[Reader-list] Press Release from the Faculty of Fine Arts, MSU, Baroda.

[Amitabh Kumar]

On the 9th of May 2007, Wednesday, outside elements forced their way into
the premises of the Faculty of Fine Arts at 3.30pm and caused not only
immediate closure of the examination work that was underway but got the
police to take the MVA final year student Chandra Mohan into custody. They
resorted to abusive language, threat of bodily harm and despite all this
were allowed to go scott-free. It is a matter of great concern to us.
Unfortunately we are now under pressure to offer apologies for permitting
display of the allegedly offensive paintings. We the undersigned are firmly
of the view that whether we like it or not an artist has the right to
express unconventional views in a work of art. The intention of the said
works were not to hurt anybody's sentiments but to examine taboos in the
light of creative investigation. *They were certainly not intended to cause
hurt or outrage to any public sentiment whatsoever. Besides, they were not
part of a public exhibition. If anyone felt that any work 'offends' their
sensibility it could have been brought to the notice of the authorities
without resorting to abusive, indiscriminate and uncalled for behavior. In
the unfortunate circumstances if any published image, seen out of the
context, has caused hurt to anybody it is regretted.*

It is pertinent to state that the said works were part of the final year
annual display. The display is part of the annual examination process and an
internal academic matter of the faculty over many years and not an
aberration in the academic procedures of the Faculty. Hence the disruption
caused is an attempt not only to disrupt the process of evaluation but
designed to undermine the stature and autonomy of an educational institute
of international repute. There were attempts on the part of Mr. Niraj Jain
and the mob accompanying him to paint the pictures as "anti Gujarat" and to
inflame passions so as to cause maximum damage. It may also be noted that
these very people were seen to be moving around with impunity, threatening
and abusing students and teachers. *This is a cruel irony in view of the
fact that it is the Faculty of Fine Arts that has made substantial
contributions toward placing Gujarat and Baroda on the international
cultural scene along with making equally substantial contributions in
enriching the local environment*.

It should be categorically stated that Mr. Niraj Jain did not want to
discuss anything peacefully with the Faculty authorities and was, in fact,
aggressively contemptuous of them. He came with the intention to cause
disruption and breach of peace. This amounts to willful disruption of the
examination process and wanton violation of the autonomy and sanctity of the
Faculty of Fine Arts.
The action constitutes an assault on the core values of the University or
for that matter of any academic institution in a democratic country like
India. If situations such as the above are allowed to prevail, it would not
only undermine the fundamental freedom provided to us by the Constitution
but also render it impossible for the faculty and its departments to
function independently and meaningfully.

-- 
www.amitabhkumar.blogspot.com
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