The Day My Hostel Life Began | Tuning to a Rigid Institutional Routine! 😊

Living Life “By” the Clock | The Day My Hostel Life Began

#HSCDays #MCCSchool #HostelYears

[This day, 32 years ago, from my personal diary entry]

#memoriesfromdiaries

1st July 1994

This particular day in my life proved to be a monumental day for me!

A day when I experienced a massive life transition – from home life to hostel life!

The very first day of my 11th grade in MCC School, Chetpet, Madras, oops Chennai! 😊

Today even as I look back on this diary entry of almost 32 years ago, I am totally in awe!

Little had I realised back then, that one day, I will be sharing from my diary entry on the ‘Internet’ on a ‘Blog’ging platform, three decades later in time!

Be it getting a pair of sportshoes and some “good day” biscuits, or getting a few friends on the very first day - the anxieties, the curiosities, and the excitement of the day were of the highest order, you see!

There are two particular things that I wish to highlight from this diary entry as takeaways from this blogpost –

First is the sense of time-consciousness that my hostel life has taught me bigtime!

Even my personal diary entries from then on, have (I noticed it only quite late) have recorded the day by these timestamps - 10:30, 12:45, 4:00, 7:25, and finally sleeping by 8:50 p.m.

I am especially astonished at my repeated use of the word ‘by’ to denote time.

It makes me compare our lives to a train journey, where each station arrives by – for example – by 10.30 am, by 12.45 pm, by 4 pm, by 7.25 pm and finally by 8.50 pm.

It also makes me realise how the concept of time had assumed for the first time, a lot of significance - once I had enrolled myself into a “rigid institutional routine”.

As a Professor of English today – I feel slightly embarrassed to see the typos and the spelling mistakes that I had innocuously made in the diary entry – which is again, a very personal one you see - 😊

Now let me highlight some of my pretty “structural nativism” quirks in this entry, which are replete with the regional flavour! 😊

For example, expressions like “Today morning” (instead of this morning), “I and mummy,” and “fellow guys” etc., make this diary entry get its authentic vibes I guess!

I also noticed a few minor spelling errors like “tiffen” and “bye me” (buy me) that add to its authenticity. 😊

Here’s to the little boy of 16, who “took the time” to write down his impressions - way back in 1994 – albeit with helluva typos, lotsa regional flavour, and anxieties of all hues writ large on him, and what not! 😊

Because, without him, I wouldn’t have been the person that I am, today!

Global Footprints | From Campus to South Korea ❤️

SKY Programme | First Edition

A Report | 1st July 2026

Today we had the first SKY Programme of the new Academic Year at 12.30 pm, in the Chemistry Seminar Hall. 15 Students who had spent their One-Semester Abroad in South Korea narrated their experiences to the assembled audience comprising of the Deans, Heads of Departments, Professors and students.

Our Principal Dr. Paul Wilson in his inaugural address highlighted the role played by the Office of International Programmes in facilitating student mobility to universities across the world. He also spoke on the visit of more than 54 renowned Universities from across the world who had come down to MCC to explore collaborations with our Institution and the resultant 12 MoUs that had happened in the last academic year. He exhorted students to finetune their portfolios with their skillsets, and make themselves employment-ready.

Dr. Rufus, Dean of International Programmes welcomed the gathering. Dr. Nirmala Mohan, Head, Dept of Commerce (SFS), Dr. Annet Pearl, Warden of Martin Hall, Prof. Livingstone, Professor of German, participated. Our newly recruited Interns did a highly commendable job. Ms. Irin from II MA Pol Science did the MC, while Shweta Vamsi (III BBA), Mathew Alex (II MA Pol Science), among others facilitated in the logistics for the programme. Dr. Serena, Associate Dean of International Programmes, proposed the Vote of Thanks. 

The programme ended at 1.20 pm, followed by a fellowship lunch at the Staff Tiffin Room.

What I personally liked about the programme was the way in which the Interns were particularly conscious of time management. All 15 students spoke, and still, we ended the Programme 10 minutes ahead of lunch time. Awesome work, dear Interns. Keep it up! 

Be an ‘Admirer’ of Success | Seven Principles for Your College Journey ❤️

The ADMIRER’s Guide to Academic Success

#PGFreshers #today

Today I met the newly enrolled students of the I MA English Class. The class was packed to capacity with all seats having been filled up. Speaks to the huge demand for the English Language and Literature Programme in MCC.

I went to class 10 minutes ahead of time, and I was surprised to find almost everyone seated in class. only two students came at 8.30 am – time the class officially started! 😊

I was happy to interact with them all. I also gave them the mnemonic term – ADMIRER, to make the most of their brief but impactful time in their PG programme in MCC.

If you want to make your academic life in MCC as a purpose-driven journey, here you’ll find the ADMIRER roadmap for a rewarding, excuse-free experience in your college life.

A - Appointments: Honour your meetings and communicate absences promptly to build unshakeable trust, reliability, and credibility.

D - Deadlines: Meet (or beat!) your due dates to earn respect, achieve your goals, and boost your self-esteem.

M - Map Your Journey: Visualise your entire academic programme from a bird’s-eye view to stay motivated and plan effectively.

I - Idea About Your Destination: Keep a clear outcome in mind to ensure your daily efforts remain purposeful and satisfying.

R - Routes to Take & Avoid: Choose your academic and personal paths wisely to ensure you are always progressing joyfully toward the right destination.

E - Excuses Are A Strict NO!: Stop making excuses; they only devalue your skills, limit your potential, and push people away from you.

R - Refuel: Make time to restore your energy through relaxing activities like solitary walks, outdoor games, therapeutic music, yoga, art, or reading.

Three Quick Tips to Simplify Your Life

Schedule Daily Downtime: Dedicate quiet time every day to write in a diary, read the newspaper, or sit in the library.

Practice a Digital Detox: Keep your mobile phone off for 8 to 10 hours a day to reclaim your time and focus.

Maintain a Positive Approach: Enthusiastically encourage your peers, avoid speaking ill of others, and never let envy undermine your own capabilities.

Here’s wishing you a rewarding academic year ahead!

The Poetics and Politics of the Ronaldo Jersey 💜

The Empire Strikes Back... | Critical Reflections on a Football Jersey

#reflections #today

30th June 2026

I happened to notice two boys wearing Ronaldo jerseys on them, on two separate occasions, today.

As students of literature would have been familiar with, from a Critical Theory standpoint, this Tee becomes a rich “textual site” in itself, offering us on a platter ample scope for a rewarding postcolonial critique!

But before we begin, a quick recap of a few essential postulates of Critical Theory –

Critical Theory seeks to challenge assumptions, status quo, capitalist subjugation, commodity fetishism, etc, thereby revealing hidden power structures, and imbalances of power. In addition, it envisions transformative action in society, by not only understanding societal problems, but also involving itself in transformative action from “what is” to “what ought to be!”

As such, critical theory serves as a liberative tool to examine society by liberating not only individuals but also societies from conditions that bind them into conformities.

In this regard, Max Horkheimer’s seminal essay titled, “Traditional and Critical Theory” can be called the foundational manifesto of the Frankfurt School, a School known for pioneering Critical Theory to the world. Its main aim is to reveal, critique, and challenge power structures within society and culture.

In a postscript to t(his) essay, from the standard, authoritative English translation by Matthew J. O'Connell, Horkheimer lays out the definition of the term in a beautiful manner!

Says he –

The total goal of critical theory is “man’s (human) emancipation from slavery.”

It is the task of the critical theoretician to reduce the tension between his own insight and oppressed humanity in whose service he thinks, adds Horkheimer.

As eminent critic Scupin Richard rightly points out, “A theory is only “critical” if it seeks “to liberate human beings from the circumstances that enslave them.”

Coming back -

Well, for any layperson who looks up this snap at first glance, it might sure look like a mundane, everyday moment of sorts!

However, when viewed through a postcolonial “critical” perspective, the snap transforms into a profound textual “site” that seeks to bring out the impact of…. oops the adverse effects of cultural imperialism, cultural hegemony, and global capitalism in all its myriad forms.

The Frankfurt School focused heavily on how mass media and consumerism - what Adorno termed the “culture industry” – served to sedate or opiate or pacify the working class!

As such, although Cristiano Ronaldo is a football player, when viewed from a “culture industry” perspective, Ronaldo is not just an athlete; he is brand ambassador for a multinational corporation - the CR7 brand – of which he is also the founder and direct owner. The CR7 brand is entangled with Western capitalist interests, and his image is strategically used to penetrate emerging non-European markets on behalf of Western “culture industries”.

Many of us would also know how Ronaldo is deeply connected with Western global brands like Nike or Herbalife, to name a few, through long-term commercial partnerships and investments!

Ultimately, while Ronaldo did not set out to conquer territories, the global brands that he endorses, like Nike or Herbalife, heavily rely on his image to conquer non-European territories!

Coming next to a poetic connect –

I would like to compare these two snapshots with a postcolonial poem titled, “Two Cultures” by the Guyanese writer David Dabydeen, since the poem also features a similar young boy who is “steeped in BBC culture”. 😊

In a way, the poem examines the deep chasm between the British colonial “centre” and the Guyanese “periphery”.

This young Caribbean boy too has internalised the coloniser’s “refined” mannerisms, rituals, language and attitudes, much akin to the boy in the snapshot who has adopted the visual culture of the West by sporting the Ronaldo jersey!

Both boys – the Carribean boy and the boys on the scooters seem to “effortlessly” carry the global symbol of imperial hegemony or cultural hegemony into their distinctly local landscapes!

At the same time, while the Caribbean boy in Dabydeen’s poem personifies linguistic imperialism, showing how adopting the coloniser’s standard English creates a barrier between the educated youth and his roots, the Indian boys on the scooters represents cultural imperialism, by sporting the Ronaldo jerseys!

On a deeper level, then, who do you think are the boys on the scooters?

Simple! the boys wearing the Ronaldo jerseys are - you, we and me! 😊

Puzzled? Ain’t we?

Yes, In the past, vast Western empires were highly successful in “exporting” their imperial languages across the world. Today, they have started exporting popular culture, through their Instagrams, and Facebooks acting as primary vehicles to “enslave” us to to the core through cultural hegemony or cultural imperialism! ☹

In that respect, when viewed through a postcolonial framework, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter etc are not just social networking sites. They are brand ambassadors for huge multinational corporations deeply entangled with Western capitalist interests, who use their brand value to strategically penetrate emerging markets on behalf of Western culture!

Let me conclude this post on a startling note that can rock our gentle, passive boats in the words of eminent critic Scupin Richards -

“If critical theory’s true goal is human emancipation, then our first act of modern rebellion must be to take a minute out from scrolling through our insta feeds to question the “invisible jerseys” that we all wear day in and day out, every passing day of our lives”.

Coffee, Conversations, and Kindred Spirits: A Walk Down Memory Lane ❤️

Today I was so happy to meet and spend time with my kindred spirit Dr. K. Ganesh, our former Head of the Department of English, in Campus - aka in the woods.

#kindredspirits

Thanks to the Department of Philosophy, for having invited Dr. Ganesh for a lecture on Indian Aesthetics. After the lecture, we met up for our routine fun-rendezvous – firstly under the tree, then near the bank, then in the Department – the place where Dr. Ganesh spent almost five decades of his illustrious academic life, right from his PUC days - in MCC.

We fondly remembered our frequent outings to Conferences, Seminars and Workshops – by trains, by flight and sometimes even by car – and the pure joys of those blessed morning strolls that lasted for quite a few hours and that culminated over our strong cups of coffee, as usual! 😊

15 years ago! #kindredspirits

We also recollected with nostalgia, how, when at the lectern, each of us used to signal to the other to stop our respective talks on time, by dropping a key chain, or by a mock-coughing, especially when the last five minutes is due, and when we were prone to run into overtime mode😉 to help the organisers in whatever little ways we possibly could! 😉

Today, with Dr. David Albert and Dr. Arun Kumar, we relived those memories for hours, ending as usual with our strong cups of coffee! 😊

PS: You may want to read one such past outing of ours, HERE on our blog! 

"Here I Became" | The Transformative Journey of Ms. Anarsha KM ❤️

A Rendezvous with Ms. Anarsha KM

Past Intern with the Office of International Programmes, MCC

Well, I remember the day quite vividly in memory.

It was the 11th of July 2025 at 2 pm in the CMS Indoor Theatre, where I was invited by the HoD of the VisCom Dept to give a Talk on Orientation for students who aspire to do their Higher Studies Abroad.

The Creative Invite

At the end of my Talk, there were quite a lot of thought-provoking questions from the audience. One particular student from the II BSc Visual Communication Class asked a question relating to studies abroad, and after the programme was over, she came up to me and asked me if she could intern with the Office of International Programmes.

Her decision to approach me directly speaks volumes about her character and professional readiness.

In fact, it takes a significant amount of nerve for an undergraduate student to walk up to a speaker immediately after a presentation to pitch themselves. She possesses the confidence to advocate for her own academic growth thereby stepping outside her comfort zone.

Moreover, she didn’t wait for a formal circular, or a call for applications, to apply for such a programme. I impulsively felt that, she was able to clearly envision how this practical experience fits into her desired professional trajectory.

Hence, as a first step, I asked her to be nominated by her Head of the Department, and then to come to our Office for a formal interview. She aced the interview well, and also promptly joined the Office for a two-month stint as Office Intern in our Office.

Anarsha's First Paper Presentation

In addition, on one occasion, I asked her if she would be able to present a Paper in an International Conference. She gladly agreed. She got the paper ready in a week’s time and showed it to me as well.

On yet another occasion, when I asked her if she would be confident enough to give a lecture in my II MA English class for my students, she gladly agreed, and did an impactful presentation on “Podcasts as a Digital Humanities Tool: Preserving Oral Histories in the Digital Age”. She also handled the questions that followed with such elegance.

Yet on another occasion, I asked her, ‘Anarsha, you have a very good way with words. Why don’t you start blogging?’ She started blogging soon after. 

I personally feel that, this is exactly the kind of behaviour that separates students who just come to College as a routine and passively consume lectures from those who are actively building a portfolio of real-world skills.

And today, 29th June 2026, after successfully graduating from MCC, she came to meet me with a meticulous prior appointment. And she was there on time spot-on! I was so overjoyed to see her, and I decided to have an impromptu interview with her as well. Without any hesitation, she gladly nodded to the call.

Here goes excerpts from the interview -

Hello Anarsha, are you ready for a surprise, impromptu interview?

Gladly yes, sir.

Okay now, you’ve done three years in MCC. Now tell me, how has your perspective to life changed in these three years. Also tell us about how MCC happened?

I wanted to belong somewhere. I was a social butterfly. Initially I was not able to make friends. But then, MCC changed it all for me.

The famous documentary titled, ‘Here I Became’ that was released during Deepwoods, you must have watched it, Sir?

Oh yes!

I am so happy to say that, I gave the name to this documentary, Sir.

On an aside, Here I Became is a student-led documentary that captures the legacy and transformative journey of students at Madras Christian College. The documentary explores campus life, personal growth, and the lasting impact of the institution on a student’s life, from their initial steps in the corridors to the lasting values they carry forward after graduation.

The film was created to capture the essence of life and growth on the campus, in tune with the belief system of all students who pass out from MCC - You don’t just GO through MCC. You GROW through it.”

So how did MCC transform you?

Well, Sir, MCC has made be the somebody that I am today. When I came here, I didn’t believe in myself. But after coming here, I gained lots of confidence in myself.

How did MCC happen?

Well, in the first place, MCC was not my first option at all. I intended to join NIFT, as I was planning all about fashion. But then MCC happened. It gave me a new hope. MCC gave me a family of friends. Most importantly, MCC gave me confidence to face life. MCC helped me to think out of the box, and now I can say, that MCC made me a better version of myself, of which I’m so proud of, today.

Now, coming to the Office of International Programmes, how has your Internship with the Office helped you?

Earlier, before coming to this Office, I used to look out for fellowships, scholarships and programmes outside the College. But after coming to this Office, I got the confidence that, I can go abroad without spending money on tuition fees and other miscellaneous fees. Earlier I thought, I would take an edu loan, spend a lot of money on my tuition fees, and do higher studies abroad. Now I’m confident of getting a 100% scholarship.

Moreover, I learnt that on-site experience is very important. To interact confidently with people, ask questions politely to visitors, etc.

Any one particular instance that you can quote from memory, from your stint in this Office?

Yes, Sir. The Taiwan programme that happened on 14th July 2025. I was totally unprepared for the event, and I was fresh into my internship, and when you suddenly asked me if I could do the MC, I agreed, but I felt a bit underconfident though! But then I told myself, ‘Anarsha, you should do it, you should do it!’.

Guess what? I didn’t even know the Taiwanese professor sitting next to me all through the programme. But when the programme was over, she came up to me, and said, ‘You did it so well’.

That felt so nice to hear. That was indeed a very memorable occasion for me.

Anything else you learnt during your time in the Office of International Programmes?

I started reading a lot of books and newspapers that were stacked up in the Office. I also learned the habit of documenting the daily visitors to our office. I also read through the brochures of the hundreds of foreign universities that were decked up in the Office. Added, I was also able to engage confidently with a lot of people from many foreign countries. To me, the Office is so pleasant and positive. I learnt to make my day ‘rewarding’ in every way, after coming to this Office.

Thank you Anarsha. It was such a joy talking to you.

Thank you, Sir.

It was indeed such a joy and delight to know that our Interns are doing so well now. I then rang up her Head of the Department Dr. Selvaraj, who had a lot of good words to share about her.

I would like to mention a few of his observations on his vibrant student –

She was such a good student, Sir. She was very good at content writing. In fact, she helped us a lot with the IQAC documentation so meticulously. She also actively participated in all the events that were organised both in the Department and in College. All the Newsletter reports for the College Newsletter were curated by Anarsha. Right from Day One she actively involved herself in all the activities with a cheerful spirit. She’s been part of our PR Campaigns as well. This apart, she has also presented Papers in many conferences, he added.

Felt so happy to hear that from her Professors.

Here's wishing Ms. Anarsha all success in all her noble endeavours.

The creative, retractable standee that Ms. Anarsha had designed
for the Office of International Programmes, MCC

A Historic Step for Indigenous Heritage | MSSW Launches Tamil Nadu’s First Certificate Programme in Toda Language & Culture ❤️

Certificate Programme in Toda Language & Culture

First of Its Kind Initiative in the State ❤️

#newspaperinlearning

I was so happy to read a lovely news article in today’s The New Indian Express, that the Madras School of Social Work (MSSW) is introducing a certificate programme dedicated to the Toda language and culture, - the first programme of its kind in Tamil Nadu to focus on this specific endangered indigenous language.

The proposed certificate course has a duration of four months. Additionally, the curriculum is structured as a 90-hour programme.

The course aims to teach a language that possesses no native script. The Toda language has survived solely through a rich oral tradition passed down through generations, making a formalised 90-hour academic syllabus a unique initiative in academia.

Moreover, the initiative is paired with a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Computational Resource for South Asian Languages (CoRSAL) at Indiana University, USA. This partnership provides the technical infrastructure to train local researchers in digitally documenting, ethically collecting, and permanently archiving the endangered dialect.

One unique aspect of the course is that, rather than relying solely on external academic observation, the course curriculum has been designed by experts deeply connected to the community, including eminent Toda writer and poet Vasamalli, as well as Tarun Chhabra, who was instrumental in securing the GI tag for Toda embroidery.

Beyond just teaching the language, the programme uniquely emphasises on the technical expertise required to safeguard the language.

In addition, a parallel certificate course on the documentation of tribal languages is also being introduced to ensure that there are trained individuals capable of preserving indigenous knowledge systems for future generations.

A highly commendable and a unique academic initiative in cultural preservation! ❤️

"Life really is better when we are together" ❤️

I am because we are! ❤️

#highwayreflections

I happened to notice this lovely quote “Life is better when we are together”, on the tee shirt of a boy riding pillion with his friends, on a solitary highway, today.

The quote in fact captures the very essence of friendship in all its aura. 😊

While discussing Jane Eyre in class, more than two decades ago, I remember giving out the quote -

There are three types of friends. Some come into our lives for a reason, some for a season, and some others for a lifetime!

How true!

This particular scene of friends roaming around in a bike, gave me some lovely nostalgic memories of my own childhood days when I was surrounded by friends 24x7! 😊

Now for the literary takeaways from this blogpost –

When we apply a postcolonial lens to this snapshot, the phrase gets added cultural resonance and significance as well.

Colonial discourse quite often positioned the West as the centre of rationality and individualism, egged on by the Cartesian principle of “Cogito, ergo sum” (I think, therefore I am). In this Western framework, the autonomous, self-made individual is touted as the ultimate “ideal” of a well-lived life.

On the other hand, the Eastern perspective seeks to decentre the individual in favour of the collective!

In this regard, the lovely quote “Life is better when we are together” echoes the Southern African philosophy of the Ubuntu – “I am because we are!”, thereby bringing out a lovely indigenous epistemological truth – that, identity in the indigenous subject, is forged in a sense of togetherness, or community, not in isolation!

In this regard, Edward Said’s book titled, Orientalism would serve as a foundational text for understanding how the West constructed the East. Said explains how Western discourse positioned itself as rational, autonomous, and individualistic, while framing the East (the “Orient”) as an undifferentiated collective mass.

Ashis Nandy’s 1983 book titled, The Intimate Enemy: Loss and Recovery of Self under Colonialism also explores the Western concept of the hyper-masculine, hyper-rational individual and how it was imposed on the Indian psyche, and how he seeks to highlight traditional Indian concepts of self as much more fluid, relational, and collective!

Dipesh Chakrabarty in his insightful book titled, Provincializing Europe: Postcolonial Thought and Historical Difference, challenges the idea that Western historical development (and its focus on capitalist individualism) is the universal blueprint for humanity. He makes a compelling case for recognising alternative, non-Western ways of being in the world, which supports the idea that “roaming around as friends” is a unique socio-cultural pastime, that is ingrained in the indigenous psyche. Hence, “togetherness” here becomes an act of resistance as well!

I am also reminded of R.K. Narayan’s Swami and Friends - one of my favourite books and one of my favourite characters of all time!

While most of Western literature, especially the traditional coming-of-age story - the Bildungsroman - often features a protagonist who must necessarily separate from their community to forge a highly individualised, independent identity, Swaminathan’s story operates on a completely different standpoint altogether. 

His joys, anxieties, and very sense of self are entirely constructed through his friendship with Mani, Rajam, Somu, and Samuel. 

In short, Swami’s concept of self is plural!

Hence, I personally feel that, much akin to Swami, our truest identity is, and always will be, beautifully plural!

Yes! Beautifully plural!

Lovely, ain’t it? 😊

MCC - The highest-ranked college for the BA English Programme in South India ❤️❤️❤️

MCC Ranks #6 in India for BA English 

A Proud Moment for Team DoE in the 2026 Rankings

The highly anticipated India Today-MDRA “Best Colleges of India 2026” rankings are officially out, and Madras Christian College has yet again firmly established itself across India for its academic excellence.

By securing this enviable sixth position, MCC has emerged as the highest-ranked college for the BA English Programme in South India.

Goes to prove how MCC has successfully carved out its space among the nation’s premier institutions.

This 2026 ranking is a proud milestone for MCC’s vibrant students, illustrious alumni, and dynamic faculty members.

Viva la MCC!

Signs, Systems, and Seasons: Decoding Culture in the Literature Classroom ❤️

Decoding Culture and Structure

Highlights from our Latest Talk Series

24th June 2026

Today’s Speakers

Fenula

Swarna

Jothika

Preethi

Rangineetha

Today’s Talk Series in the II MA English classroom, took us all on a rewarding journey of learning and understanding, by connecting postcolonial studies with the unique cultural rhythms of South India.

Students beautifully brought out the special features and the uniqueness of the vernacular calendars of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Kerala.

Presenting excerpts from the insightful presentations.

Fenula opened the series with a thought-provoking question: “What comes to your mind when you think of the word ‘Structuralism?’”

Delving into the theories of Swiss linguist Ferdinand de Saussure, alongside Roland Barthes and Claude Levi-Strauss, Fenula broke down complex ideas into accessible concepts. Citing Peter Barry’s Beginning Theory, she emphasized a core tenet: things cannot be understood in isolation. Drawing a tree on the whiteboard, she asked the audience how they recognized it as a tree, explaining that we only know the meaning of a “hut” because we understand the concept of a “palace.”

Swarna elegantly took off from the thread, challenging the audience with another everyday example: “How do you describe an apple?”

When we think of an apple, we immediately signify it as a red, crunchy fruit with seeds. The brain processes this rich imagery even without a physical drawing. Meaning is always relational; we understand “hot” only because we have experienced “cold.” Similarly, the word “teacher” conjures an entire ecosystem - a classroom, chalk, a blackboard, homework. Every individual object within a system, Swarna concluded, helps in constructing the larger structure.

Shifting from linguistic structures to cultural ones, Jothika took the stage to discuss the 12 Tamil months and their profound significance.

She began with Chithirai, the first day that marks the Tamil New Year - a time for fresh kolams, special dishes, and new beginnings, and how it is celebrated in a grand way in Tamil Nadu, especially in Madurai with the grand Chithirai Thiruvizha. Then she spoke on the second month Aadi, also known as the monsoon month, featuring the Aadi Perukku festival, honouring the rising Cauvery River vital for sowing seeds. It is also a month dedicated to Amman temple festivals for protection against summer diseases.

Purattasi representing a month of discipline, making way for Karthigai, the Festival of Lights, when homes glow with clay oil lamps (agal vilakku), symbolising light triumphing over darkness, peaking with the magnificent beacon atop the Annamalai hill.

The month of Margazhi is considered entirely sacred and divine, human celebrations like weddings are paused. Women draw intricate kolams before dawn, the air fills with traditional chants, and modern Chennai transforms into a global hub for Carnatic music and Bharatanatyam.

Thai is considered to be the month of hope and harvest. Echoing the proverb “Thai pirandhal, vazhi pirakkum” (With the birth of Thai, a new path will open), this month kicks off with Pongal and ushers in the auspicious wedding season.

Rangineetha spoke next. She explored the unique interconnectedness of bioregions, culture, and society through the Telugu calendar. After engaging the audience with a nod to the Nani film Saripodhaa Sanivaaram, she highlighted a key difference: while the Tamil calendar is solar, the Telugu calendar is lunisolar, dictating specific social and spiritual rules.

The year begins with Ugadi celebrations in the month of Chaitram. The celebration is incomplete without Ugadi Pachadi, a dish blending six distinct tastes to represent the varied experiences of life. This month also features Sri Rama Navami and large-scale celestial weddings.

Ashadham is culturally known as the month of separation for newlyweds. Brides return to their parents’ homes to prevent pregnancies that would result in childbirth during the intense summer heat of Chaitram.

The month of Sravanam opens the floodgates for weddings and features Varalakshmi Vratam for family prosperity. Soon after, Aswayujam brings the massive nine-day celebration of Navaratri (Dasara).

Next comes Karthikam, a deeply spiritual month uniquely celebrated with community bonding. Families organise massive outdoor picnics (Karthika Vanabhojanalu) under Amla trees, while devotees observe strict fasting on Mondays (Karthika Somavaram).

Pushyamu is dominated by the three-day harvest festival of Makara Sankranti. The streets are transformed by women drawing massive rangolis decorated with Gobbemmalu (cow dung balls with turmeric and flowers), celebrating the region’s agrarian roots, she observed.

Wrapping up the series, Preethi shared insights into the Malayalam calendar, known as Kollavarsham, acknowledging her mother’s guidance in understanding its depths.

Established in 825 CE with the founding of the port city of Kollam, the calendar is a vital guide dictating the spiritual, agricultural, and social life of Kerala, she observed. Unlike purely lunar systems, Kollavarsham tracks the sun’s transit through zodiac constellations. This ensures major festivals like Onam (in Chingam) and Vishu (in Medam) remain perfectly synchronised with seasonal transitions.

Moreover, the calendar is an exemplification of bioregional ecological awareness as it is intricately tied to Kerala’s twin monsoons (Edavappathi and Thulavarsham). For centuries, it has served as an agricultural almanac, signalling the right times for planting, harvesting, and managing water reservoirs.

The Malayalam calendar also provides a standardised template and timeline for temple festivals like the Thrissur Pooram and ancestral rites, thereby fostering a shared identity among Malayalis globally.

Combining the traditional Panchangam with Kollavarsham, the calendar remains the essential framework for choosing auspicious dates muhurthams for weddings and business ventures, helping individuals align their lives with cosmic energies, she signed off.

Inside the 2026 UG Freshers’ Orientation at Anderson Hall ❤️

UG Freshers’ Orientation

Today @ MCC

22nd June 2026 | Anderson Hall

Today we had the UG Freshers’ Orientation in the Anderson Hall from 8.30 am. Our Principal welcomed the freshers to MCC, and introduced all the Officials of the College to the newly joined cohort.

The Office of International Programmes was ably represented by Dr. Rufus (this blogger), Dr. Serena and Dr. Arun. We also gave them the QR Code for joining our Channel and within a few minutes, the Channel’s followers shot up by more than 500.

The Orientation for the UG Freshers (SFS), started at 1.15 pm in the Anderson Hall, and the Hall was literally overflowing beyond capacity. Already we had arranged for screens in the Examinations Hall for students to watch the Orientation Programme. Still, the crowd seemed to be spilling over. A reflection of the growing demand for brand MCC, I guess! 😊

I had a long time of rewarding discussions with the young and vibrant Dr. Nirmal, my good friend. He then asked me the books on my current reading list. I listed out the three books I’m currently reading, and he also likewise shared from his current reading list.

Literary beings have this quaint charm on them, that make your day added exciting, ain’t it?

On an aside, I met with my II MA class and gave them a brief orientation on how to navigate the year ahead, with a proper road map.

The entire college sported a busy-as-a-bee look today, with freshers of all hues, with curiosity and eagerness writ large on their faces, making a beeline to the Anderson Hall, yes, with their bag and baggage in tow. Hall applicants had that anxious look on their faces, with that, ‘will I, won’t I’ look on them! 😊

On the whole, a rewarding day, in every way!

You may want to read last year’s Freshers’ Orientation HERE on our past blogpost.

Skills Over Scores | The Power of the Portfolio ❤️

How a Strong Portfolio Won Our Visual Communication Student a Ticket to France

I was so delighted to get a warm note of congratulations from the French Embassy, on our student Mr. Sanjay Srikant, (BSc Visual Communication, MCC) being awarded the prestigious Charpak Master Fellowship 2026.

[On an aside, even last year, our BA Economics student Ms. Alisha Shaji had won this prestigious Fellowship to France]

I’m sorry I won’t be able to share the exact content here, as the email has an explicit clause that forbids me from sharing the contents of the message.

When I called up Dr. Selvaraj, the Head, Department of Visual Communication, MCC, regarding his student Sanjay having been awarded the Scholarship, he had such glowing words to say about him.

“He never wasted a moment here in MCC, Sir. He was always into honing some skill or the other, and busy building his portfolio. He also did short films here, and one of his famous short films got him an interview with the famed film critic Baradwaj Rangan. He deserved the Fellowship, Sir”, he said about his student.

Quite curious and excited, I eagerly looked up the interview that Baradwaj Rangan did with Sanjay Srikant.

The interview is highly engaging and it delves into how Sanjay’s film maps the psychological landscape of Lakshmi (played by Vinithra Menon). Baradwaj Rangan heaps praises on the movie for showing the audience the “reality” of a sex worker trying to survive the pandemic lockdown, even while she tries to manage a complex relationship with her son, Karna.

You may want to watch the interview HERE. 

Coming back,

The France Excellence Charpak Master Fellowship 2026 is quite unique among scholarships as there is no minimum CGPA or percentage required to apply for this Fellowship, and selection is based heavily on the applicant’s overall academic excellence, skillset, portfolio, consistency, and the quality of their Statement of Purpose (SOP).

This makes it highly attractive for students who have cultivated practical skills and strong portfolios rather than just chasing marks.

And now we know why Sanjay got the prestigious Fellowship!

PS: You may want to read our past post on Skills Over Degree by our Principal Dr. Paul Wilson, HERE on our blog.

At Last! A Fitting Tribute to MCC's Own Braveheart ❤️

At last! Honoured in his Own Soil!

Major Mukund Varadarajan Road

Felt so happy to know that the Velachery-Tambaram High Road in Chennai is set to be officially renamed as Major Mukund Varadarajan Road.

Long delayed, but often expected!

The Tambaram Corporation Council has recently passed a resolution to rename the 16-km arterial road to honor the sacrifice of the Indian Army officer, who was posthumously awarded the Ashoka Chakra for his bravery during a 2014 counter-terrorism operation in Jammu and Kashmir.

Major Mukund Varadarajan’s life and military career were marked by a profound dedication to his country, culminating in the supreme sacrifice during a counter-terrorism operation in Jammu and Kashmir.

Coming from a family with a strong military tradition - his grandfather and two uncles had served in the armed forces - Major Mukund was inspired to join the Indian Army, quite early in his life.

Major Mukund Varadarajan met his life partner, Indhu Rebecca Varghese, during their college days at Madras Christian College (MCC) in Chennai.

Mukund was pursuing a diploma in journalism and was Indhu’s senior, while she was completing her Master’s in Mass Communication. They initially started as friends, but the connection gradually deepened into a relationship. Their courtship lasted about five years and when they finally decided to marry, they faced hesitation from their respective families as both were from different religious backgrounds.

However Mukund’s unwavering commitment eventually won over Indhu’s family, and with the blessings of both families, the couple married on 28th August 2009. They later welcomed a daughter, Arsheya, in March 2011.

Their love story recently gained wider recognition after being portrayed in the 2024 Tamil biographical film Amaran, which chronicles Major Mukund’s life, military service, and his deeply supportive relationship with Indhu.

PS: You may want to read our past post on my experience of watching Amaran on the very first day of its release, HERE on our blog.

On Fading Frames & Enduring Friendships ❤️

On Marks, Movies and Memories!

This day, 30 years ago, from my personal diary entry

12th June 1996

#memoriesfromdiaries #throwback

This particular day, I went to see the movie Rajali in the theatre.

A short take on Rajali –

It’s rare to see directors doubling up as cinematographers for their movies. Velu Prabhakaran did just that, in his directorial venture – Rajali, an action-adventure thriller starring Ramki, Napoleon, Roja, and Mansoor Ali Khan.

Although the film wasn’t a success at the box office, it was widely appreciated for Velu’s stunning cinematography.

After movie-time, around 1:35 pm, enroute home I happened to meet with my MCC School classmate Surendran. He said he’s got 1,066 marks in his HSC, while Sunil had scored 850 marks.

In the afternoon, my close friend Thilak came home to see me, and together, we went out!

On an aside, Sunil and Thilak find a place in many of my personal diary entries, as they happen to be my closest friends as well. 😊 [Just type out Sunil or Thilak or Santharaj on the Search option in our blog, and you will see our friendship stories by the number, you bet! ] 😊

While Sunil’s friendship was of the possessive kind (yes, he didn’t like it when I spent a lot of time with other friends), Thilak was a cheerful, happy-go-lucky guy who was a liberated soul in every way, like Santharaj, my closest buddy!

Some days like these might seem perfectly ordinary, but looking back on those lovely days - thirty years later - they read like the very best scripts of our lives! Indeed, the movie we saw might have been forgotten today, but the memories with such good friends, our greatest treasures - remain etched in our hearts as vivid as ever!