Controversy over functioning of Sangeet Natak Akademi continues unabated

Rabindra Bhavan in Delhi which houses the Akademi's office: Several accusationsThe Sangeet Natak Akademi, the sole custodian for the promotion of the performing arts in India, is again under attack. Surprisingly enough the latest barrage was sparked off by some remarks made by the present chairman Mrs Kamla Devi Chattopadhyay at the annual presentation of awards last month.Though Mrs Chattopadhyay has subsequently disowned the major part of her outburst, the controversy over the entire functioning of the akademi - including its very utility - continues unabated. The controversy was marked by a representation sent to the prime minister asking her to dissolve the facade of autonomy of the akademi and to review its entire performance.This is not the first time that the 28-year-old assembly consisting of 54 eminent members who are supposed to be interested in the promotion of the performing arts through grants-in-aid, fellowships, awards, foreign trips and other academic and performing activities has been pounded on the anvil of controversy. Ever since its inception in 1953 as a self-governing body by a resolution of the Government of India, the akademi has been in the news for reasons other than its proclaimed cultural functions. Awasthi : Ministry's ever increasing influenceBehind this malaise according to Suresh Awasthi, one of its retired secretaries who, in fact, resigned in disgust in 1975, is "bureaucratisation of the functioning of the akademi and the curtailment of its autonomy". The bone of contention seems to be the Department of Culture in the Education Ministry which, according to a serving assistant secretary, "operates several schemes, with a budget three times more than that of the akademi itself, legitimately coming under the purview of the akademi". According to a leading dancer there is an all round lethargy and irregularity in its functioning.There seems to be some weight in these accusations since the post of the secretary to the akademi - the chief executive-has more often than not been donned by retired deputationists, and junior officers of the Education Ministry who were appointed on an ad hoc basis. Even the present secretary A.N. Dhawan who has been there for the last three years is a retired under secretary.Interference: While delivering the chairman's address this year Mrs Chattopadhyay admonished the artistes and their promoters for involving politicians in the akademi awards. She also said it might be her last chance to speak to the artistes in that capacity. Obviously, the serving chairman was conscious of the political crosscurrents when she made these utterances. Joshi: Favouring a particular disciplineAnd, her criticism gave a handle to the national press to comment on the growing political interference in the functioning of the akademi. Awasthi, however, did not share the chairman's views about the political involvement. According to him "the awards are not decided on the basis of political recommendations," but he nonetheless felt the ever-increasing influence of the ministry despite the avowed autonomy.Said an assistant secretary: "The akademi is like a widow who has been singing odes in praise of her current husband and that becomes its interest and major policy thrust." He added, "Unlike the British Council of Arts there is no white paper or policy statement on culture from the Government. In the absence of such a clear guideline every new executive board has taken a lot of leeway in terms of ad hoc decisions. For example in the late '50s when Nirmala Joshi was the secretary there was a great emphasis on Hindustani music at the cost of other disciplines as she herself was a protagonist of the art. Later when Dr Awasthi took over the accent shifted in favour of folk arts, and later when K.P.S. Menon was chairing the akademi he went in favour of Kathakali. Dr Narayanan Menon, on the other hand, tried to bring some parity between north and south but was perhaps marking time to become the director general of All India Radio."Function: The role of the akademi is to advise the Government in the matter of arts because it is in a strict sense a technical body though most of its 54 members are government officials having little to do with the performing arts. But interestingly enough any file which is referred to the akademi by the ministry, which in practice means Joint Secretary Kapila Vatsayayan, is sent back to her since she is the vice-chairman and the most important functionary of the akademi.Chattopadhyay: Critical of politickingFrom the beginning the executive board - the fountain head of the akademi has been stuffed with government servants rather than people belonging to the performing arts. In the first board there were three joint secretaries, one secretary, an industrial consultant, a chairman of the law commission and an MP along with one governor.Most of the representatives of states in the present general council are ex-officio members by virtue of their present position in the Government rather than on the basis of any merit. Further they are under heavy obligation to the Education Ministry for approving their foreign trips, and for grants to their akademis and other cultural institutions in their home states. Though the akademi enjoys autonomy. the function of giving grants-in-aid is also performed by the Department of Culture reducing the akademi to the role of a promoter.The total budget of the akademi and the Department of Culture exceeds one crore, compared with the nominal Rs 1,000-2,000 normally awarded to a majority of other cultural institutions. This, according to the director of a well-known art institution in Delhi "reduces the artistes and the institutions to begging with a bowl." He alleges that it has never been the genuine desire of the aka-to help the artistes stand on their feet.Vatsayayan: A powerful position""Of late, a purge is going on in the akademi," said one of the oldest employees of the akademi. All the art-oriented people are being replaced by government officials to control the akademi indirectly. In fact, the situation is similar in all the institutions which get grants from the Government, including the National School of Drama and the Centre for Cultural Resources and Training.Under the present scheme one representative of the state is taken as the sole authority for the promotion of arts in that state. "Why can't the promotion of arts be made a state subject and the total responsibility be entrusted to the state rather than letting an individual enjoy the monopoly?" asked a Manipuri art exponent. Undoubtedly, there is a vested interest in perpetuating status quo so that the Department of Culture can remain the source of art patronage in the country.Published By: AtMigration Published On: Nov 26, 2013 15:24 IST--- ENDS ---

Download App

Get 37% off on an annual Print +Digital subscription of India Today Magazine

Controversy over functioning of Sangeet Natak Akademi continues unabated

The Sangeet Natak Akademi, the sole custodian for the promotion of the performing arts in India, is again under attack.

PUBLICATIONS

TELEVISION

EVENTS

RADIO

GAMING

USEFUL LINKS

PRINTING

WELFARE

DISTRIBUTION

SYNDICATIONS

WEBSITES

EDUCATION