IN SOLIDARITY WITH FTII
STUDENTS’ PROTEST AGAINST APPOINTMENT OF GAJENDRA CHAUHAN AS FTII CHAIRMAN
Students For Society stands in solidarity with the
protest of FTII students against the appointment of Gajendra Chauhan (a BJP
member) as FTII chairman. The appointment is attack on the progressive
tradition and legacy of FTII and can’t be seen in the isolation from other
series of events happening in our society.
The fascist
forces (Sangh Parivar) are desperate to control various educational, research
and cultural institutions. One after another appointments are being made in which
BJP-RSS-VHP associates are being allocated top posts. Y Sudershan Rao, who
openly upholds caste system, was made ICHR Chairman. Dina Nath Batra, whose
books promoting Hindutva ideology were circulated by Gujarat govt in 42,000
schools, was appointed to guide education in Haryana (a BJP ruled state). Similarily
can be seen the appointment of Pahlaj Nihalani (who made promotional films on
Modi) as chairperson of CFBC and NFDC is expected to have another BJP supporter
as its next Chairman. The textbooks are being re-written to suit Hindutva ideology.
This all is happening with the background of increasing number of communal
violence and pseudo-nationalism and religious-chauvinism being propagated with
BJP MPs regularly spitting communal venom in their statements. The current
appointment is in the same row and has been made completely ignoring any
academic or artistic contributions.
SFS stands in support of the FTII students who,
recognising these fascist trends, have not bowed down but dared to stand
against it. SFS appeals all the progressive sections of the society to come
forward in the support of the ongoing struggle of the students of FTII.
