Exploring New Directions in Narratology @ St. Joseph's | A Report ❤️

Rewarding Dialogues by the Sea: My Visit to St. Joseph’s

Reflections | International Conference on Narratology 

Cuddalore is famous for many things - the sweeping Silver Beach and the majestic Pichavaram mangroves - and for academics - its true landmark is St. Joseph’s College!

I was so happy to be part of the International Conference organised by the Department of English, and the experience was nothing short of inspiring.

The response to the ‘Call for Papers’ was overwhelming, with over 70 papers presented on the theme ‘New Directions in Narratology.’

I had the joy of delivering the keynote on “Multimodal Narratology.” To my surprise and delight, the audience was incredibly interactive. 

In fact, the conference theme, ‘New Directions in Narratology,’ provided the much-needed stimulating framework for intellectual exchange. 

The Q&A session was so vibrant that the discussion time actually exceeded the lecture time! It was heartening to see students and research scholars join faculty members in probing the deeper nuances of the subject.

A personal highlight was receiving questions from virtual participants, including Dr. Vrinda R. Chanth (Batch of 2006–2009, MCC), one of our illustrious alumnae now serving at Government College, Diu Daman.

Hearing her voice brought an instant smile to my face. I still vividly recall with such fondness, the presentation she delivered in class for her Rhetoric paper on “The Advantages of E-governance” - a visionary topic at a time when the concept was still nascent. You may want to look up / revisit her vibrant speech in our past post from 17th March 2007, HERE on our blog.

Coming back –

Right from the moment I arrived, I basked in the affection and hospitality of the present HoD Dr. Ann Lanka Jeyadharshini and Dr. Suresh Kumar, the former HoD. The organisation and coordination of the Conference by Prof. Arul Benito Gerard and Prof. Kewin Anten Raj was flawless, blending the physical and digital worlds effortlessly.

I also chaired a session that included a standout paper by Dr. Harpreet Kaur Vohra, Professor of English, Pondicherry University, on folklore and animal narratology, alongside other excellent presentations from neighbouring colleges. It was also wonderful to catch up with Dr. Kannan Prasad from Loyola College and discuss his literary YouTube initiatives.

Kudos to the college administration - Rev. Fr. Dr. M. Swaminathan and Principal Dr. M. Arumai Selvam, for supporting such a high-quality academic endeavour. This was truly a rewarding conference to remember!