New FTII row as students to boycott dialogue exercise
FRESH CHALLENGE Five students served notice to vacate hostel What the administration is saying is not feasible for students. Therefore, we have decided not to attend the dialogue exercise ROBIN JOY, president, FTII
Students’ Association
PUNE: Within hours of veteran actor Anupam Kher being appointed as chairman of the Pune-based Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), the institute has witnessed a fresh flashpoint, triggering yet another controversy. Around 47 FTII students from the film wing of 2016 batch, have decided to boycott dialogue exercise, a mandatory part of the third semester project, after the administration refused to accept their demand of extending it to three days per batch instead of two.
After the students refused to attend the dialogue exercise, the administration even served notices to five students asking them to vacate the hostel. On Thursday, the FTII administration revoked notices and even tried to offer alternate options to the students to accommodate some of their demands. The students, however, remained adamant on their stand of not attending dialogue exercise meetings.
“There is a deadlock here after students have refused to accept our proposal. We are now staring at a possibility of backlog,” said FTII director Bhupendra Kainthola. At present, students have to engage for 12-hours for two days while the students have demanded that the exercise be extended to three days with eight hours activity every day.
“Our purpose to keep it for two days is to finish the semester on time so as to prevent backlog,” said Amit Tyagi, dean, FTII.
The institute has often been in the news for backlog - three-year batch stretching over six years. In 2016, the administration took some firm steps and ended the backlog, allowing fresh admissions. “What the administration is saying is not feasible for students. Therefore, we have decided not to attend the dialogue exercise,” said Robin Joy, president, FTII students’ association.
After the students took a firm stand, the administration said that if the students do not participate in the activity, they will miss it and in no circumstances will be allowed to participate later.
The development on the campus has coincided with Kher’s appointment, which the students have questioned. The students have also written an open letter to Kher raising administrative issues that “affect them”.