To all our dear friends in their struggle against the privatization of the Pune Film Institute
Like all of us, Madam Ambika Soni too must surely have noticed many times the word “socialism” inscribed boldly on the very first page of the Indian Constitution, that ultimately made her realize that it falls within her constitutional duties to declare equally boldly that she should begin charity at home. Hence it is her ministerial art and culture, the information and broadcasting, which should at the outset, be transformed into capital goods! It is a pity that the essence of this highly consistent practice of theory on her part towards privatizing the FTII on the ground of profit enhancement cannot be grasped by some of the brightest minds in her own periphery! Incidentally, the fact that Smt. Ambika Soni’s career graph rose remarkably during the memorable Emergency chapter (’75) Indian Democracy as a youth Congress leader is yet to be part of oblivion at least for another handful of her admirers like us! But since the Constitution like the texts on socialism is too ‘old’ a scripture for these ‘modern’ Indian leaders, it is no wonder that with the bursting of the bubble of so called market economy all over the world during the last couple of years, the hatred towards socialistic program, generated among some of these most well-wishers of our society, is also on a similar meteoric rise, and that despite the ghost of socialism continuing to haunt the globe through the frantic efforts of the same well-wishers to try and rescue the bankrupt corporates through steps of nationalization only. This abhorrence of socialism is expressed day in and day out in no uncertain terms by the greatest well-wisher of this land, viz. our own Central Government, out on a warpath in carrying out its project of squeezing wealth out of our country to the imperialist nations i.e. the global well-wishers. How explicitly the government is trying to make us convince its viewpoint becomes amply clear through its flurry of activities incorporating the Delhi Commonwealth Games, the 2G telecommunication, the Adarsh land policy and why not, now the “liberalization” of FTII! The order of tens of crores involved in the last mentioned be it from Reliance or be it from some other benevolent corporate, is yet to be disclosed though.
The country knows that FTII produces film makers, from directors to technicians. A product meant for an audience to the tune of a virtual population of 110 crore, leaving alone its international impact, reaches though a real population amounting to 30 crores at the most, viz. the multiplex audience. This real multiplex audience earns in millions, and includes in its ranks, or to be precise, in its pinnacle, the likes of Sri Mukesh Amabani whose birthday gift to his wife comprises a 245crore luxurious aeroplane. This audience encompasses the CEOs, the Government bureaucrats and all the big shots in various walks of life people having sufficient enough to spend most of their income on luxury, people who can afford the comfort of a multiplex evening every weekend, may be even everyday. The remaining ‘shining India’ on the other hand, cannot spend 21 rupees per day. Film is a super-luxury item for them. Hence like every profit monger in every other businesses, the bollywood producers also opt for cinemas that may be applauded by the real and not this virtual mass, resulting in the creation of the generation of so called smart films of today. Consequently also, it is as much inconsistent for our Government, elected, sponsored by these capitalists to further the cause of such a government controlled institute, where it is obligatory to construct a film syllabus meant for the mass. When the entire film production to distribution is under private hands, they do not want to waste money in mass education of film production, which could have been spent for the ‘poor’ capitalists.
A government requires money and it has to acquire the same through taxes of varied kinds, but primarily through direct taxation. Now, it has time and again been shown that India’s total national income is concentrated in the hands of a few families only. If these people are regularly taxed then the annual amount amounts a proportion that is as large as 6 times the central annual budget deficit. But that is not the way how Madam Soni wants to earn money. Her central government is more comfortable to earning money by closing hospitals and FTII even while there lies an approximate amount of 280 lakh crore rupees belonging to several known & unknown faces of the Indian high stratum, safely deposited in Swiss banks as identified by the Swiss Government itself. This money, if returned back to India, can be used for taxless budgets for 30 years, can ensure 60 crore jobs and can dispose of all our foreign debts as many as 13 times. But on the contrary, the crisis-stricken capitalists are trying to utilize the super-luxury hunt of the 30 crore market of India whether in food, hospitalization, housing , clothing or entertainment & culture. It is a shame that still tour intellectuals & economists term this economy as a market economy, while it is as clear as daylight that this business pattern is the very result of anti-market economy — an economy based on a scanty market comprising of the super-luxury hunting consumer population. This economy cannot survive purely on market forces but rather primarily on government backings & policies. This privatization is a reiteration of the same, where Reliance needs government blessings for a Reliance Film Institute to emerge in Pune.
The fight of the FTII students to oust the privatization policy of Madam Soni while exposing all the bizarre promises, is supported & blessed by the 80 crore market outcasts of this country. Although it is a tragedy that the film-theatre-literature of post-global India has already deserted the mass, not only for its price but also for their subjects, contents & forms, still the people would like to express solidarity to this movement because they have sacrificed a lot for the development of mass culture through decades. They think that your struggle will lead to a struggle which will demand not only government controlled educational film institutes, but also government control on film production & distribution. Your struggle will demand a Bollywood with considerable government sponsorship leading to an alternative cultural struggle, though not alternative in the sense that these films will be mere decorative pieces in the shelves of Madam Soni & Hewitt CEOs.
It is not a sheer incident that the Goa film festival will be inaugurated by our Railway minister Ms Mamata Banerjee. Today she is the most vehement supporter & executor of PPP models, & that too of all things in railways! Rumours are in the air that she will change the Calcutta SRFTI also into a PPP product. The concern lies elsewhere. This subversive clique of Madam Soni & Banerjee together with their stooges will capitalize the very fact that the so called alternative art & culture happens to be very much detested by the general population, & here they propose to introduce a change, which would be brought about by Reliance & company.
Thank you for the struggle which has brought many questions into limelight. Your victory will be encourage all Indians in their struggle against imperialism in the forthcoming days.
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