The Tiger as an Elder Brother: Reflections on Cultural Syncretism in Naga Literature ❤️

Exploring Cultural Syncretism in Naga Literature

Today’s Ph.D. Defence @ SRM University | A Report

I was so happy to be one of the External Examiners for the Viva Voce Exam of Ms. Ganga Devi, SRM University, Kattangulathur, Chennai, today at 9.30 am.

Well, something that really fascinates me skyhigh is the intersection of literature, anthropology and psychology. One reason why I always keep an eye out for fresh academic perspectives on these topics.

Today, I was so happy to witness one such compelling piece of research on the topic, “Transitional Dynamics of Angami Nagas and Cultural Syncretism: From Autochthonous to Hybridity in the select novels of Easterine Kire”, well-defended by Ms. Ganga Devi, at the M.S. Subbulakshmi Hall.

Ms. Ganga Devi R K, did a very good defence. In her presentation spanning 56 slides, she rarely looked up to the notes that she had in her hand, and that spontaneity in her talk resonated lots with the audience.

“Culture doesn’t just endure; it transforms. It sheds old forms and adopts new ones, weaving the complex, ever-evolving tapestry we recognise as cultural hybridity”, she started her defence, and then proceeded to examine the pre-liminal, liminal and post-liminal phases of the Angami tribes – the third largest tribe in Nagaland. Schooling and scripting for the Nagas, came with the colonisers, she averred.

Ganga then elucidated on the transitional dynamics of cultural syncretism.

Killing the tiger was considered a sacrilegious act among the Nagas, as it was considered an elder brother by the tribespeople. In the cultural and spiritual traditions of the Angami Naga tribe (as well as neighbouring Naga tribes), lycanthropy is a prominent concept, wherein the Angami believe that humans and tigers are intimately related through ancestry.

For this reason, in the Naga tradition, lycanthropy is considered a spiritual phenomenon where a person’s soul projects into an animal (such as a leopard or tiger) during sleep. Even today, in some remote parts of Nagaland, these tigermen still serve as local diviners, spirit mediums, and healers.

Dr. Prantik Banerjee, Professor of English at Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University, who was the second External Examiner, had some very interesting observations as well.

On an aside, as soon as we both met, the first question he asked me was,

How far is MCC from SRM? 😊

Around 15 kms, I suppose, Sir, I replied.

Well, I come from around 1500 kms away, from Nagpur, he said, with a gentle smile on his face.

The very word “Nagpur” rang a bell in me, and so I impulsively asked him if he had been to Pench Tiger Reserve or Tadoba Tiger Reserve, which has the rarest spottings of the Tigers, the leopards, the bears, the foxes and the dholes. 😊

“Oh yes! I have! And many times too!”, he said, adding, “That’s why the concept of Tiger as an elder brother resonated well with me”.

Coming back,

Dr. Prantik in his remarks observed that, their University had the unique honour of having hosted Ms. Kire a couple of years ago. During her visit, she had expressed her reservations on research scholars interpreting her texts using a lot of -isms, it seems.

He also asked a question to the research scholar on those lines –

As somebody who doesn’t like researchers using a lot of -isms to dissect her works, and as an anti-theorist herself, how do you view your research on Kire?

Ms. Ganga gave a convincing reply to this very insightful question.

Dr. Prantik also supported her viewpoint saying that, ‘Even writers may not be aware of the many facets of their writing that the researchers uncover layer by layer. That’s where theoretical lens helps us lots. At the same time we should be able to justify the theoretical lens that we are using to augment our thesis statement.

When one participant asked her, ‘What were the various struggles you went through during your Research work?” she smiled and said, ‘It wasn’t a struggle at all, since I enjoyed every step of my research work right from day one!”.

And that I feel is the passion and the verve that every research scholar needs to cultivate!

Hearty congratulations to Dr. Ganga Devi, and to her vibrant Research Supervisor Dr. Arunprabhu on producing such a vibrant thesis - that - i strongly feel, would be a real value-addition to the body of studies in this field.

Talk to your professors, express your interests, and “Don’t hesitate to ask questions!” ❤️

From the Classroom to Space: A Guide to Studying Abroad 

VISA Programme

Episode # 29 | A Report

Mr. Rabin William, our illustrious alumnus from the Dept of Physics (Aided), delivered an inspiring and highly informative presentation in the VISA Programme’s 29th Episode, today, at 7.30 pm IST via Zoom Platform.

Rabin gave a meticulous presentation detailing his career trajectory and also offered a roadmap for our current students who are aspiring to study abroad.

Currently based in Dublin, Ireland, Rabin works as a Space Systems Engineer and Product Lead at InnaLabs, developing gyroscopes and accelerometers for space navigation for major clients like the European Space Agency (ESA) and AIRBUS.

A few lovely takeaways from his talk – that outlined on how he navigated the journey from a bachelor’s degree to a successful career in the space industry.

Rabin began his academic journey studying BSc Physics at Madras Christian College (MCC) with a focus on the practical side of space science. Initially, he had no plans to study abroad and was focused on passing the IIT JAM to pursue a Master’s degree at an IIT or NIT before moving into industry.

However, his trajectory shifted dramatically when he attended a study abroad talk during his 3rd year. This inspired him to shift his focus to Plan B: pursuing an MSc abroad, he said.

To successfully transition abroad, Rabin outlined a structured five-step preparation strategy.

Seek out topics that genuinely interest you, visualize your ideal day-to-day work life, and speak with professionals in that field.

Research top universities in your fields of interest, attend study abroad fairs, and utilize platforms like QS TopUniversities, LinkedIn, and YouTube.

Dedicate time to passing language exams like IELTS/TOEFL (which he self-prepared for daily), writing a strong Statement of Purpose (SOP), and gathering academic transcripts and Letters of Recommendation.

Aim for scholarship applications by targeting early deadlines between December and March for the Fall (September) intake.

Keep a master list tracking all university-specific deadlines and requirements, 

he exhorted our students. 

On the Course Realities in Ireland, he said that - 

For students who are considering Ireland, Rabin provided a candid assessment of the current master’s degree landscape with respect to Ireland -

Computer Science, Software & AI programs are “saturating fast”.

Data Science & Business Analytics are considered “oversaturated”.

Pharmaceuticals & Biotechnology (including Biomedical Engineering) offer “decent” prospects.

Finance, FinTech & Accounting remain a “good” choice.

Master’s programs are usually completed in one year over three semesters, but students should be prepared for the fact that coursework is roughly 80% self-study. A crucial piece of advice was to opt for an internship in the final semester, especially since there are no campus placements provided by the university; students must navigate the job market themselves.

Getting an unconditional offer letter is a prerequisite for what Rabin calls “the real deal” - the visa application.

Engaging a consultancy is recommended, but applicants should choose their own university and avoid paying consultancy fees, as these agencies are usually compensated by their partner institutions.

The visa application takes at least 1-2 months, and providing clear, comprehensive financial proofs is vital, as many applications are rejected due to insufficient documentation.

Living abroad requires strict budgeting. For the 2025/2026 academic year, students should anticipate monthly living costs (excluding tuition) between €950 and €1,250. 

Rent is the most significant factor - 

Dublin: €720-880

Cork: €580-730

Galway: €520-670

Limerick: €480-630

Waterford: €420-520

Finally, a successful study abroad experience goes beyond academics. Rabin encouraged students to enrich their university life by making international friends, joining student societies (like the UCD International Students Society, Game Soc, or Physics Society), and deeply exploring the local culture. He also highlighted the importance of networking through alumni events, job fairs, and utilizing the university’s career centre.

To strengthen a CV, he urged students to build personal projects, attend workshops, and participate in hackathons. In fact, his own involvement paid off significantly when his team, the ‘Irish Moonquakers,’ won a NASA Space Apps Challenge in Dublin.

And his ultimate piece of advice for ambitious students?

Talk to your professors, express your interests, and “Don’t hesitate to ask questions!”,

he signed off.

More than 40 students had turned up online, along with Rabin’s past professors, past VISA speakers, and our alumni as well.

Dr. Jacob George, Dept of Physics facilitated the student interactions. Mr. Mathew Alex, II MA Political Science did the MC, and Dr. Serena coordinated the Programme on behalf of the Office of International Programmes, MCC.

Leaving it to Psmith | Why Wodehouse is My Cuppa Tea ❤️

On Why I Love Wodehouse! 😉

And how I ‘manifested’ my love for the legend in my own little ways! 😊

#musings #lovelyreads

Horror fiction has never been my cuppa coffee... oops... my cuppa tea, anytime! 😊

On the other hand, I’ve always loved reading stories that abound with light comedy, idyllic settings, cheerful characters with a zest for life, where the characters don’t have any harsh words for anyone, and at the same time, so chivalrous and romantic when it comes to adventurous escapades, with albeit light-hearted endings! Such stories have always truly blue-ly resonated much with my reading sensibilities for long.

This takes me back down memory lane - to an array of lovely reads from my childhood days that have really helped me lots in cultivating such a sensibility! Remember Tintin? or Happy Days? He’s of that ilk! 😊

And that’s exactly ‘that something’ that makes P.G. Wodehouse so special for me. A real master-blaster when it comes to an impish linguistic playfulness, written in such beautiful comic prose, offering an idealised world for his readers.

Be it his use of witty classical mythology, or those quaint Latin phrases, or that odd contemporary slang – he has them all woven into his pages, so much that, eminent English writer Evelyn Waugh famously observed that,

Wodehouse produced an average of three uniquely brilliant and entirely original similes on each page.

Of all his amazing novels that form part of his oeuvre, there are quite a few that have fascinated me lots. One among them is titled, Leave It to Psmith (1923) – a novel that holds a distinct place in the Wodehouse-ian universe.

The novel is all about Psmith, an urban, sharp-witted hero, who steps out of his own universe and directly into Blandings Castle - the idyllic, pastoral realm of Lord Emsworth.

Ronald Psmith endears himself to us more because of the fact that he is a kinda intellectual protagonist, someone who is brilliant, self-aware and at the same time tries to make the entire place around him happy in every way! 😊

He addresses everyone – right from aristocrats to valet impersonators - as “Comrades” with mock-socialist warmth, stunning everyone he meets with elaborate, polite rhetoric, not once losing his cool or calm or composure during the entire course of the novel.

2004 Edition 😊

And for this exact reason, way back in time - almost 24 years ago, when I had just joined the Dept of English, MCC has Lecturer, I had decided to abridge a few such novels of the legend, at the pace of one novel a month, by retaining his razor-sharp dialogue, in its original aura, but still, making it an easy read for the lay reader, reducing the novel’s size from 350 pages to 25 pages in the process! 😊

Apart from the dialogue, the plot is yet another aspect of the novel that’s got such an unputdownable, joyous pace to it – something that you must feel in order to experience it.

Just giving us all some snippets from the abridged novel – a purely out-and-out self-publication – that I had done using my personal computer and printer, in my own quirky raw and rugged style. 😊

15 more pages to go! to be continued... when time permits... 😊

Reflections on a PhD Defence | Climate Positionalities and Malayalam Cultural Mediations ❤️

Localising the Climate Crisis Through Kerala’s Flood Imaginaries

#PhD-Defence #IITM

29th July 2026 | 4 pm

Today, I was happy to be a part of the PhD Viva Voce Examination of Mr. Achuth Balakrishnan, IIT Madras, whose thesis titled, “Climate Positionalities - The Kerala Floods Imaginaries and Malayalam Cultural Mediations”, was a real eye-opener of sorts.

There are two things in particular that I loved the most about his thesis.

Firstly, while standard ecological imaginaries and climate narratives typically depict distant dystopian end-of-the-world scenarios, Achuth has analysed the depictions of real, localised climate events – grounded in the region - specifically the 2018 Kerala floods - within Malayalam literature.

By analysing such regional fictional and non-fictional texts, the researcher has skilfully explored micro-level cultural responses for macro-level climate issues.

Secondly, the researcher’s study of children’s literature is something that I found highly laudable.

The research specifically analyses three Malayalam children’s novels that deal with the 2018 Kerala floods, namely, Priya’s Perumazhayathe Kunjithalukal, Veerankutty’s Parannu Parannu Chekkuttyppava and Sethu’s Chekkutty. In fact, one of the main research questions investigates how children’s agency is represented in flood-related climate fiction.

Through the thesis, the researcher has studied how child characters exercise agency through their capacity for imagination, social bonding, and active participation in rebuilding society after a disaster, moving away from older, purely moralistic models of children’s stories.

Moreover, the study uses children’s literature to examine gender praxis, specifically looking at how these texts might intervene in conventional gender discourse through models of gender subversion, affirmation, and parity.

Added, the research looks into the specific stylistic aspects deployed in children’s literature to explain complex ecological disasters. It analyses how techniques like episodic formatting, oral narratives (resembling “grandmother’s tales”), fantasy, and magic realism are used to convey climate lessons and resilience to young readers. Most importantly, the thesis examines how the child figure is sensitised to the spatial nature of ecology and their environment when their habitation gets disturbed by the floodwaters.

In short, an impactful micro-response to a macro-issue of alarming proportions.

Hearty congratulations to Dr. Achuth, and to Dr. Divya, his vibrant Research Supervisor for coming up with such an impactful thesis that has a great importance for society.

Friends for Friends: Building a Peer-Led Mental Wellness Ecosystem on Campus ❤️

Report on Today’s Think Tank Session 

By the Think Tank Team [Ms. Lekhaa & Rakshaya]

29th July 2026 | Writer’s Nook, MMIP

The Weekly Think Tank Session of the College was conducted on 29 July 2026 with the objective of discussing key student development initiatives. The event was coordinated by the Event Managers - Ms. Aarthi and Ms. Vishnupriya and was attended by Dr. Samuel Rufus, Dean IP, Dr. Tabitha Durai, Dean of Research and Development (R&D), Ms. Benita, Head of the Placement Cell, Academic Deans, faculty members, Members of the College Union Society (CUS), and students.

The agenda of the session invited the College Union Society (CUS) to deliberate on three action plans: (1) Campaign and Community Movement for Student Mental Wellness in association with Student Counselling Services; (2) Enhancing 10% Core Placements in every department through Department Representatives and Class Representatives in association with the Placement Cell; and (3) Popularising purpose-driven Part IV, Part V, and value-added NPTEL courses aligned with career planning in collaboration with Academic Coordinators and the Department of Extension Programme (DEP).

However, owing to time constraints, the session focused primarily on the first item on the agenda, namely, “Campaign for Student Mental Wellness,” and the discussion centred on suggestions and action plans to strengthen mental wellness support for students on campus.

The session commenced with an introduction by Dr. Samuel Rufus, who welcomed the participants and outlined the purpose of the Think Tank session.

The discussion was led by Dr. Tabitha Durai, Dean of Research and Development (R&D), who invited students to share their perspectives on their needs and the measures the institution could adopt to further strengthen student mental wellness. She also highlighted the role of the Research and Development (R&D) Cell and expressed its interest in collaborating with the College Union Society. Students requested an overview of the initiatives already in place before offering further suggestions.

The discussion brought attention to the fact that the institution already has two student counsellors, although many students were unaware of their identities and the support services available. Participants discussed the establishment of a Student Mental Wellness Forum involving experts and raised points regarding certification and the age gap between students and counsellors.

A key proposal discussed was the “Friends for Friends” initiative. It was suggested that selected students be trained as peer ambassadors rather than being referred to as student counsellors. The proposed training would include Psychological First Aid, enabling peer volunteers to provide initial support and connect students with professional counsellors whenever necessary.

The session also highlighted the availability of NPTEL SWAYAM Psychology courses and emphasized strengthening the existing mental wellness framework. Participants discussed the importance of balancing academic competitiveness with personal well-being and suggested promoting activities such as nature walks and spiritual well-being.

Further discussions on the “Friends for Friends” initiative proposed the use of confidential and anonymous online forms and social media platforms to facilitate peer support throughout the academic year. Suggestions also included collaboration with various student units, careful selection of peer volunteers, and promoting group-based support systems.

Participants proposed the formation of a Mental Wellness Club to conduct programmes on conflict resolution, burnout, health and fitness, stress management, and promoting joy on campus.

The discussion concluded with recommendations on ensuring the sustainability of mental wellness initiatives by addressing counsellors’ workload, building trust and rapport between students and counsellors, involving pro bono counsellors where possible, reducing the stigma associated with seeking help, ensuring confidentiality, providing structured training for selected peer volunteers, and creating awareness about the stages of counselling. The importance of encouraging students to seek support without fear of judgement was also emphasized.

The session ended with a Vote of Thanks delivered by Ms. Swarna Rekha, who expressed her sincere gratitude to Dr. Paul Wilson, Principal and Secretary, the speakers, faculty members, academic deans, members of the College Union Society (CUS), and all the participants for their valuable contributions. The Think Tank session came to a close with valuable suggestions and recommendations for strengthening student mental wellness initiatives within the institution.

"Each week, try to choose a new location" ❤️

Finding Awe!

#inspirational

I was so happy to listen to a podcast by Mel Robbins last night – thanks a lot to Shree for sharing it with me, and on a heart-warming note, she also said that she strongly recommends this podcast for our students. Way to go, Shree! 

Something that makes me so happy and in fact excites me quite a lot is when our vibrant students – past or present – share from their reading or listening lists.

Ms. Shree especially scores high on the list!

A few current PG students also shared from their reading lists with me yesterday. This includes Ms. Swarna who shared with me her reading from Edward B. Titchener. Way to go dear readers!

Coming back –

This particular episode of the podcast interested me lots as it featured Dr. Dacher Keltner, who is one of the world’s leading experts on the science of happiness, meaning, purpose, and awe.

It was such an engaging conversation, where both Mel and Keltner were at their spontaneous best! Dr. Keltner says that, finding your life’s purpose doesn’t require a massive life overhaul! rather, it is rooted in our everyday micro-moments and reconnecting with our authentic self!

Dr. Keltner, citing research, says that, even that tiny, seemingly insignificant occurrences - like noticing a beautiful sunset, sharing a good laugh, listening to a favourite song, or having a meaningful conversation - shape our happiness and calm our nervous systems far more than grand achievements.

Whenever we feel lost or disconnected, the podcast suggests that, we look backward to our childhood days, and ask ourselves what naturally lit us up as a child, or who inspired us, thus leaving breadcrumbs that point directly to our inherent strengths and purpose.

Seeking out experiences of awe and wonder in our daily life is a powerful way to gain clarity, step out of a stressed mindset, and feel more connected to the world around you, says Keltner.

True purpose is a continuous practice of understanding ourseves and leaning into the things that make us feel the most alive!

In fact, this Mel episode serves as a reminder for us slow down, practice gratitude for the little things, and let our natural curiosities guide our sense of meaning in life.

Well, after listening to the podcast, I wanted to read more about Keltner and came across this lovely book.

The book is titled, Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life.

What I like about the book is that, Keltner takes just one emotion – awe - and he applies an intense scientific methodology to it!

Tap into your childlike sense of wonder. Young children are in an almost constant state of awe since everything is so new to them. During your walk, try to approach what you see with fresh eyes, imagining that you’re seeing it for the first time.

Take a moment in each walk to take in the vastness of things, for example in looking at a panoramic view or up close at the detail of a leaf or flower. Go somewhere new.

Each week, try to choose a new location. You’re more likely to feel awe in a novel environment where the sights and sounds are unexpected and unfamiliar to you. That said, some places never seem to get old, so there’s nothing wrong with revisiting your favourite spots if you find that they consistently fill you with awe. The key is to recognize new features of the same old place.

says Keltner.

A few other lovely lines from the book -

Wonder, the mental state of openness, questioning, curiosity, and embracing mystery, arises out of experiences of awe!

In our studies, people who find more everyday awe show evidence of living with wonder. They are more open to new ideas. To what is unknown. To what language can’t describe. To the absurd. To seeking new knowledge.

In fact, it is hard to imagine a single thing you can do that is better for your body and mind than finding awe outdoors. Doing so leads to the reduced likelihood of cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease, diabetes, depression, anxiety and cancer.

“We can do whatever we want on this planet, I remember thinking, but the world will always win—so we might as well build as much joy, real joy for all people while we’re here.”

“Our daily diary findings suggest that these great minds and cultures were onto something: the wonders of life are so often nearby”.

Yet another interesting takeaway from the book is that, awe is NOT a luxury reserved for those with the wealth to travel. Rather, awe can be found in a few minutes of daily observation, those micro-moments, such as noticing the play of light on a leaf, witnessing a stranger’s generosity, or going for an “awe walk” in a garden.

Awe! How cool is it? 😊

An Awe-walk or an Awe-drive!

Thank you dear Shree for this lovely podcast, that helped me connect with this lovely book. 😊

A lovely little nostalgic note: Well, Shree happens to be one of our best students ever! I remember having nominated her as Group Leader for her combined class for Part II – PbT & Zoology Class in 2005, when I happened to be their English Prof! Back in those good ol’ days when we used to have group discussions – once every Day Order cycle! 😊

You may want to look up that past post from 21 years ago - November 2005, on our past post HERE.

Paper Tiger vs Real Tiger ❤️

While Others Catch Up, We’ve Been Leading!

The MCC Language Legacy

#newspaperinlearning

25th July 2026

I happened to read an article in today’s Times of India, Chennai Edition, on a paradigm shift across academia, especially in Chennai’s renowned Engineering colleges, urging their students to completely drop regular academic courses in their seventh semester if they clear three levels of a foreign language certification!

The article highlights the four famous foreign languages that are being prioritised by Chennai’s Higher Educational Institutions.

German and Japanese, are prioritised explicitly because those countries have ageing populations and hence there’s a desperate need for young immigrant workers.

Similarly, RMK and Anna University are introducing Mandarin and Korean with an aim to capture upcoming jobs in the VLSI-based chip manufacturing sector, targeting Taiwanese and South Korean tech giants.

The reasons are not far to seek!

Mastering a foreign language gives Indian graduates a significant edge in the global job market. For example, knowing Japanese helped a civil engineering graduate secure a ₹30 lakh per annum job, which is vastly higher than standard domestic offers.

Engineering colleges and universities in Chennai (such as VIT, Anna University, HITS, and SRM Easwari) have been integrating foreign languages into their official curricula. Surprisingly, some have even made it a mandatory credit course!

Beyond just classroom teaching, institutions are encouraging students to form foreign language clubs and host cultural events. Some colleges are even collaborating with foreign embassies to bring in native teachers and establish dedicated language centres.

So what about Arts & Science Colleges in Chennai?

Since the report doesn’t feature Arts & Science Colleges, this blogger thought of filling in the missing gap. 😊

Well, MCC has been hosting native Korean Professors for the past 12 years, to teach Korean language skills for our students. The next batch starts in early August 2026.

Moreover, more than 1100 students have been trained in the Korean language over these years and a sizeable many amongst them have also found openings in the Korean job market / higher education sector and /or research, over the years.

Also, MCC has been offering German and French for more than five decades now.

As eminent critic Scupin Richard rightly points out,

Chasing a degree makes a student a timid ‘Paper Tiger’. On the other hand, chasing skills – like language skills make them a real tiger in flesh and blood, capable of confidently facing the job market, - a philosophy that MCC has stood for, even many decades ago, before they could make into the morning headlines today!

In short, we are not just participating in the ‘language-focus’ trend; we’ve been quietly leading it!

And how! 😊

Degrees Without Destinations | The Looming Gen Z Labour Crisis?

Why Higher Education is Failing Our Youth

#newspaperinlearning

I happened to read a very insightful article in today’s Editorial Section of The Hindu.

The article focusses on three cardinal issues facing society today, namely, youth unemployment, lack of skilling, and the gender divide, and frames them as a systemic failure in the transition from education to the workforce.

What alarmed me the most was the article’s focus on the crisis facing Generation Z (born 1997–2012) compared to Millennials.

Firstly, the statistics presented by the authors point towards a shocking reality – that higher education today is not currently functioning as a reliable gateway to employment.

Among Gen Z males with graduate-level education or above, unemployment stands at a staggering 29%.

For educated Gen Z females, it is an even more alarming 36.9%.

Secondly, the authors also highlight the fact that the economy is producing educated youth faster than it can create suitable jobs, leading to profound frustration and inefficiency on the part of the youngsters.

Thirdly, the article shows the disproportionate burden placed on young women. While 41.7% of Gen Z males are in the labour force, a massive 27.1% of Gen Z females are engaged exclusively in domestic duties (compared to a mere 0.32% of males).

Fourthly, the quality of employment is also quite poor. Only 20.1% of Gen Z workers are covered by social security, and an overwhelming 79.9% lack it. Which means, most young people are entering the workforce without basic protections or formal job contracts.

Finally, to sum it all up, the article is an urgent warning that without stronger college-to-work pathways - such as vibrant apprenticeships, better formal hiring incentives, and structural support for women – the problem can translate into a huge social and economic crisis, the writers opine! 

Tasting Our Words | “Expensive Emotions Ever”

“Tasting Our Words” | “Linguistic Accountability” 

Expensive Emotions Ever

Authored by Ms. Swarna Rekha | II MA English

Book Review

Swarna Rekha’s first publication titled, Expensive Emotions Ever makes a very engaging and unputdownable read for any many reasons.

Firstly, the book doubles up as a moral compass and an ethical guide for modern society, by diagnosing the ‘ethical shortcomings’ of our society - especially in the digital age - and suggests that the remedies for these shortcomings can be found only in our traditional values.

Secondly, the author highlights the ‘normalisation of cruelty’ in modern internet culture. In her chapter titled, “Kindness,” she points to “memes, reels, trolls, and trends” as platforms where people routinely exploit the insecurities of others for their cheap entertainment.

Moreover, she vehemently condemns the modern habit of “spilling the tea” (gossiping) and urges readers to refuse to sit at tables where people are being judged without empathy.

Thirdly, the book provides a sharp critique of contemporary dating cultures. Swarna argues that modern love has become a “trend” characterised by competition, comparison, and materialism. She further notes that “Gen Z considers love to be materialistic and lustful,” lacking true emotional connection.

As a corrective measure, she offers a possible solution from her own standpoint, stating that, a return to a pre-Gen Z standard of love is the need of the hour, a love that requires non-materialistic effort, healthy communication, and the willingness to support a partner through imperfections rather than demanding perfection.

Fourthly, Swarna highlights the harmful consequences of embracing a ‘throwaway culture’. She observes that, the modern era has somehow embraced the throwaway culture - a tendency to abandon difficult situations or relationships rather than work through them.

The chapter titled, “Don’t replace; instead, repair,” directly tackles this ‘throwaway culture’ mentality, by beseeching the reader to look out for effortless replacements when a relationship faces friction. The author argues that constantly replacing people leads to a loss of loyalty and recurring guilt. Instead, she positions the effort to “repair and reunite” as an essential ethical duty that builds stronger, more permanent human bonds.

Fifthly, a strong “ethical orientation” forms the golden thread that weaves the book together into a harmonious whole. A significant portion of the book is dedicated to outlining core human values like honesty, respect, compassion, responsibility, and perseverance. In addition, she also ensures that these are not treated as obscure or idealistic theories, but as practical, daily requirements.

Sixthly, one particular concept that I personally liked very much was her emphasis on linguistic accountability. The book holds her readers strictly accountable for their communication. Hence, the author urges her readers to “Taste your words before you spill them out,” thereby addressing the impulsive tendency for reactive, careless speech. She also emphasises that negative words can cause deep psychological harm and hence insists that any verbal promises must be consistently backed by tangible actions, asserting that this alignment of word and deed reflects the “truest version of yourself”.

Seventhly, the book abounds with a lot of engaging Acronym-based definitions, to define standard emotions. For example, she frames LOVE as “Longing for Opportunities where Venture meets Empathy” and FEAR is characterised as a “Furious Enemy who Admits Risk to Your Confidence”. Again, she personifies Anger as an ‘Alien Invader’, by defining it as “an Alien that Nurtures your Grudge”, thereby foregrounding the fact that, these negative emotions are not a natural biological response, but a parasitic force that needs to be nipped in the bud.

Eighthly, the author has employed a lot of highly engaging literary devices to convey her message across to her readers. For example, in the piece titled, ‘Flowers are personified’, the author uses a garden as an allegory for the human psyche. By assigning specific emotional states to flora - daffodils for happiness, tulips for sadness, daisies for envy - the author creates a microcosm where emotions must learn to coexist.

Again, in her poem titled, ‘Emptiness into Fulfillment’, the internal struggle so beautifully connects with physical sensation. Phrases like “the darkest room without a light” and “wet, cold hands that shivered” effectively foreground the isolating nature of grief, which finally transitions to fulfilling joy when there is a focus on the self! (self-focus).

Finally, to conclude - in an age where human connection is frequently ‘replaced’ rather than ‘repaired’, our deepest emotions remain the most luxurious jewels that we possess! In this regard, Swarna Rekha’s book beautifully reminds us that our deepest emotions are not enemies to be feared, but a delicate garden to be cultivated and celebrated!

The vibrant cover design by Ms. Rakshaya (Ms. Swarna’s classmate) deserves special appreciation. One interesting feature that I observed about the cover design is the central heart, which is represented - not as a solid shape, but constructed from three distinct, petal-like forms, thereby visually representing how different emotions blend to create complex emotions aka expensive emotions.

In that way, the design of the cover beautifully mirrors the content of the book!