The condolence meeting on March 6 at the auditorium of the National Film Archives of India (NFAI) in Pune, paid a fond tribute to the late PK Nair, founder and Director of the NFAI and the celluloid archivist of India who passed away on Friday.
Former students of the FTII (Film and Television Institute) where PKN began his career in the mid 1960’s, colleagues and cine lovers recalled the sterling contribution of Nair saab – as he was known – but the disappointment could not be contained.
Despite a buzz the previous evening among the ‘Nair fan club’ as it were, (many of this informal group had gathered in Pune on hearing of his demise) that the government would confer a posthumous award on PK Nair – this announcement did not materialise despite the presence of the Secretary, I&B at the Sunday’s condolence meeting.
Many speakers drew attention to this omission on Delhi’s part for decades (Nair retired in 1991) and the more cynical ones quipped that the state only recognises film stars and cricketers but has little time or inclination to acknowledge and recognise institution builders – especially the quiet, dedicated types who spend their whole lives with a single-minded commitment to a cause or discipline that has a national relevance and where the state is either indifferent or ignorant – or both!