All India Students' Association (AISA) Statement Against ABVP's Attack On FTII Students

AISA strongly condemns the fascist assault by ABVP goons on five FTII (Film and Television Institute) students in Pune. The FTII students, who had organized a meeting to pay homage to the slain anti-superstition activist Dr. Narendra Dabholkar, had planned to screen Anand Patwardhan’s film Jai Bhim Comrade and had invited artists from the Kabir Kala Manch (KKM) to perform at the meeting. ABVP goons, true to their track record of violence and hooliganism, brutally beat up the FTII students ostensibly to “punish” them for inviting artists with alleged “Naxal” links.

For a long time now, there have been attempts by the powers-that-be to frame activists of the KKM as “Maoists” – this cultural group, which is well-known across Maharashtra for singing and performing against casteist violence, atrocities on Dalits and embedded oppressive caste hierarchies in our society, has been repeatedly hounded by police and the state machinery without a shred of evidence. Several members of the KKM have been booked under the draconian UAPA (Unlawful Activities Prevention Act), and the sheer injustice of these patently false charges was recently highlighted once more when the Bombay High Court granted bail to some KKM members. This is what Justice Thipsay of the Bombay High Court had to say in his judgment:  “It is surprising that highlighting the wrongs prevalent in the society and insisting that there is a need to change the situation was considered as evidence and used to convince the court of them being members of the Communist Party of India (Maoist).”

Despite all this, the targeting of the KKM and of all those who stand by their protests, their music and their right to express dissent continues, as the recent attacks FTII students in Pune showcase only too well. This attack in Pune is just the latest shameful assault by communal, fascist, right-wing lumpens – the latest in the long line of brutal attacks, which include for instance the murder of the rationalist Dr. Dabholkar, the vandalism of the Oriental Institute in Pune and the subsequent destruction of several precious manuscripts, and the hooliganism in the Arts Faculty in Delhi University against the introduction of Ramanujan’s famed and well-acclaimed academic work ‘100 Ramayanas’. Time and again, we have seen that this lumpen brigade springs into action against any progressive voice which resists their ideas and dangerous worldview.  This practice of indulging in violence, hooliganism and lumpenism has after all always been thestaple diet of the ABVP and their ideological brethren in the RSS and the VHP.  

Let us also not forget that the very same forces which assaulted the FTII students and the KKM activists in Pune are the ones who routinely defend the oppressive casteist hierarchy in the name of ‘cultural nationalism’; they are the ones who are defending Asaram Bapu accused of raping a minor girl in his ashram; they are the ones who spread a vicious calumny and threat campaign against those like Dr. Dabholkar who spoke out against superstition and exploitative religious practices. They are also the ones who indulge in moral policing of women – we have seen them in action threatening young couples on Valentine’s Day, we have seen them abusing and assaulting women in pubs and accusing them of being ‘immoral’, we have seen them time and again blaming victims of rape and justifying sexual violence.

AISA stands by the students of FTII who are protesting against ABVP’s hooliganism, and also by the KKM in the protracted struggle against repression and witch-hunting. In these times when fascist forces are trying their best to destroy all democratic spaces of dissent, it is important for progressive forces to resist these attempts every inch of the way. We demand that the charges against the FTII students must be withdrown immediately. Also strong action must be initiated against the ABVP goons who indulged in violence. 

                                                                                                                 Sandeep 

                                                                                                                 AISA

                                                                                                                 09868033425

Letter of Support from NSD Student Union-

We, students at the National School of Drama, New Delhi, are irrevocably dismayed by the violent acts to which students from the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Pune have been subjected recently.

There is great difficulty in the denial of freedom to the artist. The artist- student, student- artist is the primary, we daresay, the foremost instrument of the interaction between subjects of concern in our midst and those who lie affected by them. To snatch from the artist her will to express is to kill an active, living, breathing creature ruthlessly. This is no mark of the phenomenon that our Society and our lives are meant to be as it is no mark of an intelligently functioning body politic. The attack on the students from the Film and Television Institute of India, we venture to say, were heinous, in that they have ventured to perpetrate a deep- seated hegemonic notion of baseless moral policing, they have attempted to propagate fear preceding healthy, artistic expression, they create the soil for unreasonable aggression and condescending punishment.

In writing this we strongly condemn the nature of these and other such acts that have happened in the recent past. To shrink from responding to the cries of these students as the policeman present at the scene did, is not merely wrong but utterly shameful. We intend this also as a reminder of Article 19(1) of the Indian Constitution which places complete right to freedom and expression with every human being within the jurisdiction of the country.

    Students' Association

Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute           

EM Byepass Road, P.O. Panchasayar, Kolkata - 700094                                                                                                                                

Subject: Condemnation of the attack on FTII students by ABVP

We, the students of Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute (SRFTI) strongly condemn the attack on the four students of Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) by Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad activists on Tuesday outside the premises of NFAI, Pune. It is a blatant violation of human rights.

  We believe that FTII and SRFTI are democratic spaces which encourage equality and freedom of speech and expression. These institutions bring students from different strata of society together, encouraging free and rational thinking. We, as students of cinema who aspire to make a difference in society under no conditions will put up with fanaticism of any nature. As responsible citizens we strongly believe that such injustice should be terminated to make way for a better society built on equality on the basis of religion , caste, class, gender etc. We respect the effort taken to pay tribute to Mr. Narendra Dabholkar,  renowned rationalist activist by Mr. Patwardhan, NFAI, students of FTII and Kabir Kala Manch (KKM). An organisation like KKM which works as a voice of Dalits being called 'Naxals' and enemies of the state is unacceptable. No person or organisation has the authority or power to attack an art form of such sincerity. 

At this juncture we express our solidarity with our fellow film students in FTII and express our deep admiration for their courage and perseverance for justice. In the present scenario where religious fundamentalists are finding their way into central institutions of learning we demand that the state take immediate action against the perpetrators of this well planned attack.

Students' Association
SRFTI

Niranjan Kumar Kujur  +91 9836021482
Lalitha Prasad Kalluri   +91 8981273154

PRESS RELEASE from GraFTII

We at GraFTII, the alumnus association of the Film & Television Institute of India (FTII), express our concern at the increasing manifestations of intolerance in our country. An immediate example is the brutal attack on students of the FTII in Pune on the evening of 21st August, after a film screening held in tribute to Dr Narendra Dabholkar, assassinated the previous morning.

Intimidating tactics such as beatings and murders not only strike at the roots of our democracy but get encoded as threats in the minds of all. Fear places constraints on what might be said, written, read, shared, created, shown or even funded. Creativity can only thrive if there is no fear in the minds of those who work in the arts, sciences, social studies and all other spheres of human endeavour.

Such acts of violence should be condemned by all who value India's cultural diversity and see the diminishing freedom of expression as a sign of worse things to come. We assert that we will not be intimidated by such tactics. Those guilty of such acts should be brought to justice and the charges made against the FTII students be dropped immediately.

On Monday, 26th August, the students of FTII have called for a Solidarity March in Pune, starting at 4pm from FTII Campus on Law College Road to Omkareshwar Chowk. This march is a protest against the assassination of Dr. Narendra Dabholkar, the attack on FTII students and all other acts of intimidation and violence.

GraFTII unequivocally supports this call and urges all who value freedom of expression to show their concern by joining the peaceful march which will have songs, plays and appeals from students. And also, by holding peaceful solidarity demonstrations condemning such acts of violence across the country.

24th August, 2013

GraFTII, the alumnus association of the Film & Television Institute of India

Press Release by FTII Director

                                                                                                                                                        Date : 22nd August, 2013

 

                Film and Television Institute of India                                                  

                            PRESS RELEASE

ASSAULT ON FTII STUDENTS UNACCEPTABLE

Country's premier film institution Film and Television Institute of India, Pune is dismayed and shocked over the assault on its students on 21.08.13.

As a part of academic curriculum, regular screening of various films and documentaries are organized at FTII and NFAI.

Students Association of FTII had organized a screening of a National Award winning documentary film “Jai Bhim Comrade' by Anand Patwardhan at NFAI theatre on 21.8.2013. The main focus of the film is on the caste based atrocities and evils of superstition. ‘Jai Bhim Comrade’, shot over 14 years, follows the poetry and music of a subaltern tradition of reason that fights superstition and religious bigotry.

The film has got a Special Jury Prize, in the 59th National Film Awards, India, 2012 and Best Film/Video award at Mumbai International Film Festival, India, 2012 apart from other national and international awards. Students had invited Mr Anand Patwardhan and few members of Kabir Kala Manch, a cultural organisation and a group of singers and poets, who have been featured in the documentary film, for interaction and performance after the screening.

The screening started at 3.30 pm on 21.8.2013 and was attended by approximately 150 people including FTII students and general public. This particular screening assumed more importance for students due to the brutal killing of leading rationalist and thinker Mr Narendra Dabholkar on 20.8.2013, just one day earlier in Pune. During the function, a condolence was observed in memory of Mr Dabholkar.

After the programme got over, as few last remaining FTII students were coming out of NFAI premises, few persons who had gathered there, started shouting slogans against the performers. While some students who had organized the screening , started coming out of the NFAI gate, the same persons started hitting them with sticks and helmets . Five students of FTII were injured out of which three had to be taken to nearby hospital. One student got two stitches on his head. Three students were given medical treatment.

Police has since taken statements of FTII students.

The faculty, students and staff are dismayed and shocked over the turn of the events and the way the students were assaulted. We are all aware FTII is a unique academic space which allows for the freedom of expression and intellectual debate. Students from all across the world come and study at FTII and engage in creative discourses. Screenings and cultural performances are regular activities of the campus which is going on since inception. This attack on the students is an attack on the very creative foundations of FTII and is unacceptable to the Institution .

The FTII has requested the Pune Police to take necessary steps to ensure that proceedings in the case are done in most unbiased and fair manner and also ensure that action is taken to see that justice is done for the FTII students.

D. J. Narain
Director

Report on the unfortunate incident on New Year's party 2013

Dear GRAFTII,

  In wake of the unfortunate incident that took place on the 31st night when some of the students were beaten by the Police inside the campus. Here is the detailed description of the incident - 

   As the students were busy celebrating the New Year’s party, peacefully, within the campus premises, the beat marshals entered the institute at around 1.30am and asked to stop the music. The students immediately stopped the music; however, the police personnel carried away the DJ’s speakers and audio console despite the fact that the DJ was ready to leave. The police already seemed agitated on arrival. The students showed resentment on seeing that the police were carrying away the speakers, which was not the institutes property and was hired from outside. 

Sakshi Gulati, president, Student’s Body, FTII, negotiated with the policemen regarding the same while other senior students began dispersing the student crowd back to their hostels. Amid the chaos the police started to baton charge the students without any prior warning or announcement. This created a panic among the students. While some of the students escaped, some tried to stop the agitation and protect the students who were being assaulted. Three students were injured, one badly hit on the head incurring stitches, while others took the blow on hands, shoulders and legs while trying to protect themselves. The police jeep then left the campus carrying one student and picking another one from the gate. The students were enraged by the police behavior however the two beat constables left behind on the bike were safely escorted to the gate.

The police by then had called the riot bus. The policemen from the riot van, the beat patrol and the police jeep then entered the gate and were ready to lathi-charge the remaining students. All the students got together and stopped the policemen from doing so. The students were then asked to follow the police personnel to the Deccan Police Station. The ACP and DCP were called, who after a long discussion asked the students not to lodge a FIR.

The students, however, asked the DCP to formally

1.       Inquire into the incident and take action against the policemen involved.

                2. The students also requested him to make sure that the      police personnel do not enter the campus and only do so in the presence of their warden/director/or registrar and enter the premises always with a female officer/constable.  

   The Student's Body has formally got the assurance and the support from the administration of the Institute in dealing with the issue. 

In this regard we request the GRAFTII to support the students in their pursuit and not believe in rumors that are being circulated from unknown sources regarding the incident.

Vision FTII - The Next 50 Years

          Vision FTII - The Next 50 Years

Dear Students ,
After months of hard work and endless meetings , discussions and debates the draft of Nair Committee report on 'revitalization of FTII' is finally ready. Please read it carefully and feel free to give your suggestions/ opinion /critique. It's only a draft and any suggestion to improve upon it is welcome.

FTII Students' Association