Delving into Dystopia: Reflections on a Ph.D. Viva Voce Examination
10th March 2026 | 11 am
@ Crescent University, Chennai
Today, 10th March 2026, marked a significant academic milestone for the research scholar Ms. M. Rabia, who successfully defended her thesis at the Ph.D. Public Viva-Voce Examination held at 11 am today.
I felt so happy to conduct the PhD viva-voce examination of Ms. Rabia. She presented her thesis on a highly compelling and relevant subject: “Identity Crisis and Trauma in the Select Young Adult Dystopian Novels of Scott Westerfeld and Suzanne Weyn.”
As someone deeply invested in exploring trauma, healing, and hermeneutics through literary interpretation, I found her research focus particularly striking. Young Adult dystopian literature serves as a fascinating mirror for contemporary anxieties.
Especially authors like Scott Westerfeld and Suzanne Weyn craft intricate narratives where young protagonists are forced to navigate profoundly oppressive systems. Analysing these texts through the lens of psychological trauma and identity fragmentation opens up crucial conversations about how literature helps us process systemic and individual crises.
The defence took place in the CSB Seminar Hall, guided by the scholar’s supervisor, Dr. H. Sofia from the Department of English.
There was thunderous applause from the audience, especially from the family members of Ms. Rabia, even as I presented Ms. Rabia as Dr. Rabia Begum. The very first time someone calls her with the reputed honorific Dr. Rabia Begum.
On a very heart-warming note, I could see her Research Supervisor Dr. Sofia getting emotional when she spoke so highly on her research scholar. Something that I so cherished during the Vote of Thanks today.
Academic gatherings like these are always a refreshing reminder of the rigorous, vibrant research happening in the humanities. Exploring how emotional identity is affected by external systems - whether futuristic dystopian regimes or modern technological advances - is indeed a vital critical pursuit.
Congratulations to Dr. Rabia Begum, her Supervisor, and to the Head of the Department and all faculty members in the Department of English at Crescent, on the successful culmination of this research endeavour! It is always inspiring to see fresh, critical perspectives added to the field of literary studies.
No comments:
Post a Comment