As if art is not enough service, as if art doesnt require enough sacrifice already, as if artists have ever caved in to strong arming. Service is born of love, not coercion. But perhaps, without your voice to champion the artists cause, there will be a straw that someday breaks the camels back. For now though: Under the bludgeonings of chance My head is bloody, but unbowed. Viva Vikram Iyengar. We are with you in spirit--with jhaddus in hand. Vikram Iyengar from Kolkatta writes: Ranans secretary Jayati Chakraborty just got a call from the Ministry of Culture, Government of India. They asked whether Ranan had as yet participated in any Swachh Bharat programmes. We have to send photographic proof of Ranan members sweeping roads or cleaning schools otherwise no grants will be released apparently. When did the Ministry of Culture become the Ministry of Cleanliness? And how do photographs of us holding brooms prove that anything anywhere in this country is clean at all? And how does the Ministry justify holding back grants meant for specific cultural activity on grounds such as this - that too through telephone call, and no official written communication? They have not asked for photographs of a single artistic activity! Coercion, anyone?! Gentle pressure to be able to say that artists are on their side? I want a clean India - visually, mentally, and spiritually. And all of us in Ranan do our bit for it, all of us are involved in some kind of social activity individually and through Ranan. Involvement in culture IS a social activity by itself, and cleanses the soul at the very least. But we will not submit to proving our credentials to get a pat on the back from the government in the form of a measly grant which doesnt even begin to pay our bills anyway. The promise of acche din comes to our doorstep. We have our brooms - are we going to be swept away by it, or sweep it out?!
Posted on: Thu, 22 Jan 2015 05:17:47 +0000
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