that it was unjust and aimed at forcing a chunk of the students to leave the campus in order to weaken the present stir.

On Tuesday night, however, things took a murky turn. 15 students were taken to the Deccan Gymkhana Police station after a case was filed against them with multiple charges. Around 11.30 pm, the police charged into the institution with a warrant against 15 members and but arrested only five.

The warrant was issued against Ranjith Nair, Vikas Urs, Ajayan Adat and other proactive members involved in the FTII strike, out of which 5 have been taken under custody.

The students have been charged with obstructing a public servant from doing his duty - a non-bailable offence - besides destruction of property, voluntarily causing hurt, criminal intimidation and rioting.

FTII administration had earlier sent notices to 30 students from 2008 batch asking them to vacate campus.

The faculty has come out in support of the students and have condemned police action in the institute without informing the administration. Students have also questioned the absence of the FTII registrar when the midnight raid took place. However, I&B Ministry has raised questions over non-completion of projects by students of the 2008 batch and also issues such as the convocation not being held in the last 17 years. 

All in all, FTII row has taken a completely new turn after the midnight crackdown on students by the police. It has snowballed into a major controversy and will take some deft intervention from the government if the impasse is to be sorted out soon.