BJP's 'employment politics' again under attack

Stir over Gajendra Chauhan's appointment as FTII chairman reflects general opposition to 'politicisation' of cultural & academic bodies

A protest by students of the politically aware but peaceful campus of Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Pune, seems to show a backlash that the Narendra Modi-led central government’s recent appointments at cultural and academic bodies might be facing for their clear political bias.
 

These students recently rose to oppose the appointment of Gajendra Chauhan as FTII’s new chairman. Chauhan, best known for Yudhishthir’s role in the television series Mahabharat, happens to be a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party.

On Friday, a flash strike was organised to demand Chauhan’s removal. The posters declared: “Mr Modi, we don’t want your puppet.”
 

This was not the first time that the BJP-led government was under attack for appointments made by the information & broadcasting ministry. Earlier, Pahlaj Nihalani, the chief of the Indian censor board, has consistently drawn criticism for his restrictive policies. He faces resistance not only from general public but from those within the censor board as well. In fact, one of Nihlani’s colleagues had gone on to declare him an ‘anarchist’. Many believe Nihalani to be a ‘Modi fan’ and cite his public statements on the prime minister to support their claim.
 

There seems to be a pattern in the ruling party’s recruitment strategy. Mukesh Khanna of the Shaktimaan fame, who was frequently seen campaigning for the party earlier, is heading the Children Film Society of India today. Also, the ministry hired Malayalam actor Suresh Gopi, ‘coincidentally’ a BJP supporter, as the chairman of the National Film Development Corporation.
 

Much of the opposition to these appointments stems from frequent overlapping between personal ideals — mostly Hindutva-backed — and professional decisions taken by these institutions. This might be the reason why students have been raising their voice against the possibility of being constrained by the views of their respective institutions’ heads.
 

So far as FTII is concerned, Chauhan’s selection ahead of those like Gulzar and Shyam Benegal came as a shock to many students, as well as other panelists of the institute. Over the recent stir, Chauhan has expressed his amazement and requested the students to give him a ‘chance.’ 
 

While the students have declared their strike will continue till Chauhan resigns, the new chairman has decided to get them to change their opinion about him. The battle, however, it seems is not between a BJP member and students. There could be the larger battle of ideologies and over the question of how much ideologies should be allowed to interfere with institutional functions. Besides, the discontent appears to be over the entry of ‘politics’ in traditionally apolitical areas like art and cinema. 
 

Many also refer to sudden inclusion of BJP sympathisers in important institutional positions as the party’s payback for their influential supporters. In the case of FTII, the student stir has further brought this trend into public glare. The events that might unfold over the next few days, with the institute in the midst of it, could either create a dent in BJP’s employment politics or in campus politics.