Video | I Should be Judged on my Work: Chauhan to FTII Students

FTII student protesters claim that Gajendra Chauhan who played Yudhishthir should not be appointed as the Chairman.

FTII Students boycott classes to protest appointment of new chairperson, BJP man Gajendra Chauhan. (Photo courtesy: Twitter handle of Ashish Verma/‏@yesaashish )

Students from Pune’s Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) went on an indefinite strike on Friday to protest Gajendra Chauhan’s appointment as the Chairman.

In his defence, the actor and former BJP leader said that it is unfair to judge him before he joins work, and deserves a chance to showcase his responsibilities.

The students claim that Chauhan has no experience in films and his only claim to fame is playing the ever honest Yudishthir in the television saga Mahabharata.

He has been associated with the BJP for over 20 years and became an official member in 2004, had campaigned extensively for the party in Haryana during the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections last year. Apart from Chauhan there are other very dubious appointees in the Governing council like Anagha Ghaisas and Shailesh Gupta. Both known for making propgandist films for the Hindu right wing.

The Other Names

FTII has a great tradition of Chairmen in the past, from Adoor Gopalakrishnan, Shyam Benegal, Mukesh Khanna, Girish Karnad, U.R. Ananthamurthy to Saeed Akhtar Mirza.

We urge the artists, writers, performers, film makers, Ex Students to take notice and support the fight to choose a chairman, one who is qualified and does justice to the institution and not by extending political largesse.

All activities including classes, shoots and practicals will be stopped from today. Please do share and spread the word.

—FTII students