‘A work of art is very seldom limited to one exclusive meaning and not necessarily tending to a definite conclusion’

English: A Journal | Memories 💫

[From the Archives]

Memorable Musings on a Research Journal from the Research Department of English, Madras Christian College, founded by our beloved Professor (Late) Dr. P. Rajani.

This morning, after having read through an article on the need and importance of doing research, I thought of doing a post on a High Quality Research Journal brought out by the Research Department of English, Madras Christian College (Autonomous), Chennai from the late 1980s onwards.

This particular issue – [Volume V, 1993-1994] is special for many reasons.

Firstly, for the epigraph to this Volume.

Well, the very epigraph that opens this issue, is from Joseph Conrad, and it says,

‘A work of art is very seldom limited to one exclusive meaning and not necessarily tending to a definite conclusion’,

that speaks volumes to the Derridean perspectives to meaning as well!

Secondly, the Editor Dr. P. Rajani, a distinguished scholar of such great academic repute.

Thirdly, this volume has a particular theme to it – Women’s Studies. One reason why this volume in particular, has been published in collaboration with the Centre for Women’s Studies, MCC.

Fourthly, the rich and highly original thoughts of all the contributors. Well, there are fifteen articles of such high merit, contributed by eminent scholars which include - 

Vaasanthi,

C. T. Indra,

Rajam Krishnan,

Swathi Thiagarajan,

Lakshmi Ramachandran,

Kadambari,

E. S. Latha,

Hannah Swamidoss,

Nirmal Selvamony,

Chidambarakumarasamy,

A. Sudha,

S. Mythili, etc.

Fifthly, almost zero typographical or spelling errors in the entire volume of research articles. 

To quote Goldsmith to my defence, 

‘The more I gazed, the more my wonder grew’, as to how meticulously the volume has been prepared, taking utmost care of even the most minute details in this important aspect, that goes in sync with readability. 

Sixthly, a word about the printing. The Journal has been printed by the Printing Technology Unit, at Madras Christian College, a Printing Unit that’s been around for decades to further the cause of publishing.

Finally, what I loved most about each of the articles, is their quality and their originality.

Each of the writers has written down their highly original thoughts and ideas in such coherent, well-structured and neatly graded paragraphs.

ONE paragraph discusses just ONE idea. NOT more than that.

In other words, each paragraph is devoted to the discussion of just one idea! Not an idea more!

In addition, their writing ‘speaks’ volumes to the enormous reading that they must have done all by themselves, and the passionate research that must have gone into the making of such well-organised articles.

As they say, a  ‘well-constructed’ article speaks for itself.

If we could then use the analogy of an ‘architect’ here –

The very first impression that we have of a building or a house will surely ‘speak’ volumes to the enormous planning and the immense effort that has gone into the designing of the building, ain’t it?

In the same vein, great palaces the world over, are known for their ‘astounding sense of originality’. People from all walks of life literally flock by the thousands to such ‘places of originality’ mostly because of the inexpressible, ecstatic joy that they obtain when they see this something that’s so unique, something that’s so original, something that they can NEVER see anywhere else, at any point of time!

That’s one reason why, heritage structures, palaces of the good old past, monuments and memorials of yore, have a great impact on us all of the time, chiefly and exclusively because of the huge planning and the effort that must have gone into its making!

That’s the difference between a spectacular grandiose palace, and a very shabby mediocre house, ain't it? 

These legendary scholars, (our forerunners in academics) had this conviction on them – that they were building spectacular grandiose palaces of high renown, that had to withstand the test of time, articles that will ‘speak’ volumes to their passion, their sincerity, their originality and their commitment towards their construction.

What T. S. Eliot would call, the ‘thisness’ of a text, or what Walter Benjamin would call, the ‘aura’ of a work of art!

They believed that, this originality is something that a writer needs to cherish, nurture and cultivate!

Harold Bloom calls it, ‘original strangeness’, a term that he quite popularized in his sensational book titled, The Western Canon, when writing on Shakespeare.

Bloom here defines ‘originality’ this way -

Originality then would be a ‘strangeness, a mode of originality that either cannot be assimilated, or that so assimilates us that we cease to see it as strange’.

Which means that, the ‘strangeness’ of the work, its inventiveness, is something that prevents it from being compared to any other work, and thereby gives the work its originality, or, to use the words of the eminent critic Scupin Richard, ‘the aura of authenticity’.

So proud to say with all conviction that, English: A Research Journal is solid testimony to this ‘aura of authenticity!’

Journal Musings to be continued…

PS: Thanks a million to Dr. Nirmal Selvamony, who readily and willingly gave me a whole lot of information concerning this prestigious Journal, and also scanned the first page of this particular volume for me, making this post much more comprehensive in its appeal. 🙏

PS: You may also want to read Professor Joseph Dorairaj’s talk at MCC on 04 September 2013, on the ‘Essentials of a Good Research’, HERE.

and

A Workshop on the ‘Nuances of Doing Research’, that Professor Joseph Dorairaj had conducted almost a decade ago, on 29 September 2011, at Gandhigram Research Institute – Deemed University, Dindigul, HERE.