Centre’s decision to grade artistes, writers draws mixed reaction

NO CONSENSUS While some performers, writers say the move will help them receive recognition, others raise doubts over its validity

NEW DELHI: The government’s move to grade the country’s artistes and writers evoked mixed reaction from the creative fraternity on Monday with some calling for more clarity in the culture ministry’s decision.

As part of its cultural mapping project, the government is working towards creating a national repository which can be used for providing aid to writers and artistes under different schemes of the ministry. Under a pilot project, artistes have been graded in three categories – outstanding, promising and waiting.

Some of those who participated in the pilot project were against the move.

“I don’t believe in grading of artists,” said Anasuya Vaidya from the Delhi-based Akshara Theatre group that has been listed in the outstanding category.

“There were artists from all over the country (during the project)…room and a lot of them didn’t believe in the idea of grading of artists.” Though danseuse Geeta Chandran agreed to the idea of culture mapping, she said, “… whether the ministry of culture needs to do this or some specialised agency like the Sangeet Natak Akademi needs more discussion”” GEETA CHANDRAN, classical dancer

Chandran pointed out that Doordarshan and even the Indian Council for Cultural Research already have their own system of grading artistes, the ministry doing the same thing “will (only) add a layer of confusion”.

“We need to evolve a single grading process or else there will be much confusion. Also, we need to decide for how long such grading is valid. Artists change; their abilities shift. We cannot give one grading and assume that that is for all time,” she said referring to an earlier system in the US which graded artists a three-year period.

“These are complex issues that need deep dialogue before SHALLU JINDAL, Kuchipudi dancer

decisions are made and thrust on artists.”

Some of the artistes believe cultural mapping is a good idea.

Kuchipudi exponent Shallu Jindal, graded in the promising category, said, “Any recognition is motivating and inspiring for artistes. A lot of artistes living in different parts of the country will get acknowledged through this. So the initiative of cultural mapping is a wonderful initiative.”

A senior ministry official said the project was aimed at having a database of art forms and artistes which will enable the government to streamline financial schemes for them. NEW DELHI: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Monday urged the Delhi high court to vacate its order staying proceedings against Himachal Pradesh chief minister Virbhadra Singh’s son Vikramaditya Singh and daughter Aparajita Kumari in a money laundering case.

ED told a bench of chief justice G Rohini and Justice Sangita Dhingra Sehgal that their “action” was well within confines of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

“They (ED) have registered Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) on the basis of an FIR registered by the CBI, as per law. The petitioners’ (Virbhadra Singh’s son and daughter) name did not figure in the FIR and hence was not mentioned in ECIR,” additional solicitor general Sanjay Jain, who appeared for ED, said in an affidavit.

“...the schemes of the Act, as it now operated, was directed not only against the persons and judicial entities which are prosecuted for scheduled offence by various agencies like CBI, Customs, SEBI etc, but also operates qua persons who conceal, possess, acquire, use and project or claim proceeds of crime,” the additional solicitor general said.

The agency further submitted that all of their “actions and investigation have been as per law and as prescribed by the PMLA”.

... It (cultural mapping project) will add a layer of confusion. We need to decide for how long such a grading is valid. Artistes change; their abilities shift. We cannot give one grade and assume that it is for all time.

Any recognition is motivating and inspiring for artistes. A lot of artistes living in different parts of the country will get acknowledged through this. So the initiative of cultural mapping is a wonderful initiative