We publish below a statement circulated by Lalit Kala Kendra(Gurukul) alumni, art educators, visiting faculty and theatre/cine artistes regarding the recent attack on the students making an examination presentation of a play woven around a Ram Leela rehearsal, where routinely men play women’s roles. This attack took place on 2 February. This incident was preceded by an attack on FTII students on 23 January by a group of right-wing goons. We also present in this post, for the record, a statement on the previous incident by the FTII Students’ Association and a solidarity statement by FTII Alumni.

Statement from Lalit Kala Kendra(Gurukul) alumni, art educators, visiting faculty and theatre/cine artistes

We would like to begin by saying that despite our diverse ideological, cultural, social, religious and geographical backgrounds and identities, we write this note together as informed and sensitive artists, and citizens of India. We would like to strongly emphasise that we have great respect for all religions, castes, creeds, sects etc. We are proud of and value our rich Indian culture and traditions.

Lalit Kala Kendra (Gurukul), also known as Centre for Performing Arts, is a department of the Savitribai Phule Pune University, offering graduate and postgraduate education in three broad streams – Dance, Music and Dramatics in the traditional Indian Gurukul system. All the courses conducted by Lalit Kala Kendra (Gurukul) are UGC approved. A number of distinguished artists in the performing arts such as Bharat Ratna Pandit Bhimsen Joshi, Padmashri Satish Alekar (who also served as the HOD until 2009), Pandita Rohini Bhate have been associated with this department. Many stalwarts also continue taking part in the department’s curriculum board. Some even provide necessary guidance to students from time to time. Over the years, Lalit Kala Kendra (Gurukul) has produced many distinguished alumni who continue to make very significant contributions to the field of theatre, music, dance, academics, television and cinema even today. We thus passionately believe that this department serves as an invaluable avenue in the world of the arts. Its HOD Dr. Praveen Bhole has been very proactive as a theatre educator, scholar and practitioner for close to three decades. He has overseen the department for several years now and his insight in theatre is of the highest pedigree.

Performing Arts are called Prayog Kala in Marathi. The word Prayog literally translates as ‘experiment’. Students of performing arts are expected to experiment with their art and craft- their body, voice, thoughts, opinions, understanding of art, aesthetics, etc. Drama students at Lalit Kala Kendra(Gurukul) engage in a variety of modules in their years at the department- scripted plays to improvisations, faculty/guest productions to student exercises, physical theatre to argumentative plays, folk forms to classics. It is a mixed bag rich with diversity of form and content, modernity and tradition, and has been in practice remarkably now for decades. Students are encouraged to try their hand at a variety of vocations and techniques in the process of discovering the artist within. That has been the beauty of Lalit Kala Kendra over the years. And it’s a rare beauty that needs to be preserved and supported!

Lalit Kala Kendra (Gurukul) conducts written as well as practical examinations in accordance with the University rules. Every year, as a part of their curriculum, drama students stage plays on a wide variety of topics and genres as their practical examination presentations. We could say that during such examinations, the theatre stage itself serves as a question paper as well as an answer sheet. Internal and/or external examiners/experts are present for these presentations to evaluate the students’ performances. These performances are followed by viva voces which are also a part of the evaluation process. These presentations have never intended to insult any religion, caste, creed, sect etc or hurt anybody’s religious sentiment. Sanhita te Prayog (Script to Performance) is a crucial module in the drama curriculum, wherein students attempt to write and present their own 15 minute play. This module has been conducted since the late 1990s and hundreds of such student plays have been presented till date.

We are united in strongly condemning the disruption, violence, damage and trauma that the department students, faculty, examiners and members of the audience faced from certain factions or groups that attended the Sanhita te Prayog exam on the evening of 2nd Feb, 2024 at Lalit Kala Kendra(Gurukul), SPPU.

The university’s examination presentations were disrupted and the education system was put under siege. Students of all genders were beaten up, teachers were threatened and abused. This behaviour is highly condemnable and reprehensible, and should be taken up by the authorities and appropriately dealt with. In a country that boasts of a rich tradition of debate, of argument, of allowing for a conducive forum of ideas to be counter with ideas, it is shameful that these factions and groups resorted to threats, abuse and violence. This act is a grotesque violation of our peaceful performative traditions and one which promotes bullying and coercion. 

If there was anything objectionable to be found by any members in the audience in one of the several play presentations that were made that evening, those members should have waited for the examination performances to conclude before formally registering their objections with the university authorities by due formal process. It is unacceptable that these groups disregarded and flouted university examination rules.

It is deeply hurtful that police complaints were registered against university students and HOD. It is also unfathomable that no cognisance of their pain and trauma was taken into consideration at the time, and no complaints from their side were entertained thereafter. The department, its students and HOD, who are in fact the real victims of this incident, are now being unfairly targeted, deliberately defamed and maligned with disinformation in circulated videos, publications and on social media, leading to severe misunderstandings about the institution and its students. It is disheartening to witness Dr. Bhole’s career being reduced to cheap slander and abuse by people who do not know him or his work.

We appeal to everyone to kindly stop this inappropriate slander and defamation. We also request that the university administration and the police provide adequate protection to all our faculty and students who are under severe distress and fear for their own safety and well being.

The matter is now in the Honourable Courts of Justice and we appeal to all groups, organisations, students and artists to respect the Constitution of India and its system of law and order.

We stand in solidarity with the students, HOD and faculty of Lalit Kala Kendra (Gurukul).

Jai Hind!

Film and Television Institute of India Students’ Association statement on the incident of 23 January

As you are aware, on 23rd January 2024, an aggressive mob forced its way through the main gate of FTII. The mob assaulted various students and four students were grievously injured. They also vandalised FTII property and burnt installations set up by students. Previously on the night of 21st January a mob had gathered outside the institute main gate and threatened the students with dire consequences.

The members of the student association had therefore requested the authorities for increased safety of the campus. Despite the possibility of such an event, FTII security and the police officials were inadequately prepared to control the situation and the mob managed to infiltrate the campus, vandalise property and assault the students. 

When the injured students were taken to the police station and then for the medical, no statements were taken on record. Rather, there was a violent mob outside the police station threatening them constantly and thus compromising their safety. 

There was severe misrepresentation and manipulation of the facts in much of the media reportage that vilified the students and represented them as the instigators. This was done through different mediums including first person interviews, photographs, articles, social media memes, etc that started surfacing within an hour of the incidents, when students were still trying to understand and process the attack. 

On 24th January 2024, around 10 am, a post on the social media platform “X” revealed that the organisation, whose members orchestrated the attack, had filed an FIR against 7 students. Out of the 7 names mentioned in the FIR, 2 names were fictitious. These were the same students who were severely beaten during the attack on 23rd January 2024. There are severe accusations and sections levied against the students. The sections charged are 153-B(1)(c) and 295-A. These sections are non-bailable offences and the students have been falsely framed. With a looming threat of an impending arrest, a sense of panic and helplessness shrouds the student community. 

The students attempted to meet the Director & registrar to know the severity of the situation. They have refused to help students in these events or even prioritize our safety. The chairman has still not responded to our appeals and has made some disturbing remarks about our gathering on the 22nd, as quoted by the Director. They are neither taking responsibility for the breach of security, nor the terror surrounding us now through external extremist groups. 

Additionally, the grave assault on one female student remained largely unaddressed. Therefore female students of the college met with the registrar and the director due to the dissatisfaction with the actions and response taken by the institute particularly in regard to the female safety, both prior to and post the attack.

As a community we right now are prioritising on safeguarding the 5 students falsely accused. 

We seek solidarity and support in times of such a crisis.

Hence, we urgently appeal all organisations, University associations, artists and individuals to demonstrate their support on Monday, 29th January 2024 against the attack on students throughout the country, including FTII. 

We request you to please mail us the same on ftiistudentsbody@gmail.com .

Our official handle is @officialftiisa

https://www.instagram.com/officialftiisa?igsh=MTE0cXE4YzhtY2tnaQ==

We request you to kindly tag us on social media so that we could circulate further. 

With regards, 

FTIISA