Differences arose between Lalit Kala Akademi officials over exhibition

An internecine war brewing in the Lalit Kala Akademi came to a boil over the organisation of an exhibition and onthespot painting competition in Ayodhya in the runup to the inauguration of the Ram Temple by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 22. The fallout was the termination of many senior officials perceived to be close to V. Nagdas, chairman of the autonomous body that works under the aegis of the Union Culture Ministry.

The idea of the onthespot painting cum exhibition was the brainchild of Professor Nagdas, who was divested of his administrative powers on January 8. Subsequently, on February 12, the services of a total of 24 officials of the Akademi who were on contract was terminated.

Those on the list included Johny M.L., assistant editor (Contemporary), P. Jayaprakash, consultant (Admn)/ personal secretary to the chairman, and Suman Kumar Singh, assistant editor (Hindi) — all perceived to be working closely with Mr. Nagdas in Delhi. While the contracts of 10 employees were terminated in Delhi, those of 14 have been terminated in regional centres.

Mr. Nagdas was appointed the chairperson in March last year for a threeyear term. A former faculty of Chhattisgarh’s Indira Kala Sangeet Vishwavidlaya, he was a celebrated artist who had received numerous awards, including the National Academy Award by Central Lalit Kala Akademi in 2000.

Sources said a turf war had been brewing in the institution since Rajiv Kumar took charge as the secretary incharge in August. Documents accessed by The Hindu showed that complaints had been made to the Culture Ministry on the chairman’s style of functioning, including not organising meetings of the Executive Board and the General Council of the Akademi.

Mr. Nagdas was not available for comment.

Plans shelved

The sources said that the Akademi had planned a special painting/exhibition of Lord Ram’s “human face”. The theme of the exhibition, which would have involved 108 artists from across the country, had been conceptualised by noted actor and screenwriter Chandraprakash Dwivedi and would have been based on Lord Ram’s character as exemplified by the ‘Valmiki Ramayan’.

Mr. Dwivedi had in October last year held a meeting with the chairperson and other senior members of the Akademi. However, the programme was never finalised.

Documents accessed by The Hindu showed that on December 22, Mr. Nagdas issued a memo to Mr. Kumar which said: “…one of the most important activities that have to be undertaken in the near future by the Akademi is the on the spot painting/exhibition of artists from all over the country at Ayodhya”. However, there was no goahead and the exhibition was not held. Instead, an order was issued on January 8 barring the chairman from taking any “administrative actions” without consulting the Ministry.