From Misty Mornings to “Unruly Women”: A Rewarding Day at Christ University, Bangalore ❤️
29 January 2026
The day began quite early for me. By 7:00 AM, I was already on the road from Hosur to Bangalore.
The morning was draped in a heavy mist, with visibility remaining low well past 7:15 AM. However, as any frequent traveller knows, the early start is a small price to pay to escape the legendary Bangalore traffic. 😊
By 8:00 AM, I reached the sprawling campus of Christ University, where I was warmly received by Mr. Sachin, a vibrant PhD scholar.
As we walked towards the guest house, our conversation turned immediately to the depth of his research. Sachin shared that his work relies heavily on literary allusions to the concept of tinai, as propounded by Dr. Nirmal Selvamony. He mentioned, with great pride, that he had recently purchased Dr. Nirmal’s latest book on the subject.
“It costs Rs. 18,000,” he mentioned casually.
“You bought that one single book for Rs. 18,000?” I asked, genuinely astonished.
“Yes, sir,” he replied with a smile. “It’s a real blessing for my PhD.”
Moved by his dedication, I asked, “Do you want to talk to Dr. Nirmal now?”
His eyes lit up. “Gladly yes, sir! I’ve been trying to get in touch with him for a long time.”
I immediately dialled Dr. Nirmal Selvamony — the doyen and pioneer of Ecocriticism in India - and introduced Mr. Sachin to him. It was a delight to witness the connection; Dr. Nirmal was overjoyed, and the two spent quite some time discussing the nuances of tinai over phone. A lovely start to a rewarding academic day.
After breakfast, we proceeded to the Research Block for the main agenda of the day: the PhD Viva Voce examination of Ms. Aditi Gupta.
As the external examiner, I was pleased to see a packed room of literarians all geared up and ready to witness the defence. Ms. Aditi has spent four years working on a thesis that is strikingly relevant to our current cultural moment.
The title of her thesis is: “Unruly Women: Analysing Social Psychoanalytical Dimensions of Female Rage in Select Psychological Thrillers by Gillian Flynn and Paula Hawkins”.
Ms. Aditi delivered a passionate defence. She fielded questions from the examiners with conviction. Her work treats popular “bestsellers” not merely as entertainment, but as serious cultural artifacts worthy of deep study. The topic resonates profoundly with modern discussions regarding the “Domestic Noir” genre, the #MeToo era, and the cultural “celebritisation of anger.”
When I finally pronounced the verdict, “Presenting Dr. Aditi Gupta, Ladies and Gentlemen”, she was visibly moved. Her husband was the happiest amongst the audience, on seeing his wife don a prestigious academic honorific, for the very first time in her life, after four rigorous years of hard work.
A special mention goes to her guide, Dr. Rolla Das.
During her acknowledgment, the candidate fondly reminisced on her PhD days, stating, “She co-wrote the thesis with me.” To me, this sentiment is the hallmark of a truly excellent guide. Hearty congratulations to Dr. Rolla Das for her mentorship.
It was also a pleasure to connect with the Head of the Department, Dr. Kishore, and Dr. Daniel.
A truly rewarding day at Christ University, Bangalore, today.
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