Published: January 29, 2024, New Delhi: The School of Drama and Fine Arts Students Organisation has strongly condemned the recent attack on Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) students in Pune by a mob of 20-25 people. The incident occurred on January 23 when the mob entered the FTII campus and assaulted students, violating their right to life and safety.
On January 22, FTII students had organized sessions reading texts by Tarkovsky and Bhagat Singh, screened ‘Ram Ke Naam’ and interacted with Anand Patwardhan. A banner stating ‘Remember Babri – Death of Constitution’ was displayed reflecting students’ free expression.
The students’ body said the attack indicates a failure of law and order. The intellectual diversity and free speech exercised by the students through texts, films and banners were unjustly met with aggression, contradicting principles of democracy.
As fellow students committed to intellectual freedom, they expressed empathy for the FTII students who faced brutality for their activities well within the scope of a vibrant student body.
The attack highlights the fundamental rights to freedom of expression, thought and assembly being violated by organized extra-legal intimidation tactics.
The students’ organization demands immediate action against those responsible for the pre-planned assault and withdrawal of police complaints filed against the FTII students.
They reiterated that students have a right to engage in free debate, dissent and intellectual diversity without threat of violence. Suppressing these rights through coercion damages democratic principles.
As an institute of national importance, FTII must be allowed to foster an environment of open discussion, creativity and critical thinking essential for arts education.
The body pledged solidarity with FTII students whose fundamental freedoms were breached by the mob attack and called for authorities to uphold justice, safety and rule of law.
The School of Drama and Fine Arts Students Organisation has strongly condemned the recent attack on Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) students in Pune. On January 23, a mob of 20-25 people entered the FTII campus and assaulted students, violating their right to safety. FTII students had engaged in intellectual activities, including text readings and film screenings, a day earlier. The attack highlights the infringement on fundamental rights like freedom of expression. The students’ organization demands action against the assailants and withdrawal of police complaints against FTII students, emphasizing the importance of fostering an environment of open discussion and creativity in educational institutions.
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