Secretary Sir, will you answer these questions?

The ceremony which took place at JJ campus on 19^th October has given rise to many questions in the field of art education. For instance, everything is sorted about JJ. But what about the Art Directorate? What about aided and unaided art colleges? The Art Directorate was never able to solve these issues which come under its own jurisdiction. And now the Education Secretary of Maharashtra under whose authority comes the Art Directorate, has now started saying that ‘The subject of Art / Painting should be brought into the mainstream education. Don’t you think that these two statements are contradictory?

It is said that poetry lingers long after its recital. This is aptly applicable to JJ. The event to announce the Denovo status was held on 19^th October at JJ campus. The speech delivered by Education Secretary Mr Vikas Rastogi in that program was very significant. There were a couple of occasions to interact with Mr Rastogi during the Denovo movement. We immediately get the sense that Mr Vikas Rastogi has adopted the same method in which all Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers generally work quietly without giving a clue as to what is going on in their mind to the person sitting in front of them.

But that day’s speech was an exception. Firstly, the ceremony was organized very well. The original beauty of the JJ campus was greatly enhanced by the decorations. And because of the huge crowd of alumni and students, JJ’s premises was very cheerful that day. The whole atmosphere was very happy. In addition, as the chief guest of the ceremony, Mr Dharmendra Pradhan, kept aside the veil of formality, the atmosphere was very pleasant. Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, School Education Minister Deepak Kesarkar or Maharashtra Legislative Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar moved around with such ease, that the entire atmosphere not just on the dais but also in the auditorium was of ease. Probably due to this free atmosphere, Vikas Rastogi may have left behind his meticulousness and presented some important points in his speech. One point in it really struck me and showed the contradiction in reality.

What statement did he make? So he said that “The state should now try to bring art education into the mainstream of education.” His statement received a lot of applause. Such was the positive atmosphere on that day. This raised the eyebrows of many who are related to art education.

But I really giggled profusely when I heard this statement of Vikas Rastogi. Let me tell you why. Around 1965, the Directorate of Art was established in Maharashtra on the initiative of Education Minister Madhukarrao Chaudhary. Like literature, film, music and drama, this art directorate was established with the intention of spreading and promoting painting. There was a significantly advanced approach behind this. Maharashtra was the only one in all the states of India where the Directorate of Art was established. Today even after exactly 58 years it is the only one in all the states of India. So much of foresight was behind this decision.

It is a fact that in the 76 years since independence, not a single state in India has been able to take a decision with such a vision. That is why education in JJ became important. It is a fact that it started mocking the other states. Education Minister Madhukarrao Chaudhary and the first Art Director Dada Adarkar must have had the idea of an independent Art University taking shape in their mind at that time. But perhaps because they didn’t want to be too daring, they might have established the prototype of the Art Directorate. They might have thought that the later generation would add to it and establish an art university.

Everything was going on smoothly until Baburao Sadwelkar was the art director. Prof Shantinath Arwade, the in-charge art director after Baburao, also tried to continue the work of the previous art director. But by then there was a change of power in Maharashtra. The old rulers were replaced by new rulers. The new rulers started working according to their own standards and that’s where the work of the art directorate started to deteriorate. People who were not even fit to be peons were appointed as art directors and the art education of Maharashtra started to be downgraded. Until today, everything continues in the similar manner.

I don’t want to repeat it now. I have written about this consistently. A 350-page ‘Kalabazaar’ special issue of ‘Chinha’ has also been released. Those who want to read it must can read it on the website of ‘Chinha’. The 166-year-old JJ School of Art was also spoiled in this chaos. After a lot of criticism and public awareness, the government woke up now and announced Denovo status to JJ.

With all this grim backdrop, the state education secretary is talking about bringing art education into the mainstream. There is no doubt that his intentions are noble. But who had stopped him from doing all this? I do not mean him in a personal sense, but was it not the responsibility of the officers of the Indian Administrative Service who held the post of Education Secretary till now? Who had stopped them? Well, let’s assume for a moment that they didn’t have this foresight. But then why did all these officials remained silent about the malpractices that happened in the administration of Art Directorate and JJ in the last twenty-five-thirty years? Do they have the answer to this question?

An officer in JJ tampered with the gold medals to be given to the farmers. What action was taken against him? At the same time, another officer burnt 150 rare paintings worth crores of rupees. What action was taken on it? Some even traded JJ’s seats. Lakhs of rupees were extorted from the students. What action was taken on it? A teacher used to work as an arms dealer while he was employed at JJ. What action was taken against him? Another teacher used to call at JJ and give orders in the voice of the Chief Minister. What action was taken against him? An officer in the Directorate of Art has damaged art education in Maharashtra by showing a false caste certificate. What action was taken on it?

When JJ completed 150 years, a computer lab was started in JJ campus at a cost of lakhs of rupees. It was scrapped last year due to non-use. What action was taken on it? The women of Shiv Sena Mahila Aghadi (Women Front) publicly beat up a contract teacher in JJ for harassing a girl student. What action was taken on it? An officer in JJ and some teachers are ignoring their primary job of teaching and doing contract projects worth crores of rupees. What action was taken against them? Almost one and a half crores of rupees were spent to construct a furlong and a half long sewer in JJ. Was any action taken against anyone? Students went on strike due to lack of basic toilet facilities in JJ where 250-300 girl students study. Was any action taken against those concerned? The officer of the ministry obstructed the payment of the arrears of the salary increment and thereafter compromised with them at Sambhaji Nagar. The news was published by ‘Chinha’. Did you take action against the concerned?

An officer from the Higher and Technical Education Department went to or came back from Dhule in the vehicle of the Directorate of Art. This news was also published by ‘Chinha’. What action did you take against him? The worst thing was that in the 166-year history of JJ, the officer who compelled UGC to withdraw the recognition of JJ. Was there any action taken against him? Asking such questions will make a good 500-page thick book, but the questions will not end. So now I hold back. But two things cannot be left without saying. For many years JJ’s telephone was disconnected by MTNL due to non-payment of bills. Or because of non-payment of the bill, BEST had cut off the electricity supply of JJ. Who brought such a terrible situation on JJ? Was any action taken against them? Mantralaya is just a couple of kilometers away from JJ. Education Secretary sits in there. The desks of JJ and Art Directorate are there only. Wasn’t it their job?

Education Secretary Monsieur, let me narrate the recent and the worst case. Who changed the minutes of the meeting in which Education Minister Chandrakant Dada had decided that half of the posts of hundred and seventy-five teachers-professors should be filled by the Public Service Commission and half of the posts by Denovo? Who showed so much courage? You also attended that meeting, didn’t you? So why didn’t you stop all this? Suppose these posts are filled by the Public Service Commission, and the same people get selected who in the last twenty-five years, who have literally spoiled the affairs of the JJ and the Art Directorate? Aren’t the rants made by the predecessors enough? And now you are openly saying that art education should be brought to the mainstream education. Don’t you think this is contradictory behavior? I am aware that you played a big part in JJ’s Denovo status. I really appreciate you for that. But then what about the questions I raised above? Who will answer those questions? Don’t you think someone must answer those sometime?

Satish Naik

Editor, Chinha Art News