Rad Links

 The Serbo-Croatian writer, Danilo Kis, said that art is the terrain where you are absolutely free and where you can explore all life’s beauties and life’s vices without being punished. This should be what we expect within a democratic society. However, in today’s India the freedom of expression is being systematically curtailed. Fundamentalist agencies have taken it upon themselves to become the moral custodians of cultural propriety.

The appalling invasion by BJP activists into the Faculty of Fine Arts of the University of Baroda during their internal examination evaluation of the art work of students, is unlawful and must be strongly condemned by all who value democracy. If we allow this atrocity to go un-protested we will be giving over our educational institutions to the dictates of conservative agendas and to those who desire to sabotage India’s pluralism.

I am an alumnus of the Faculty of Fine Arts of Baroda. It is at this art college that I was trained to experiment, challenge, dialogue, critique and learn through the diversity of attitudes explored. An art college must provide an environment that is unfettered by prejudice or bias. It is the educators and administrators of these educational institutions who must protect the neutrality and freedom of the students.

I would compare an educational institution to a family. It is the space where through nurturing by elders, one grows to become an informed and articulate individual. It is here where one should expect never to be betrayed nor abandoned. It is therefore outrageous that the authorities have chosen to side with the perpetrators of violence and oppression, instead of defending the unlawful arrest of Chandramohan Srilamantula, an MA student in the print making department.

What becomes farcical is the subsequent suspension of Dr Shivaji Panikkar, a renowned art historian who contributes immense value as a teacher in the Fine Arts Faculty. His contribution has impacted contemporary Indian art history. It is shameful that he has been treated so shabbily by the university authorities.

Be forewarned, when civil liberties are so blatantly trampled upon and the ranting of fundamentalists becomes the rule of law, then none of us are safe any more. Freedom is not a seven-letter word in a game of scrabble. It is a constitutional right that is and must be held sacred within a democratic nation and be upheld as the birthright of every citizen. We are fast heading towards a system where all the voices of dissent will be stifled. It is happening to someone else today. It may be your turn tomorrow.

The writer is an alumnus of MS University of Baroda