Artists in Bengal Condemn Centre's Abrupt Grant Suspension as Cultural Suppression
Artists across Bengal erupted in fury during a protest meeting held in Kolkata on Thursday, vehemently condemning the Central government's sudden suspension and cancellation of a significant number of Performing Artists Grants without providing any explanation. The gathering, marked by intense emotion, described the move as a deliberate strategy to silence artists and weaken independent cultural voices that challenge prevailing narratives.
Accusations of Controlling Dissent Through Funding Cuts
Those who addressed the media on Thursday accused the Central government of systematically using policy adjustments and funding cuts to control dissenting expression and undermine the very survival of the arts. According to the detailed minutes from the Evaluation Committee meeting under the Guru-Shishya Parampara (Repertory Grant) scheme for Grant Years 2024-25 and 2025-26, a stringent two-year cooling-off period will now apply to organizations that have received assistance under the scheme for five consecutive years.
Exceptions to this rule include only those groups associated with Padma awardees or those actively engaged in preserving folk, traditional, and rare art forms. Organizations falling under the cooling-off category, even if recommended, will not receive any financial assistance for the 2024-25 and 2025-26 grant cycles. They may, however, reapply under renewal or renewal plus enhancement categories starting in 2026-27.
Complex New Guidelines Create Confusion and Hardship
For fresh applicants, financial assistance will only be admissible from March 2026, and that too is subject to final approval of the minutes by the Minister of Culture. Since the 2024-25 grant year has already concluded, organizations selected under the fresh category for both 2024-25 and 2025-26 will be treated as recommended solely for 2025-26. Furthermore, only one month's financial assistance will be released, contingent upon meeting all mandatory requirements and scheme guidelines. Thereafter, they may apply under renewal or renewal plus enhancement for 2026-27. Organizations not recommended at all may apply under the fresh category from 2026-27 onwards.
Staggering Rejection Rates Revealed in Committee Data
The statistical data from the evaluation process paints a stark picture of widespread exclusion. For Grant Year 2024-25, the committee approved a mere 16 fresh applications from Bengal while rejecting 124 outright. Among renewal applications, 95 were approved against 143 rejections. Additionally, 99 applications were relegated to the newly instituted cooling-off period.
For the subsequent Grant Year 2025-26, the scenario is even more restrictive. Only seven fresh applications were approved, with 49 rejected. Among renewal applications, 91 were approved versus 135 rejections, with another 97 applications placed in the cooling-off category.
Veteran Artists Decry a Systematic Pattern of Exclusion
Grant rejection is not a new phenomenon for many. Veteran theatre practitioner Meghnad Bhattacharya revealed that he has faced consistent rejection since the 2022-23 cycle. "Those whom they can't reject right away have been strategically placed in the cooling-off list. This includes even Sangeet Natak Akademi awardees," he stated. "They can technically apply for renewal later. Many who were rejected earlier applied again, only to face rejection once more. Groups that organized major theatre festivals, including us, Nandikar, Purba Paschim, and Mukhomukhi, were denied festival grants. There is a perception that funding writers and artists is a wasteful expenditure, that artists have no societal role. This is a catastrophic blow to the livelihoods of full-time art practitioners. Only a select few, like Bohurupee, remain untouched. Every other group has been targeted."
Artists Feel Publicly Insulted and Demand Clarification
Theatre practitioner Soumitra Mitra characterized the situation as "being formally invited to insult." He, along with other prominent artists like Ashit Basu, Poulami Chatterjee, Bimal Chakraborty, Sima Mukhopadhayay, Rakesh Ghosh, Sekhar Sammaddar, and Bilu Dutta, has vocally opposed the decision. "Artists are not beggars. We applied in response to official advertisements. I have been placed on the two-year cooling-off list, as have renowned dancers like Tanushree Shankar, Priti Patel, and Sutapa Talukdar," Mitra explained. "We respectfully urge the Ministry of Culture and the concerned authorities to immediately clarify the current status of grants and funding cycles, reconsider the cases of all affected repertory groups and artists, and provide interim relief or alternative support mechanisms."
Strategic Renaming and 'Innovative' Deprivation Tactics Alleged
Bilu Dutta of Shyambazar Mukhomukhi pointed to a deeper strategy. "Initially, people failed to grasp the strategy behind renaming the 'salary grant' as 'Guru-Shishya Parampara.' This was a tactical move so that no rejected applicant could question why their salary was being stopped. We are astonished by this so-called 'innovative' concept of a 'cooling-off' period. Who devises these new methods of depriving artists? Previously, Sangeet Natak Akademi winners were spared. This year, they too have not been exempted. This isn't a mere pause in grants; it is a shrewd, phased elimination of artists."
Meghnad Bhattacharya further elaborated on the perceived strategy, suggesting a deliberate divide-and-rule policy is at play. "Not all 300-plus applications are being outright rejected to avoid massive backlash. The carrot is being dangled before those on the cooling-off list. However, most on that list understand they will likely be rejected after two years anyway. It is merely a matter of time. This pattern is not confined to Bengal; it is happening to artists across India," he concluded, highlighting the national scale of the concern.
