WHY THIS ‘KOLA VERI DI’ FOR TABLEAU JUNK ISSUE?

Tableaux of several states meant for the Republic Day parade on January 26 has been rejected which has obviously sparked controversy.

And quick to take the “mass” media route, which is today in the form of Twitter, FB, Instagram, Youtube… people, netas (obviously a juicy fodder for them), and civil society commentators have come out against this rejection vehemently and notwithstanding the fact, everyone has a theory.

The tableaux of the state, in general, is supposed to be a visual representation of personalities, people, events, culture, etc. deeply rooted and associated with the state(s) concerned.

And in an obvious move… the Chief Ministers of Kerala, West Bengal, and Tamil Nadu have written to the Centre against the rejection of their state’s tableaux. And this became a news peg for channels and the media for some time.

The Centre, meanwhile, has criticized the states’ reaction over the rejection and in its defense said the decisions were taken after “thorough deliberation” by an expert committee. It also accused the chief ministers of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal of “spreading misinformation” about Republic Day tableaux. H

aving said that… let’s see how the tableaux are ordered and what is the process of selection and rejection.

UNDERSTANDING THE SELECTION PROCESS… The tableaux aren’t decided by the Centre.

The Defence Ministry appoints an expert committee comprising eminent personalities from various fields like culture, art, painting, music, sculpture, dance, architecture, etc. to study these artworks and take a call.

Before drawing up a final list… the committee vigorously discusses the idea, concept, topic, design, and visual impact of these.

It must be remembered that only a few suggestions can be cleared due to the restriction of the time factor. Out of the 56 proposals received from states and central ministries in 2022, twenty-one were selected.

It is not correct to say that West Bengal, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu are being rudely treated or rather unfairly as the same Central government led by Narendra Modi had approved Kerala’s tableau proposals in 2018 and 2021.

Similarly, Tamil Nadu’s tableaux were approved in 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020, and 2021 and West Bengal’s were given the green signal in 2016, 2017, 2019, and 2021.

We need to know the fact correctly and study the issue closely.

Even as Mamata Banerjee accused the Centre of disrespecting Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose by rejecting West Bengal’s tableau, it must be noted that this year’s tableau of the Central Public Works Department, which falls within the ambit of the Centre, actually incorporates Netaji as a topic.

As a result, accusing the Centre of disrespecting the great freedom fighter by West Bengal does not hold water.

Also, it was reported in a section of the media that this year’s Republic Day festivities will be initiated from January 23… the birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.

In the first phase of selection, the sketch and design of the proposals are closely examined and suggestions for changes, if required, are informed to the concerned states.

Once okayed by the expert panel, the participating states are required to present a three-dimensional model of their proposal once again to the committee. The experts again examine the same and look at the changes asked for to take a final call.

The final selection of a tableau is based on a combination of issues or rather factors like the visual appeal, impact it will have on people especially of the state and on the wide spectrum of people witnessing the same virtually, concept, the minute detailing that has gone into the making of the artwork and also the music composed to accompany the same.

The Subject Expert Committee which rejected the proposals of Kerala, West Bengal, and Tamil Nadu did so after marathon deliberations and a due process that is followed every year.

They also said it is quite natural for more proposals to be rejected than those approved given the time constraints.

According to the experts’ panel, the outcry by states and lambasting the Centre over the rejection of tableaux sets out a wrong precedent as chief ministers try to politicize the matter and portray the outcome of an “objective” process as a flashpoint between the states and the Centre.

They also feel that this goes a long way in harming the country’s federal template.

THE VIEWS EXPRESSED BY THE AUTHOR ARE PERSONAL