Seminar @ Madurai - A Report

Dr. Ganesh was the Chief Guest at the UGC-Sponsored National Seminar on Indian Writing in English, organised by MTN College, Madurai, in association with TJELLS on Saturday, 28 September 2013. His brilliantly absorbing and thought-provoking talk was on “Indian English Literature: Shifting Terrains”.

Outlining the broad framework of Post-Independence Indian Literature in English (ILE), he classified the post-Independence ILE into two broad generations of writers – the 1950–mid-1980s and late-1980s–current, respectively.

Identifying the general trends in the Poetry of the First Generation of Writers, he outlined the shift in themes and techniques, from idealistic nationalism  and romanticism to personal engagement with the problems of a newly formed, extremely diverse nation, wherein national identity came into conflict with personal experiences.

Praising Amitav Ghosh as a novelist with substance, he said that, Ghosh belongs to a relatively new genre of novels called the research novel.

Theatre @ WCC ❤️

A Theatrical Triumph at Women’s Christian College

26 Sept 2013 #theatre #WCC

Women’s Christian College (WCC), Chennai, hosted two captivating theatrical performances: Mahesh Dattani’s Where There’s a Will, a witty exploration of family dynamics, and Jokumaraswamy, a gripping tale centred around the superstitions and schemes of a village zamindar named Gowda.

Staged as a fundraiser over three consecutive days (26 – 28 September 2013), the productions played to a packed hall of enthusiastic spectators. Both plays were helmed by our former professor, Dr. Rajani. His distinct ‘director’s touch’ was palpable, evident not only in the cast’s stellar performances but also in the meticulous attention given to the stage props.

Tightly paced at 50 minutes each, the productions kept the audience thoroughly engaged from start to finish. The characters endeared themselves to the crowd through deeply passionate performances, drawing thunderous applause and ovations throughout the evenings.

Where There’s a Will dives into the life of Hasmukh Mehta, a wealthy businessman and staunch male chauvinist, alongside his wife Sonal, son Ajit, daughter-in-law Preeti, and mistress Kiran Jhaveri. The narrative hinges on Hasmukh’s cleverly drafted will - his ultimate tool for maintaining control over his family even from beyond the grave.

However, his posthumous meddling unexpectedly unites his wife and his mistress. With Hasmukh’s ghost serving as an ever-present, humorous observer, the play masterfully exposes the power politics inherent in patriarchal households.

The stark contrast between Hasmukh and Kiran is particularly well-executed: while he attempts to dominate his family through legal constraints, she builds alliances and genuinely works to mend fractured relationships.

Jokumaraswamy proved equally powerful. The character of Gowda dominated the stage with grand costumes and quirky mannerisms, standing in sharp contrast to Basannya, the tragic victim of Gowda’s plotting.

Gowdti, the zamindar’s neglected wife, was portrayed with tremendous emotional depth. Meanwhile, the supporting cast demonstrated a near-perfect sense of comic timing, frequently leaving the audience in splits.

Under Dr. Rajani’s brilliant direction, the students were able to bring to life these two complex plays, with such nuanced precision and incredible emotional depth.

As such, the students of WCC deserve a massive round of applause for their ability to portray such a wide spectrum of emotions truly enthralling everyone in attendance.

Finally, a special mention must go to the lighting committee - their impeccable timing and flawless execution enhanced the atmosphere of both plays, rounding out a truly unforgettable theatrical experience.

Research Methodology Workshop: A Report

Dr. Joseph Dorairaj, Professor of English, Gandhigram University, conducted a workshop on Research Methodology today, (04 September 2013) for our MA, MPhil and PhD scholars. The workshop started with the invocation by Dr. Ann Thomas, followed by Dr.Stephen’s welcome address. Dr. K.Ganesh introduced the resource person of the day, Dr. Joseph Dorairaj. The first session of the workshop touched upon the theoretical framework of Research, and its various nuances, while the second session highlighted the best practices in research.

Defining Research as a “systematic activity that is directed toward discovery and the development of an organized body of knowledge” (Best and Kahn), he also outlined the three elements or components, namely: (1) a question, problem, or hypothesis, (2) data, and (3) analysis and interpretation of data,” respectively.

A good research, then, is “expected to make a contribution to knowledge. It is expected to be ‘original’. . . It does not have to be ‘original’ in the much more daunting sense that it springs fully armed from the head of the  researcher without reference to any previous account”, but, “on the contrary, in fact: it is much more likely to involve assembling ideas that have not been brought together in quite that way before. And it does not have to shift the paradigm: the contribution can be quite small, a piece of the jigsaw”. Citing Belsey, he said, that, “research is expected to make a difference to the standard account of a topic, whatever the topic might be”. Dr. Dorairaj also outlined the three basic concepts in Research Methodology, like the Research Tools, Research Methods and Research Methodology, and the three domains of Research activity, which are broadly divided into: Physical and Life Sciences: (experimental – laboratory-based),     Social Sciences: (empirical & numerical – quantitative and qualitative), and, Literature: (textual analysis).

Professor then proceeded to detail on the various types of research, namely, Pure/Basic/Fundamental and Applied Research, Experimental (lab-based) research, Deductive and Inductive Research, Quantitative and Qualitative Research, Diagnostic Research, Intervention Research, Action Research, etc.

On choosing a topic for one’s research, Dr.Joseph Dorairaj quipped that, most research starts with a hunch, or, an inspired guess. Moreover, it should be interesting, and one should be passionate about it. The work should not only be original, but also preferably non-canonical, and that which contributes to the existing body of knowledge. Most of all, it should have a usefulness or relevance to society. He also suggested around five key texts like Research Methods for English Studies, which  would provide a frame of reference for the research scholar. 

The session ended on a happy note, with feedback by Sebastian (MPhil), Ajil (II MA), Lemma (I MA) and the Vote of Thanks by Prof.Phebe Angus.

Our sincere thanks to our Photographer Mr. Jagadeesh Kumar (BA English, MCC), and to our Videographers Mr. Albert and Mr. Naseem of the MA Communication Department, MCC.            

Seminar Review:

walking with the leader...

The two-day National Seminar on “Thesis-Antithesis-Synthesis: The Scope of Postcolonial Theory and Literature” organized by the Research Department of English St. Xavier’s College (Autonomous), Palayamkottai, Tamil Nadu, on 2^nd & 3^rd September 2013, was informative and thought-provoking by all means. All the plenary sessions and satellite sessions were well-organized and resulted in rich exchange of ideas. Plenary Sessions on Postcolonial Studies, Diasporean Literature etc were very informative and challenging to both teachers and researchers in these fields. Dr. K. Ganesh gave a brilliant talk on Diaspora Literature, while Prof.A.S.Dasan and Dr.Joseph Albert spoke extensively on Postcolonial Studies. to be contd...