An internecine war brewing in the Lalit Kala Akademi came to a boil over the organisation of an exhibition and on-the-spot painting competition in Ayodhya in the run-up to the inauguration of the Ram Temple by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 22. The fallout was the termination of many senior officials perceived to be close to V. Nagdas, chairman of the autonomous body that works under the aegis of the Union Culture Ministry.
The idea of the on-the-spot painting cum exhibition was the brainchild of Professor Nagdas, who was divested of his administrative powers on January 8. Subsequently, on February 12, the services of a total of 24 officials of the Akademi who were on contract was terminated.
Those on the list included Johny M.L., assistant editor (Contemporary), P. Jayaprakash, consultant (Admn)/ personal secretary to the chairman, and Suman Kumar Singh, assistant editor (Hindi) — all perceived to be working closely with Mr. Nagdas in Delhi. While the contracts of 10 employees were terminated in Delhi, those of 14 have been terminated in regional centres.
