For the first time in the 72-year history of the National Film Awards, the ceremony is being shifted from the national capital, Delhi, to Kevadia in Gujarat. While there is an ongoing concerted effort to diminish the importance of Mumbai, the country's financial capital, a similar attempt has now begun to gradually erode the significance of the national capital itself. What is the actual reason for moving this award ceremony? It appears that, unable to create anything substantial themselves, the current strategy involves changing names and venues to fabricate a misleading history. Perhaps sensing an eventuality where their influence might be confined solely to Gujarat, the two leaders currently in power at the Centre seem determined to establish some sense of grandeur and importance there. If the venue had to be changed, why wasn't it moved to Mumbai? Why isn't the award distribution taking place in the state where Dadasaheb Phalke laid the foundation of Indian cinema? Why not in Maharashtra, or in southern states like Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, or Telangana where most films get produced? Cinema has played a pivotal role in shaping the politics of the southern states. Why Gujarat specifically? Past Prime Ministers never attempted to artificially boost the prominence of the states that were their birthplaces or spheres of work. We see the Commonwealth Games held in Gujarat, the 2023 Cricket World Cup final hosted in Gujarat, visiting heads of state taken to Gujarat, and the GIFT City project shifted from Mumbai to Gujarat. What exactly do Narendra Modi and Amit Shah intend to convey through all this? Are they suggesting that the very cradle of this nation was rocked in Gujarat? The nation that stands today is the result of sacrifices made by countless generations and contributions from every single region of the country. They seem to remember the rest of the country beyond Gujarat only at the time of local elections. Only then would they go there, don local attire, deliver speeches, and garner votes by claiming an old connection to those states. Those currently in power are not known to have a genuine appreciation for the arts. Their only ‘artistic’ inclination lies in the singular skill of winning elections by any means necessary and coercing everyone else to fall in line. As for cinema, their only connection involves commissioning propaganda films and ensuring they receive awards. While other cinema-loving states in the South would vehemently oppose this, nothing will happen in Maharashtra. But artists must raise their voices against this. The issue isn't whether it is held in Kevadia or elsewhere; artists need to question why the illustrious tradition of these awards, established in the nation's capital, is being dismantled. Otherwise, a day might come when they issue a diktat stating that National Awards will not be given unless the event takes place in Gujarat. The Oscars are always held in Los Angeles. Neither Trump, Bush, nor Obama ever tried to move the awards to their home states. I urge my Gujarati brothers not to get carried away by these people. The current sense of gratification derived from having leaders who speak your language will turn into a painful ordeal once that power slips away. Citizens and leaders from other Indian regions will eventually take stock of the injustices inflicted upon their states and local businesses. We will certainly speak out on this issue, but artists across the country must also take a stand. We have reached this pass precisely because people readily sing the government's praises whenever asked. Therefore, everyone must oppose this trend. If Maharashtra and the Southern states fail to take a firm stand, these people will crush the very identity and ethos of the Deccan region, and then, it will be too late. Raj Thackeray. #NationalFilmAwards