After some time Mukesh Ambani came and walked along. Looked much more dignified than wife Nita who followed a while later in an all white dress with high heels. There was a long row of very well dressed attendants, young and smart on both sides of the foyer. Clearly, they were all drawn from fairly well to do families, at least one I noticed was a college student. So the whole class character of the attendants is also changed. One sees here for the first time a sort of wealthy people in Mumbai you would never find at a performance of anything like Sound of Music. They were here just because they can afford the hugely expensive tickets. People like that no longer want to see ordinary people anywhere near them. Ordinary people are to be exploited, left outside and must remain invisible.

There is an interesting oil painting of Mahatma Gandhi, not in the exhibition hall but outside, done by a noted Bangladeshi painter Shahabuddin Ahmed which seems extremely relevant. It shows Gandhi as an utterly broken man, very disturbed, almost mutilated. This is how Gandhi would have felt had he been around to see the vulgarisation of life and taste. The painting seems such an ironic commentary on the absolute brazen, naked, almost arrogant display of affluence all around. On the other side by the same artist is a painting of Rabindranath Tagore. The man from Shantiniketan would have been outraged as well, especially considering his deep understanding of culture. He remains our guiding star on many issues.

Given the tremendous media clout of the Ambanis it is not surprising there is hardly any honest, serious , critical look of this complex except in a recent issue of Frontline which says in some respects it looks like an airport.

One would say that in sense the whole edifice is a monument to automobile culture, the most stark symbol of the upper class ethos. There is more car parking here for some five thousand, yes five thousand cars, which is more than the capacity of car parking at both the airports in Mumbai. It is spread over five floors, three of them underground. Already there are complaints of horrendous traffic jams after events here as so many cars come out at the end of the mega events. Such a vulgar allotment of huge space spread over several acres of built land is completely unjustified in the light of the urban transport policy as well as the claims of the metro rail’s seemingly blind promoters that there would be much less need for cars . A high rise car parking tower next to the culture centre is lying empty, almost unused. Let the parking authority come out with facts. Besides, this is MMRDA land given to Ambanis on lease and there have been several violations over the years.

Some comparison of the Ambani centre with the NCPA would be inevitable. NCPA was created mainly by the Tata group with some support from other capitalists. But the centre was named National Centre for the Performing Arts, no family name, no personal ego boosting.

We know almost nothing about the inputs put up in terms of art and culture in the Ambani centre. We hear of no name other than the Ambanis. As for the NCPA, on the other hand, the initial advisory group included such stalwarts as Vilayat Khan, Ravi Shankar, Yehudi Menuhin,P.L. Deshpande and Satyajit Ray, what a formidable list that is.

It was inaugurated by Mrs Indira Gandhi in 1980. J.R.D. Tata and Jamshed Bhabha were the main creators. J.R.D. for all his other high accomplishments did not have much appreciation for non elite culture. I still remember a snide reference he made about the experimental theatre. But this is a very minor point.

The first director of NCPA was V.K. Narayana Menon, a man with a very formidable background, he was a retired director general of All India Radio, was a big figure in BBC in London, was a prolific writer, critic, with very sound knowledge of dance. There is a very interesting photograph of him from 1942 sitting along with E.M. Foster, the novelist, T.S. Eliot, the eminent poet Venu Chitale, secretary of George Orwell and a highly talented person herself. Orwell is among those standing.

He was always a suit in NCPA and a bit aloof. In retrospect, one thinks much more highly of him now than one did then. He was followed later as director by P.L. Deshpande and Vijaya Mehta and the team included some very highly talented people like Ashok D. Ranade, the renowned classical music expert and Kumud Mehta who was a guiding light for the experimental theatre, she grew up in the progressive movement and the freedom struggle.

Menon ‘s friendship with Menuhin was to prove providential for India. The world famous artist was specially invited to perform in India in aid of drought relief and Menuhin reached Delhi in 1952 and at the residence of Menon he renewed his acquaintance with the sitar maestro Ravi Shankar whom he had met as early as 1932 in Europe. It was in this house too they had a meeting with some of the musicians who were already famous and the violinist was charmed by the variety and spiritual overtones of Indian classical music, both Hindustani and Carnatic. He probably met the young DV Paluskar, who had suddenly burst into the music scene with his concert at the Harivallabh Samaroh at Jullundur, and was charmed by the mellifluous voice of this gifted musician. Menon recalled how they went about planning and executing the project for which the Maharashtra Government was generous enough in giving eight acres of prime land, of which five acres had been reclaimed from the sea. The estimated cost of the land was Rs. 20 crores and this was given on a 99-year lease for a token fee of Rs. 1 a year! They chose architect Philip Johnson who had designed the Lincoln Centre and who had been familiar with the demands of the modern theatre and its ambience, says an article in Open magazine. When he was approached he was only too willing to do something in this part of the world. He made more than a dozen trips to examine the locale and the building material and the local area sources. Thus he took care to see that everything that went into its making has been indigenous. The stone for the structure was quarried from the Malad area.

About some of the unique features of the auditorium Menon explained that the acoustics consultant was Prof. Cyrill Harris, who was professor of Architecture and Engineering at Columbia University and he had suggested a fan-shaped theatre with number of rows reduced to 17 from the normal 32and the stage projected almost into the audience. And the electronic amplification of sound was eliminated by the construction of elongated three-sided forms of high density plaster which extended in concentric circles over the entire ceiling and along the walls of the auditorium.

In those days many of us thought the NCPA was elitist and in some respects it still is. But compared to the Ambani edifice, it wins hands down.

Taken from the Facebook wall of veteran journalist and author Vidyadhar Date

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While the issue of the proposal of turning Reliance industries’ Nita Ambani into BHU Prof Nita Ambani has now taken a bizarre u-turn, there is much to be read between the lines here. Soon after a group of students on Tuesday staged a protest outside Vice-Chancellor Rakesh Bhatnagar’s residence on the campus, a denial has reportedly come from the Ambanis’ Reliance industries as well. 

The students were protesting a ‘proposal’ that  Banaras Hindu University’s (BHU) Women studies and Development center had invited Nita Ambani, wife of industrialist Mukesh Ambani, to be a visiting professor. It was being reported that Nita Ambani has given verbal consent to the proposal sent to her on March 12. 

Prof. Kaushal Mishra, Dean of Social Sciences Dept was quoted in multiple news reports claiming that Nita Ambani was the best person to teach girl students considering her vast experience in the fields of business as well social activities: “As per the new policy of the Central government, our aim is to link studies with entrepreneurial skills. Neeta Ambani ji fits the slot,” adding that the proposal was sent “because the Reliance Foundation has done a lot of work in the field of women empowerment.” 

Then there were quotes from the Women’s center’s coordinator Prof. Nidhi Sharma who claimed that “linking students to employment is also an objective of educational institutions, which can be achieved through Nita Ambani’s business experiences.”  

However, as soon as the students’ protest was also reported, a loud denial came from the Reliance Industries Limited spokesperson who called the news reports “fake”. The RIL issued a statement to a news agency which was then reported across the board, it stated: “Reports that Nita Ambani will be a visiting lecturer at Banaras Hindu University (BHU) are fake. She hasn’t received an invitation from BHU.” The BHU itself clarified that it had “not taken any decision” to appoint Nita Ambani as a visiting professor, and that “no such proposal was discussed by the administration.”

Meanwhile, according to Indian Express, the students had protested and opposed the idea of offering the post to Ambani as it would set a “wrong example”. It was also reported that while the proposal has been sent only to Nita Ambani, two more names considered for the remaining two visiting faculty posts were that of Priti Adani, the wife of billionaire industrialist Gautam Adani, and Usha Mittal, the wife of UK-based steel tycoon Lakshmi Mittal. The report quoted Research scholar Shubham Tiwari: “Being the wife of a rich person is not an achievement and these people cannot be our icons. If you talk about women empowerment, then invite icons like Arunima Sinha, Bachendri Pal, Mary Kom or Kiran Bedi,” Tiwari said. He said Vice-Chancellor Bhatnagar told them that he had no information about the proposal being sent to Nita Ambani. Sources at the BHU confirm this. For now the news is being closely monitored and no further protests are being planned.

However, some in the university campus are wondering why this controversy has been generated at this time and what is it supposed to divert attention from?

“This dean had leaked the numbers of journalists Ravish Kumar, and Barkha Dutt, he had also had a mud-bath in public to ward of Covid-19. He is known for such things,” said a research scholar at BHU. According to a senior faculty member, this controversy is being seen as an embarrassing joke at the moment, “Now that the denials have come the issue may die down. However, if it is stoked again, and escalates, then even the teachers may protest.”  

Meanwhile, the IE reported that the BHU may go ahead with its plans to start a PG course on ‘Kashi Studies’ soon. Once again, Professor Kaushal Kishore Mishra has confirmed that the subject will be a part of the MA History course, as a specialisation. The Social Sciences Faculty will teach students about the political, religious and social history of the holy city of Varanasi reported IE. Prof Mishra was quoted in the report saying that the course is expected to get a go-ahead in the next academic council, “We are preparing a full course on Kashi Studies under the History Department of the Social Sciences Faculty. Our expert committee has approved the course. Under the course, students will study everything about Kashi (Varanasi) in detail, including its history, festivals, fairs, culture, religious significance, way of living, ghaats, temples, political and social journey and importance in freedom struggle. Given the increasing importance of Kashi at the global level, with the city being transformed and developed as a hub of religious tourism, a lot of people will be interested in learning about the city.”   

Related:

Nita Ambani may soon be teaching Women Studies at BHU
BHU administration agrees to open central library, students prevail!
IIT entrance exams amidst Covid-19?
University Campus or Cantonment?
Varuna Shastri Bridge now the only place of protest in Varanasi: DM

The post Was the ‘BHU Professor Nita Ambani’ controversy a diversion from other issues? appeared first on SabrangIndia.

Banaras Hindu University’s (BHU) Women studies and Development center has invited Nita Ambani, wife of industrialist Mukesh Ambani, to be a visiting professor. Nita Ambani heads the Reliance foundation, and is also an executive director of Reliance Industries founded by her father-in-law Dhirubhai Ambani. 

According to news reports, Nita Ambani has given verbal consent to the proposal by Banaras Hindu University’s Women studies and Development center. It was reported that the BHU’s Social science dept had sent the proposal on March 12 and offered her the position so she could “improve the living standard of women from Banaras and the Poorvanchal region.” The BHU has reportedly chosen Nita Ambani because she is a woman entrepreneur and her Reliance foundation will encourage and train women entrepreneurs in Eastern UP. 

The Free Press Journal reported that Prof Kaushal Kishore, a senior faculty member said that Ambani was the best person to teach girl students considering her vast experience in the fields of business as well social activities. He said, “As per the new policy of the Central government, our aim is to link studies with entrepreneurial skills. Neeta Ambani ji fits the slot.”

Women’s center’s coordinator Prof. Nidhi Sharma said, “According to the New Education Policy, linking students to employment is also an objective of educational institutions, which can be achieved through Nita Ambani’s business experiences.”  According to media reports, Prof. Kaushal Mishra, Dean of Social Sciences Dept. added that Nita Ambani was invited to join the dept as visiting professor so that BHU researchers could also benefit from her work and experience. 

It has been reported that the BHU is preparing a “roadmap to empower women of the Purvanchal region” and hopes to take this forward by associating itself with Reliance Foundation. 

Neeta Ambani graduated with a B.Com degree from Mumbai University, holds a Diploma in Early Childhood Education; and in 2014 was made the executive director of Reliance Industries. She started the Reliance Foundation year 2010. Her bio-data on the foundation’s website states that she is “a board member of Reliance Industries and East India Hotels, and leads the cricket team, Mumbai Indians, in the Indian Premier League. She is also the Founder and Chairperson of Dhirubhai Ambani International School, one of India’s best international schools. In 2015, Nita Ambani founded an organization called Football Sports Development Limited, which focuses on developing sports in India through grassroots programs.”

Lifestyle magazine GQ reported that Nita Ambani who is on the Board of Reliance Industries Limited and EIH Limited (The Oberoi Group) has founded and run five  business, philanthropic & educational ventures. These include Reliance Foundation; Mumbai Indians (co-owner), a  franchise cricket team of the Indian Premier League (IPL); Football Sports Development Limited; Dhirubhai Ambani International School; and Her Circle, her her latest venture that is a “social media and networking platform dedicated to creating multimedia content and opportunities for Indian women.” It was launched on March 8.

Related:

BHU administration agrees to open central library, students prevail!

IIT entrance exams amidst Covid-19?

University Campus or Cantonment?

Varuna Shastri Bridge now the only place of protest in Varanasi: DM

Is Varanasi being stifled under Section 144?

The post Nita Ambani may soon be teaching Women Studies at BHU appeared first on SabrangIndia.