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Centre’s decision to grade artistes, writers draws mixed reactions
NEW DELHI: The government’s move to grade the country’s artistes and writers evoked mixed reactions from the creative fraternity on Monday, with some calling for
NEW DELHI: The government’s move to grade the country’s artistes and writers evoked mixed reactions from the creative fraternity on Monday, with some calling for more clarity on the decision.
As part of its cultural-mapping project, the government is working towards creating a national repository that can be used to provide aid to writers and artistes under different schemes of the ministry. Under a pilot project, artistes have been graded in three categories — outstanding, promising and waiting.
Some of those who participated in the pilot project were against the move. “I don’t believe in grading of artistes,” said Anasuya Vaidya from the Delhi-based Akshara Theatre group that has been listed in the outstanding category.
Though danseuse Geeta Chandran agreed to the idea of culture mapping, she said, “… whether the ministry of culture needs to do this or some specialised agency like the Sangeet Natak Akademi needs more discussion.”
Chandran pointed out that Doordarshan and the Indian Council for Cultural Research have their own system of grading and the ministry doing the same “will (only) add a layer of confusion”.
“We need to evolve a single grading process or else there will be much confusion. Also, we need to decide for how long such grading is valid. Artists change, their abilities shift. We cannot give one grading and assume that it is for all time,” she said referring to an earlier system in the US which graded artistes for a three-year period.
Some, however, believe cultural mapping is a good idea.
Kuchipudi exponent Shallu Jindal, graded in the promising category, said, “Any recognition is motivating and inspiring for artistes. A lot of artistes living in different parts of the country will get acknowledged through this.”
A senior ministry official said the project was aimed at having a database of art forms and artistes to enable the government to streamline financial schemes for them.
