Some Letters of support we have been recieving from all over the globe!

1)
"This is to express our deep concern about the way in which privatization is affecting all the creative institutions in India, which were set up after the Independence of India as an expression of a new hope to revive the ancient cultural traditions of India. Institutions like the F.T.I.I. in Pune was one of the leading lights in this Indian renaissance. But now it looks like the forces of colonialism, in a new form, are ready to destroy the creative imagination, by domesticating Indian culture by enslaving it to market forces. In the name of Independence, it is vital that such places of creative enterprise continue to have an identity and sovereignty of their own, so that young artists and thinkers can function freely, without having to serve the interests of multi national industries."

Jyoti Sahi
Dr. Jyoti Sahi, (N.D.D. London, D.D. Serampore)
Art Ashram
Silvepura P.O.
Bangalore North 560090
Karnataka, INDIA
Tel: 91-080-28466274

2)

"Friends,I wish to express my support for your ongoing struggle against the proposed take-over of FTII by private agencies. I hope the Ministry of Information And Broadcasting will reconsider the decision and save the Institute which has been the sustaining force behind the Indian film industry."

Good luck to you all.

Dr.K.P Shankaran

Associate Professor

St. Stephen's College

Delhi


3) Dear Friends,

It pains me enormously to see the plight of all of you,me included.I had written to you all the reason why the govt. is hellbent to ruin the Institute.You all will be proud to know that India is very fast racing to become the MOST CORRUPT nation in the world.Every day a new scam is unearthed and the shameless politicians are sucking the nation dry of all its resources.Under these circumstances the only choice that is left for us is to stick to our guns.You will be shocked to know that people with vested interest in the industry are also behind the institute becoming private,because it serves their interest.So don't expect that the persons who matter in the industry will back you up.You will have to fight your own battle.If you feel that I can be of any help I am with you all ALWAYS in whatever way you want.My only suggestion is DON"T LOSE HEART,the darkest night will also pass to welcome a beautiful morning.

With Best Wishes to you all,
Your's Sincerely,
Adeep Tandon.
19th Nov.2010.7.50pm
08097514047.

4)Re: Student Agitation at FTII (this was a reply posted on the link below)

http://www.ftiipeople.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=618

Postby pierrefriquet on Thu Nov 18, 2010 3:34 pm

Dear Comrades,
it's from Johannesburg, South Africa, in a special historically-speaking that I'm writing this little post. Well I always wish to write THE post that gets created in my mind but always i can't find the right timing to put all that down. So I'm following Param's advice " Please don't sit idle. There's a lot we can all contribute, by just commenting".
I'm actually writing from work where I put on pause my editing job, a documentary, to write these lines. As said above, where i stay right now, is a historical meaningful place for South Africans, Sophiatown. You can wikipedia it, it's very relevant to know what happened there.
This area, Sophiatown, was an oasis of "freedom" and multiculturalism in the desert of apartheid days. Because of the Group act, everyone was compartimented into ghettos, whites among whites, blacks amongs blacks, coloured among coloured, Indians among Indians, Chinese among Chinese etc
But Sophiatown was not. It was alive with mixed ethnies and languages. Blacks used to hang with whites and so. It was a small pocket where difference was accepted and celebrated.
The Nazi-like regime of apartheid didn't like so much HAPPINESSS and unity among diversity, so they displaced by force everybody there to create an area reserved for police men and reservists. Everybody from the area was put into ghettos and no place like that existed till democracy came back in 1994.

It's a far stretched and totally subjective but don't let FTII be a place for police men and reservists. It's an island in the middle of a desertic ocean.
This institute has breed the best years of my life and forever I shall remember each face, each second that i encounter.
The place is fragile and constitutes an UNIQUE environment in the world. I can't express or explain what is FTII to somebody that i don't come from FTII.
I have to use analogy so I use the term UTOPIA or i can refer to a film. If FTII was a FILM, what would it be? So I chose 8 and half for its artistic freedom and famous sequence towards the end where Marcello is with women in his imaginary kingdom.

I'm geographically far but emotionally with you guys. Some days back, I had a chat with a soldier who was a member of the AFRICAN NATIONAL CONGRESS's armed wing. Remember before Independence in India, the armed wing of CONGRESS. Same stuff. That guy was among the personal guards of Nelson Mandela.
At great extend, we talked about a new form of REVOLUTION ! media-cum-social revolution.
And I can see with you guys happening.
Just the fact that i'm writing now is a sign of this new movement.
Please I'm addressing to the artists hearts of all. Please make films/small clips/video installation/any audio visual content and share it on youtube.
I saw on facebook photographs of small posters and so on. This is great. I'm only encouraging to continue all that.
All my life, I will bear a sentimental debt to FTII. I thought I will come back and teach or whatever. This is an opportunity for everyone to GIVE back what FTII gave us.

ALL THE BEST TO ALL
don't give up the FIGHT
Pierre