‘Dictatorial’ Tom Alter resigns as head of FTII acting department

PUNE: Following serious disagreement with students, veteran actor Tom Alter resigned as head of the acting department at the Film and Television Institute of India

PUNE: Following serious disagreement with students, veteran actor Tom Alter resigned as head of the acting department at the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII). The FTII administration, while confirming the resignation of Alter, said, “It is yet to be accepted.”

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According to Brijendra Pal Singh, chairman of the FTII academic council, the students had refused to attend Alter’s classes as he had sought 100% attendance. The FTII students, however, accused Alter of having “dictatorial ways” and said that he was failing as an administrator, as a result of which they had to suffer.

Sources said that on May 23, students misbehaved with Alter and they had a scuffle with him at the director’s office. At that point, the actor threatened to resign. In his resignation letter sent through an email, Alter has maintained that due to other commitments, he was “unable to find time for academic activities”.

FTII director Bhupendra Kainthola, while confirming the resignation, said, “The institute is trying to persuade him to withdraw the resignation.” Alter had joined the institute in November 2014, and he voluntarily decided to not take any honorarium. He was teaching students without accepting any salary.

Alter’s resignation is the latest standpoint between the students and FTII management as the institute is again on a simmer after the academic council proposed to bring in a new syllabus, shifting to a choice-based credit system and extra measures to maintain discipline on the campus.

The council has proposed that hostel facility will be allowed to be used only for the duration of the course while the proctor is to be appointed on the campus to bring in order among students.

At an academic council meeting held on Wednesday, students opposed all the proposals put forth by council members. Irked by the constant opposition by students, Brijendra Pal Singh reportedly expressed his disappointment, saying he had never come across students who “wanted to oppose everything”.