Today's Birding 💚💚💚

 

‘Thambi, I am not satisfied. I need the Auditorium to overflow. I want participants to literally throng the place’ ❤️

Reflecting on “New Narratives” | A Series of Firsts for Mannar College 

20th February 2026 | Madurai

A Report

Today, the PG & Research Centre of English at Mannar Thirumalai Naicker College in Madurai hosted a highly relevant One-Day National Conference on the theme, “New Narratives: Voices, Visions and Transformations in the New Millennium.”

The Conference had a series of towering, pioneering initiatives that needs to be acknowledged and celebrated. 

For once, there wasn’t any ceremonial introductions or ceremonial formalities that are prone to take away considerable prime time.

There were no elaborate introductions of the Key-Note speakers or Plenary Speakers as well.

By 10 am the auditorium was packed to capacity.

So I turned to my right, and gently whispered in the ears of my brother Dr. Subbu (Principal of the College), ‘Annan, I guess the Hall is packed to capacity. We can proceed now, ain’t we?”

He smiled and replied, ‘Thambi, I am not satisfied. I need the Hall to overflow. I want participants to literally throng the place’.

I guess, this is the indomitable spirit and vibrancy that is literally taking Mannar College to top-notch positions! Indeed, it is not only about organising a Conference, but also about ensuring a large turn-out, to enable an impactful cross-pollination of ideas to a large section of lovely literary beings!

In this regard, I was so happy to see the sense of vibrancy in the way Dr. Subbu had organised the Conference. Students and staff were coming in buses and vans from far and wide – from Virudhunagar, Sivakasi, Tirunelveli, Sattur, and other neighbouring places as well. This apart, there was a huge presence of around 150 participants online as well.

And the Regn Fee? Quite nominal for everyone to afford. [For Paper Presentation: Rs. 500 for PG Students and Research Scholars, which includes Conference Kit, Conference Proceedings and Lunch]. And for many who could not, he gracefully waived the registration as well. 

And the net impact? Yes, I am so happy to note that, Mannar College has achieved a record of sorts in participation. More than 400 participants had registered for the offline sessions, and 150 participants for the online sessions. 

The Conference indeed provided a crucial platform for unpacking how contemporary literature and cultural discourse are rapidly evolving. I was happy to know that Dr. Marx from Pondicherry University had chosen the theme for the Conference.

For those of us deeply invested in literary theory and the ongoing shifts within postcolonial and cultural narratives, this theme is incredibly timely, offering fresh lenses through which to view the multifaceted stories defining our current era.

The conference carried additional weight as the host institution - Mannar Thirumalai Naicker College, an autonomous and NAAC A+ re-accredited institution in Pasumalai - is currently celebrating its 50th anniversary. Added, Mannar College has now climbed to fourth spot in the rankings amongst the Colleges in Madurai.

The occasion also saw the release of the Conference Proceedings by the eminent guests. 

Full credits to Dr. Rama Subbiah, Principal, MTN College, for leaving no stone unturned in making the event a grand success. Appreciation and congratulations to the organising team, led by HOD Dr. R. Dhanalakshmi and Organising Secretary Dr. V.P. Rathi, for convening such an impressive intellectual gathering at the Moorthy Naidu Andalammal Seminar Hall-I.

A major highlight of the day’s agenda was the remarkable calibre of the resource persons, who brought diverse academic perspectives from across the region.

Dr. S. Prabahar, Professor and Head of the Department of English, and Dean of the Faculty of Indian & Other Languages at Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Tirunelveli, spoke on the importance of the Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple from a New Historicist Perspective.

Dr. J. John Sekar, Former Associate Professor of English & Head at The American College, Madurai, then spoke on ‘Looking Past the Grand Narratives’.

Dr. T. Marx, Professor of English & Head, and Dean of the School of Performing Arts at Pondicherry University, spoke on Human Rights and Literature.

This blogger, Dr. Rufus, Associate Professor of English, Madras Christian College, Chennai, spoke on “Trajectories in Multiliteracies and Multimodal Pedagogies.”

It is always a joy and pride to see academics of all hues, congregating at such meaningful conclaves, for enhancing our literary quotient.

These vital dialogues are the cornerstones for shaping society through literary transformations.

In fact, conferences like these remain essential to our pedagogy and research, pushing forward our understanding of how emerging narratives both shape and reflect the complex realities of the new millennium.

On a personal aside,

Madurai is world-renowned as the cultural heart of Tamil Nadu. Often affectionately called Thoonga Nagaram! (the city that never sleeps)

Its true soul lies not only in its grand and monumental ancient temples, but also in the boundless love and legendary hospitality of its people.

The way they host you is indeed awe-inspiring.

In fact, the concept of Virunthombal (hospitality) is deeply embedded in Tamil culture, but in Madurai, it is practiced with an unmatched, earthy fervour.

In Madurai, feeding a guest is considered a sacred duty. You will rarely leave a local’s home - without being urged to eat just a little more. The city’s legendary culinary offerings, from the cooling Jigarthanda and Paruthi Paal to the spicy Kari Dosa and fluffy midnight idlis, are served with generous portions of affection.

We have discussed at length in our past posts on how the people of Madurai go out of their way to offer directions to strangers.

It was nice to get back to listen to the Madurai dialect of Tamil, which is in high renown for its raw, unabashed warmth. I was all ears to the locals frequently address their friends, colleagues in such familial terms like Mappillai (brother-in-law/friend), Pangali (kin/brother), or Ayya (sir/father). 😊

Sounds a kinda linguistic quirk but it helps in instantly breaking the ice and dissolving the barrier between the “insider” and “outsider.”

On that note, a heartfelt note of thanks to Dr. Dhayalakrishnan, my good friend and HoD, English, Madurai Kamaraj University, and Dr. Veerasamy, Professor, Pondicherry and Prof. Balakrishnan among a host of other friends, who made my stay memorable in Madurai.

This is yet another beauty that I witnessed during my morning walk along the streets of Madurai for my dawn cuppa. 😊 Wherever I went, I could see people flocking to the newspaper stall, to read their daily quota of the news. This is one such memorable snap clicked this morn. 

PS: You may want to read a past Report on yet another International Conference in Mannar College, Madurai, on our past post HERE.

Cordially Inviting You... ❤️

 

Mannar National Conference 2026

A One-day National Conference on 

New Narratives: Voices, Visions and Transformations 

in the New Millennium

Organised by 

PG & Research Centre of English, 

Mannar Thirumalai Naicker College (Autonomous), Pasumalai, Madurai

20th February 2026

Study Abroad Seminar @ MCC ❤️

 

17th February 2026

Dear All, 

Sub: Study Abroad Seminar with USA/ Korea Student-Returnees – Reg. 

We cordially invite you to participate in the Study Abroad Seminar, tomorrow, Wednesday, 18th February 2026, from 11.40 am to 1 pm in the Chemistry Seminar Hall.

Our current students who have successfully completed their One-Semester Abroad in the USA and in South Korea will be presenting their experiences as International Students with LeTourneau University, USA & Hoseo University, South Korea. 

1. Ms. Lekhaa MeenakshiSundaram, III BA English

2. Ms. Madeeha Anjum, II BBA

3. Ms. Sharon Patricia, II BBA

4. Ms. Denita Nathalya, II BA Economics

Kindly be seated in the Venue by 11.40 am. 

Students aspiring to do their One-Semester Abroad in the USA & South Korea are specially invited to participate in the Seminar, and have all your doubts clarified with the speakers. 

Office of International Programmes

MCC

Invite designed by Ms. G. Rakshaya, Intern, Office of International Programmes, MCC

A "Heartless" Romance: When AI Writes the Language of Love 🙃💔

Can a Machine Translate Desire?

#reflections #newspaperinlearning

Managing Quality Shifts in the Age of AI

Today, even as the International AI Impact Summit 2026 begins in New Delhi, and Global tech leaders from around 20 countries, including Sundar Pichai, Sam Altman and Bill Gates are expected to participate, and India is pitching for a “human-centric” approach to AI aimed at the “economic good” of all, I was quite taken aback reading a particular article in today’s Times of India, titled, “What French romance novels could tell us about AI and translation jobs”.

The article highlights the shocking move by the renowned romance novel publisher Harlequin France for testing AI-powered translation (with a company called Fluent Planet) to lower costs and speed up production - something that has sparked controversy and intense debate in the translation industry. 

Professional translation groups have called the move “unacceptable!”

On the other side, interest from other publishers is growing, with Fluent Planet reporting that, there is an increasing demand for their “hybrid” model (AI translation under human supervision).

The article highlights fears that translators will become irrelevant in the future, with political figures like German Chancellor Friedrich Merz predicting that interpreters may one day be obsolete.

The article also throws light on the technological revolution that’s “threatening” translations in general, and the human translator in particular.

A translation industry survey in Britain suggested that more than one-third of translators had lost work to AI. According to that report, “All point the finger to an indiscriminate use of language technology, in particular artificial intelligence and dedicated machine translation, to cut costs and replace or minimise human translation work.”

Unlike other industries, which are just beginning to grapple with the implications of AI, the disruption in translation is well under way. In the past few years, AI-powered tools have been improving digital translations and making realtime subtitles more accurate.

The writer looks at the situation as a ‘canary in the coal mine’ kinda predicament, quoting that, when it comes to simple tasks, already, AI is “more consistently accurate than humans”. 

She ends the article in a tone of resignation, by asking a highly pertinent question, “How do we manage the resignation and quality shifts?”

In particular interest is the second part of the question –

“How do we manage the resignation and quality shifts?”

Quality Shifts??? ☹

The answer my friend, is blowin’ in the wind… ☹

PS: You may want to read a lovely interview done by six of our present II MA English students, two years ago, with veteran translation specialist Dr. Hepzhibah, University of Edinburgh, during her visit to MCC, on our past blogpost HERE.

The Open-Air Seminar: Lemon Tea, ‘Institutional Soul,’ and the Living Pulse of the Past ❤️

The Lemon Tea Chronicles | Reminiscences

Literary Afternoons on Air Force Road

This memorable photo of ten years ago, is testament to a wonderful slice of memory aka “institutional memory”.

Well, there is a specific kind of magic that happens when a lecture ends, but the conversations don’t! 😊

Looking at this memorable photograph - captured for posterity - from over ten years ago, transports me back to those good ol’ storied pasts – when, with such ritualistic vigour, we used to leave the sylvan precincts of MCC campus and make our way to a modest tea shop on Air Force Road.

In fact, the tea shop would then come alive for us all - as an open-air seminar room where the formal literary theories we discussed in class were deconstructed, debated, and reimagined over tea glass tumblers.

For once, the lemon tea wasn’t just a beverage! It was much more than that! It was our “energy tonic.” It had a way of sharpening the mind and soothing the throat long after the lecture classes were over. Whether we were parsing the nuances of a post-structuralist text or simply sharing a laugh about the quirks of campus life, that lemon tea was the cute catalyst.

Added, there was something about the quietness of the road and the ambience of the tea shop that made our literary discussions feel more grounded and vibrant.

And the lovely faces in this photo that hold those lemon-tea glass tumblers, represent a shared era of intellectual pursuit and genuine friendship.

Ten momentous years have passed us by – Dr. Ganesh has since retired, Dr. Abitha is now with Bharathi Women’s, Dr. Sandhya Ravishankar is with UAE, etc. Still, the lovely memories of those sharp, citrusy teas and the brilliant company remains with us as clear as ever.

It reminds us that sometimes, the most profound academic insights don’t happen at a lectern, but standing on a quiet roadside shop, tea in hand, with kindred spirits. 😊

So what is institutional memory?

Well, institutional memory helps in providing a shared sense of identity – from the narratives of the past that serves to connect current faculty and students to those who came before!

Institutional memory then becomes a very important asset for academia.

And what, pray, is institutional history?

Institutional history and institutional memory represent two different ways in which an institution “remembers” its past. One is a formal record, while the other is a living pulse!

Institutional history is the objective, documented account of an institution’s journey. It is what we find in archives, official commemorative volumes, and annual reports, that are “set in stone”.

On the other hand, institutional memory is the collective, informal knowledge held by the people within the institution. They are stories told in the break time, unwritten rules of conduct, and the personal experiences of long-time staff. If a key veteran leaves the institution without passing on their insights, that “memory” is often lost.

Meticulous documentation (either formal or informal) of past events, programmes, departmental activities, class activities, celebration of college events, alumni engagements, curriculum changes, etc., validate institutional history and institutional memory to a great extent.

Especially when there is a transition in administration, leadership change, or a new cohort of students are admitted into the institution, a strong knowledge of institutional memory and institutional history ensure that the ecosystem doesn’t collapse! In such an eventuality, these precious ‘institutional histories and memories’ act as anchors or stabilising rudders of sorts!

John W. Hall and Marius B. Jansen in their very engaging book on the subject of Institutional memory, titled, Studies in the Institutional History of Early Modern Japan, argue that, the concept of institutional memory acts as a critical force that provided stability and continuity during Japan’s transition from a fragmented feudal society to a centralised modern state.

The book highlights the role of ‘custom’ as the true governor of the land. Meaning that, in Tokugawa Japan, it was not necessarily the individual power of the Emperor or the Shogun that maintained order, but rather “custom”. This deep-seated institutional memory acted as a self-regulating mechanism that governed social and political life more effectively than top-down decrees.

The book foregrounds the role of documentation as a product that helps in recovering institutional memory.

As eminent Political Scientist Hugh Heclo, so beautifully puts it -

Institutional memory is not just a collection of documents; it is the lived experience and shared wisdom of those who have navigated the institution before us.

Heclo’s book titled, A Government of Strangers: Executive Politics in Washington (1977) discusses the concept of institutional memory. In this book, Heclo examines the tension between political appointees (whom he calls “strangers”) and career civil servants.

Political appointees (Secretaries, Assistant Secretaries) arrive in Washington with a mandate for change but often have no history with the department they are leading. They are “birds of passage” who stay for only 2-3 years.

Without institutional memory, these leaders are prone to making the same mistakes as their predecessors, he avers, and notes that this memory is not just about files or archives. It is embodied in the relationships and informal networks of the career staff – the “institutional soul”.

How true!

Deconstructing Privilege: An Electrifying Debate on the Reservation System ❤️

Merit vs. Social Justice: A Fiery Debate in the MA English Class

Topic: Reservation in Jobs & Education: A Boon or a Bane?

II MA English Classroom

#classactivities #debate

13th February 2026

If there is one thing Literature students know how to do, it is the art of dissecting a narrative. However, today, for once, we moved away from fiction to tackle a very real and pressing societal narrative: The Reservation System.

What started as a standard classroom discussion quickly evolved into a high-octane debate. The classroom became quite electric, each group putting forth their intense arguments in such a gentle and gracious manner.

Here is a quick report on how the battle of ideas unfolded.

The debate opened with a strong stance on social reality. Milind championed the pro-reservation argument, grounding his points in the harsh reality of social hierarchy. He argued that in a country where inequality has been systemic for generations, reservation isn’t a “handout” - it is a corrective measure.

“Statistics clearly show that minorities are underrepresented in many sectors. Reservation gives them a voice and ensures equality for all,” he averred.  

Lara backed this up by introducing the concept of power dynamics. She pointed out that representation is a prerequisite for power. Without marginalized communities in decision-making spaces, the claim of an “equal society” remains hollow.

The counter-argument was swift and sharp. Zibiah questioned the constant fixation on past hierarchies. Her argument centered on the individual: by constantly looking backward at caste, are we inadvertently discouraging merit and individual effort?, she opined.

Alphy took this further, advocating for a system where hard work is the sole determinant of success.

“Let those who truly deserve it get the opportunities, without preference based on caste,” she remarked.

Anagha added a layer of nuance that shifted the room’s perspective. She critiqued the current system for focusing heavily on caste while often overlooking economic background. She shared personal observations of how reservation can sometimes breed complacency, leaving deserving candidates from non-reserved categories - who might be economically struggling - out in the cold.

This sentiment was echoed by Aleena and Pooja as well, who reminded the class that the “General Category” is not synonymous with “Rich and Privileged.” They argued that struggles are universal and not limited to one specific section of society.

Just when the argument was leaning towards meritocracy, Nikita and Lindsay pulled it back to the ground reality of discrimination.

Nikita shared a personal incident where someone was rejected solely based on caste, proving that discrimination is not a relic of the past but a current reality.

Lindsay introduced the psychological aspect, speaking on “intergenerational trauma” and the continued influence of caste politics.

Lara returned to emphasise that while we say we are equal, we are not yet in a state of equal privilege. Until that balance is struck, she argued, the support wheels of reservation cannot be removed.

There was no simple winner, and perhaps that was the point.

The Pro-Reservation side (Milind, Lara, Nikita, Lindsay) successfully argued that until systemic hierarchy and historical trauma are eradicated, reservation is the only tool for equity.

And the Sceptics to Reservation (Zibiah, Alphy, Anagha, Pooja, Aleena) raised valid concerns about merit, economic oversight, and the struggles of the general category.

The MA English class proved today that we can disagree passionately while engaging deeply with the social structures that shape our world.  

A rewarding debate in every way! 

The Group Leaders of both the teams - [Standing in the Picture]

Rapporteur: Ms. Safa Salsabeel

Group Leaders: Ms. Zibiah and Ms. Nikita

Time Keeper: Ms. Terese Maria Broosily

Official Photographer: Ms. Vasupradhaa