FTII: hunger strike on, one student more in hospital

Worried relatives of the fasting students and alumni have begun rushing to the institute to enquire about their health.

Doctors who conducted the medical examination of the fasting students said that the health of two students (Himanshu Shekar and Alok Arora), who have been fasting since Thursday, had marginally worsened, while that of Ankit Thapa — who is fasting since Friday — was comparatively stable.

“Blood pressure and blood sugar level has seen a marginal fall. Although it has not crossed a worrisome threshold yet, the blood sugar level has seen a steep fall. We have also collected urine samples to conduct ketone test,” said Dr Dnyanesh Borole, Medical Officer, FTII.

Thapa’s relatives, who were worried by his decision to go on a hunger strike, visited him at the campus. “My heart really goes out for this young boys who are punishing themselves to see a better institute. I am sure the government will listen to them and take the required decision. It has to do it now,” said Uma Thapa, Ankit Thapa’s aunt.

Alok Arora, who had been fasting since Thursday, was hospitalised on Saturday night after his health deteriorated. “He was feeling extremely uneasy. His blood sugar level was 63 mg/dL and blood pressure too was shooting up. The administration intervened and asked him to break the fast. When he refused they called up the ambulance and hospitalised him. His mother who also refused food since yesterday accompanied him to Joshi Hospital, ” said Gaurav Verma, a student.

Meanwhile, concerned ex-students including directors Arun Khopkar, Sunil Sukathankar, actor Om Puri, former Doordarshan Director Sudhir Kumar Mathur, called upon the fasting students and requested them to take precautions.

Mathur – who visited the campus on behalf of the Delhi chapter of FTII alumni association – said that what the students were doing was justified and that he – as many of his colleagues – share same apprehension about the latest appointments to the FTII Society. “Those who say that the post of FTII Chairman is merely ornamental are wrong. I have studied here and served in the I&B Ministry and I can say that the vision and inclinations of the leader affects the quality of of work of the entire team. Sanctity of this institute has to be protected,” said Mathur, a student of Motion Art Photography course between 1963 and 1966.