The College of Art and Craft In Guwahati’s Basistha, which is as old as Independent India itself, is in shambles
GUWAHATI: Art, in its purest form, requires a nurturing environment to flourish—a place where creativity is encouraged, tools are abundant, and guidance is plentiful. For decades, the College of Art and Craft in Basistha, Assam, was expected to be that haven for aspiring artists. Established on August 15, 1947, the college stood as a symbol of post-independence artistic rebirth in Assam. It was envisioned as a crucible for talent, where the rich tribal, folk, and cultural traditions of the state could converge with contemporary art forms to create something uniquely beautiful. Yet, today, the institute lies in shambles, its promises to young artists unfulfilled, and its halls echoing with cries for help rather than inspiration.
Students, who should be sketching their futures on blank canvases, find themselves embroiled in protests, raising their voices against the crumbling infrastructure, lack of staff, and government neglect. For an institute that once held the potential to shape the artistic future of Assam, the current state of disrepair feels like a betrayal of its mission. It is no longer a place that fosters creativity; rather, it is a battleground where students fight for basic necessities like clean water, functioning classrooms, and enough teachers to even hold a class.
Yet, despite its historical significance and being the sole institute in the state to offer these programmes, it faces severe neglect, both in terms of infrastructure and staffing.
The students, who have been protesting for over four days now, express their deep frustration and disappointment with the conditions at the college. One of the protesters, a student, told GPlus, "Despite being one of the oldest colleges providing a Fine Arts degree, it is sad to witness the severe underdevelopment and lack of basic facilities throughout its 75 years of existence."
The students on Friday, September 13, kept an eight-hour fast as their next step of protest, and demanding that their needs be met. The silent protests which have now additionally become a hunger strike until death is indeed a sorry state for the students to be in, given the numerous educational facilities that the state government always talks about.
The college is currently facing major shortage of faculty members. "There are only 5 permanent professors out of the 20 required to manage all the departments, resulting in two departments being inoperative. The college is struggling to function at a bare minimum," the same student lamented. The departments that remain non-functional include Applied Art and Art History, while departments like Sculpture and Graphic Art have just one professor each. The Painting department, arguably one of the key areas of study, operates with three professors, though this is still far below the required staffing levels.
The ongoing crisis at the College of Art and Craft has severely impacted the quality of education, especially for final-year students who are now speaking out about their struggles.
One student from the 2020 batch shared his frustration, saying, "We have had it the worst. We lost one whole year to the pandemic, and then when things got better, there were no teachers or classes. It’s been five years, and now we’re set to graduate, but we are nowhere near where we should be academically."
The lack of proper instruction and guidance during crucial years has left many students feeling unprepared as they approach their final exams and graduation.
These fundamental gaps in infrastructure have persisted for years, and students feel that their complaints have fallen on deaf ears. Many argue that the government’s neglect of the institution is evident in the lack of response to these basic needs. One student added, "How can a government college this old be run by just five professors? We are being neglected by the government, and that’s why we have taken to protest."
However, talking to GPlus, an official from the Department of Cultural Affairs defended their position, stating that the students had not previously raised the issue of poor infrastructure. "They have never mentioned the poor infrastructure, but they have somehow managed to run," the official claimed.
According to the same official, teachers are required to appear for Assam Public Service Commission (APSC) exams before they can be hired. However, the official admitted that "not many teachers appear for these exams. If they appear, we can recruit them." This bureaucratic delay is contributing to the crisis, as departments are left without the necessary personnel to function properly.
The official acknowledged the lengthy procedure, adding, "It’s not as simple as just making repairs. It involves a lot of steps, and that takes time. Unfortunately, we can’t move forward until all these stages are cleared."
This response has been met with frustration from students and faculty alike. The idea that the college has "somehow managed to run" speaks of the chronic neglect that has plagued it. The students argue that they should not be expected to operate under such subpar conditions, especially when they are pursuing degrees in a field that requires proper facilities for their growth as artists.
