From the ‘Concerns’ Desk ... June 2007

May was really a hectic month.

There in Baroda, the art student Chandramohan was arrested by the (Moral/Modi) Police and the acting Dean of the Faculty of Fine Arts Faculty was suspended by the University authorities.

Now Chandramohan has gone back to his native village in Andhra Pradesh and Shivji Panikkar has also gone to his hometown in Kerala.

If they are in hiding, I am making a mistake by revealing their whereabouts. But why should they hide? The government should take the responsibility of giving adequate protection to their life and property.

Artists and intellectuals from all over India (even from abroad) came together to protest against the moral policing in Baroda. However, the college vacation has dampened the spirit of the protesting students. They are forced to vacate hostels and leave the city.

Whatever be the case, fighting for rights cannot have vacations. The artists, academics and citizens in Baroda have formed a forum (AAACUA) for fighting for justice and demanding autonomous status for the University.

In different pockets, concerned people are continuing their fights.

www.artconcerns.com has tried its best to contribute to the protest.

In this issue we have some follow up stories on the Baroda incident. The AAACUA rebuttal and Sathyanand Mohan’s article put issues into a clearer perspective.

Wishing you a great June ahead

Yours truly,

JohnyML