Short-Term Intensive Online Coaching by MCC’s IASC ❤️

TNPSC Group IV – 2025

📚 Short-Term Intensive Online Coaching by MCC’s IASC

🗓️ 23rd June to 9th July 2025

🕑 2 PM to 5 PM | 45 Hours | Fee: ₹2000

🔹 Focused Preparation

🔹 Mock Tests

🔹 Mentor Support

🔹 TNPSC-aligned syllabus

👨‍🏫 MCC faculty-led. Open to all aspirants.

🛑 Registration closes 23 June 2025.

👇 Tap below to register & pay

📌 Register: https://forms.gle/oLAxiwvr38ZW5cUm6

💳 Pay Fee: https://u.payu.in/PAYUMN/XJazahjH8Ams

"Down the Memory Lane: Department of English, MCC:" A Lecture by Dr. Narasingarajan Naidu

 

Cordially Inviting You ❤️ Multimodal Blogging for Academic Excellence ❤️

 

MCC Research Colloquium is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Title: ‘Multimodal Blogging’ as a Viable Model for Academic Excellence: Trends and Trajectories

Speaker: Dr. S. Samuel Rufus, Department of English, MCC

Time: Friday, 10th May 2024, 6:30 PM to 7.30 PM India

Join Zoom Meeting

Meeting ID: 318 619 2180

Passcode: chemistry 

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/3186192180?pwd=M2l6N2F0aFJpcGhtMDBEQXUyL0gyUT09

The Basics of WhatsApp Netiquette ❤️

On WhatsApp Netiquette

The Basics of WhatsApp Netiquette For Individuals

Simple and effective steps for grace and decorum in online communication through WhatsApp. 

1. Have a Good Display Pic / Profile Photo: WhatsApp is an amazing alternative for face-to-face communication. Hence, if you do a lot of official communication, it is always preferable to have a photo of yours on your profile slot.

2. Updating your ‘ABOUT’ line: Since WhatsApp acts as a substitute for face-to-face communication, the receiver may not be able to gauge, sense or predict your temperament, emotions or body language on the virtual mode. 

Hence it is always advisable to update your ABOUT status very often. 

So in case, you’re ‘Driving’, the sender will decide against messaging you. 

If you’re ‘Busy’, the sender may not want to call you or text you immediately. 

If you’re ‘At Work’ the sender will think twice before they call you.

3. Respect their ‘Personal Space’: Sometimes your receiver may not be able to reply to your message for any many reasons. Try to empathize with their situation as well.

They may be driving, or in a meeting, or on call, or at work. Don’t continue to bombard them with a string of messages. Chances are, they may block you for life after that! 

On any given day, your teachers might receive hundreds of messages from present and past students. So they may not be able to reply to all those hundreds of messages instantly. They might want to take time off their busy schedules to reply to you. 

Giving you a sample screenshot of my message line-up snapped just recently. This is the case with most of us - your teachers! 😊

To every one their own sweet commitments, ain't it? So take care to respect their spaces as well!

4. First-time Message: Remember, first impressions are best impressions – both virtual and real as well! 

So when you message a person for the very first time, never begin with a ‘Hi’ or a ‘hw r u’! It not only looks silly and absurd, but the receiver may even tend to block you for this highly insane salutation. 

In such situations, netiquette demands that you introduce yourself in as polite a way as possible when you message your contact for the very first time.

5. Official / formal communication: Never resort to an excessive use of emoticons unless you are confident and convinced about what each and every emoticon stands for. 

Etiquette demands that, when your receiver has not used an emoji / emoticon, you need not use them as well. Do not shove down a volley of emojis on your unsuspecting receiver who may be baffled at your emoji onslaught.

6. On ‘DP’ Photos: Family photos / group photos / picnic photos on your DP (Display Picture) are fine if you’re holidaying or celebrating an anniversary or birthday, or on weekends. 

But if you’re usually on office work, or on duty, it’s always better to have your own personal profile picture on your DP.

7. On Video / Audio Sharing: When you share a video or audio file with someone, NETiquette demands that, you also add a brief descriptor to what’s contained in it. For example, ‘This video is about…’ or ‘This audio contains …’ etc. 

Added, never forward any horror videos, adult videos or embarrassing videos etc., to anyone, without adding a caution-note to them!

8. On Rumours / Scandals: Never forward rumours, posts that are detrimental to the nation’s interests, unconfirmed doctor’s prescriptions, malicious propaganda, character assassination etc.

9. Being Courteous and Kind: Always be courteous, kind and gentle in all your conversations. Never be rude or abrupt. 

Remember you’re substituting for face-to-face communication. Courtesy and grace always make a good impact on the receiver, while on the other hand, rude and indecent conversation can be a dampener to any conversation.

10. Never reply when in Anger: The rule of thumb is, when you’re irritated or angry, never ever respond to any message. 

Wait for your anger to subside. Grab a cup of coffee, or drink some water, watch some TV, or read some newspaper, take a walk or listen to some soulful music. Only after you are much convinced, that your anger quotient has come down to a zero, take out your phone, and give a polite reply.

11. Avoid Asking ‘Essay Type’ Questions on WhatsApp!

There are some who keep asking ‘essay type questions’ on WhatsApp! Your teacher may be put off by such questions, since they’ll have hundreds of their students messaging them on their queries and doubts every hour of the day! 

Like for example, 

‘How do I prepare for my NET, Sir?

‘How do I build a good CV for myself, Sir?’

‘How do I apply for my transcripts, Sir'?

‘What are the types of questions they’ll ask me during the final interview, Sir’?

‘Is it advisable to apply to this University, Sir’?

These questions require lengthy answers which some might want to avoid texting it out on phone, since it might consume a lot of time. 

And when a teacher replies to one student, chances are, there might be a bevy of others who might also want to get their own share of answers from their teacher. 

Hence, whenever you have such essay-type questions, it’s better to call your teacher or meet them in person.

image: freepikdotcom

Study Abroad Seminar @ MCC ❤️

 

Meet Your Illustrious Alumni on Saturday, 25th November 2023 @ MCC ❤️

 

International Virtual Workshop on Research Methodology @ SRM ❤️

A One-Week International Virtual Workshop

on

Research Methodology

[No Registration Fee]

Monday, 09 October 2023 to Saturday, 14 October 2023

[6.30 p.m – 7.30 p.m on all days]

E-Certificate will be given for all eligible participants.

Registration Link

https://forms.gle/jmfnYhoPfTJmezUR6

Follow this link to join the Whatsapp group:

https://chat.whatsapp.com/EfC7eWqoS6FGk1FmpG7rfS

Happy Learning!

For more details contact

Dr. T. Sri Devi (6379897506)

Mrs. M. Nathiya (8508467789) 

Cordially Inviting You...

 

Founders' Day Celebrations @ MCC

 

Cordially Inviting You...

 

Do you wish to Study Abroad?

 

'The Partition of Indian Women' - Book Release

 Book Release

Cordially inviting you for the

International launch of

The Partition of Indian Women

by

Carole Rozzonelli, Alessandro Monti & Jaydeep Sarangi

 This volume is published and printed thanks to the financial support from PASSAGES XX-XXI, Université Lumière Lyon 2, France.

Available via Amazon online stores -

https://www.amazon.in/Partition-Indian-Women-Carole-Rozzonelli/dp/B08ZJ3LWX6

The volume is a study concerning the condition of Indian women. It is an unusual mix of reflective articles, poems and an interview which attempt to present Indian women from a variety of experiences and perspectives, based on Indian cinema and literature (fiction and poetry).

SCHEDULE

7th November, 2021, 5 PM Indian Time

Welcome speech by Prof. Carole Rozzonelli (Editor)

Speech by Prof. Alessandro Monti (Editor)

Remarks by the publisher: Sudarshan, K.

Invited Speakers

Speech by Prof. Malashri Lal, former Professor of English, University of Delhi

Speech by Prof. Shyamala A. Narayan, former Professor of English, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi

Speech by Prof. Samuel Rufus, Madras Christian College, Chennai

Vote of thanks by Prof. Jaydeep Sarangi (Editor)

Coordinator: Prof. Aditi Rudra

Link to join the event:   meet.google.com/nhn-azyy-mgy

'Why we need Young Authors and Thought Leaders...'

Shri Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’

Union Education Minister, Govt of India

[From today’s Education Times Supplement]

Reproducing a lovely article in today's Times of India, by the Union Education Minister on the need for having young authors and thought leaders.

The National Authors’ Mentorship Scheme for young, budding authors.

Here goes -

Writing is a craft that needs proper direction, polishing, and mentorship to channelise the inner restlessness.

Creating readership, and a conducive environment for promotion of a culture of reading in the society is surely an important responsibility of the society and the government.

Accessibility to books, reading materials, whether printed or in digital space, is thus a natural corollary to the idea of creating a society that reads, thinks, and takes innovative ideas forward.

It is worthwhile to mention that the society that reads requires new perspectives, new reading materials, and an ambience that embraces new ideas and new content.

In this context, the PM Mentorship Scheme for YUVA (Young, Upcoming and Versatile Authors) will go a long way in creating a generation of writers who can bring to the fore the national aspirations right before the reading masses in India and abroad.

Exploring the craft

Writing is an art, no doubt, but the art of writing is also a craft. It needs proper direction, polishing, and mentorship at the right time so that the inner restlessness of the prospective authors can get channelised in a productive manner.

As someone famously said that the best paradox about writing is that one is trying to use words to express something which those words cannot express themselves completely.

That is to say that writing is not only about arrangement of words and grammar, but it draws its sustenance from the emotional resources that go into the ideating of the theme or storyline.

The Scheme is not only about creating platform for young authors, but it is also about emphasising a significant role that they play in our socio-cultural and intellectual life.

A society that is willing to provide space and platform and even remunerative benefits in the form of scholarships and royalties to its content creators is surely the society that respects its cultural and literary heritage.

When a national body like National Book Trust, India (functioning under the Central Ministry of Education) would publish and promote the output of these 75 young authors, it will impact not only 75 but rather the whole stream of writers and thinkers in the times to come.

Space for writers

It goes without saying that a national authors’ Mentorship Scheme with its emphasis on providing space to the writers of all major Indian languages promises to provide valuable insights into the multi-lingual fabric of the country to the prospective writers - an insight that may take a much longer route to negotiate for an author belonging to a particular language.

The proper understanding and perspectives about the multilingual fabric of the country among young authors can provide them a much better understanding of the complex reality of India and the multi-dimensional angles that make up the cultural and literary heritage of the country.

In this context, it merges with the overall vision of National Education Policy, 2020, which has emphasised on the multilingualism as well as critical and creative thinking.

It is said that one can’t create a writer out of blank pages, but surely writers can be created out of bad pages.

There is no doubt that there are many among us, who have a desire to tell a story, whether it is related to oneself or to the society one lives in, or may be related to one’s past.

(The writer is Union Education Minister, Government of India)

The Link to the Contest HERE

"A book... lets you travel to far-away places without ever leaving your chair..."

The Gala Reading Challenge 📖🥳

 [July 2021]

Some little guidelines for us!

Inauguration of the challenge –

Thursday, 01 July 2021

Reading continues till –

Thursday, 15 July 2021

Guidelines for Reading

Divide your book into 15 parts.

For example,

If your book has 150 pages, your daily reading quota would work out to just ten pages a day!

Then, on a daily basis, for the next fifteen days, as and when you read your book, you may -

share a lovely line,

or

a lovely quote,

or

a thought-provoking line,

or

a funny line,

or

a line that so motivated you,

or

a word that provoked your curiosity,

or

a sentence that transformed your perspective

or

simply anything that you loved reading from those ten pages for the day!

As simple as that!

On the 15th day, i.e., 15 July 2021, you will be given ten questions based on the book that you’ve read!

[Entirely your own lovely, personal takes!].

Sometime later, probably on some mutually agreed upon day, (if, and when time permits) we shall plan on a relaxed and cool Clubhouse discussion.

So yep!

The countdown begins! 🥳

We’ve got exactly 24 hours more to go!

Best wishes dear participants. 🥳

Poster Design: Prof. Premjith Mathew

Resources @ The American Center, Chennai

Access the Rich Resources @ eLibraryUSA 

The American Center [formerly known as the American Library] is providing temporary access to eLibraryUSA to its individual members.

Established in 1947, the Center has played a special role in fostering relationships between the people of the United States and South India.  People across the region have shared with us their memories of the American Center - how it inspired, informed, and changed them. 

Dr. Lilian Jasper, Principal, WCC, Chennai, at the American Center, Chennai

With an event space, DVD viewing kiosks, online databases, and much more, the American Center incorporates some of the latest trends and technologies.  They have more than 15,000 books and printed materials and one of the largest collections of American Studies materials in South Asia.

The American Center organizes a wide range of interactive programs both virtually and in-person. 

There’s something for everyone, whether English language workshops, entrepreneurial mentoring, sessions on U.S. higher education, or discussions on a full range of U.S. policy, society and culture, film screenings, and story-telling sessions. 

The American Center is a platform for South Indians and Americans from all walks of life to come together to engage on issues of common and global interest.

The dedicated staff provide a wide range of resources and services, offering accurate and current information about American government and civil society institutions, policies, the economy, global issues, culture, literature, history, and contemporary life.

For more information on the American Center & its resources, you may kindly click on the HERE.

You may also want to access Dr. Lilian Jasper’s take on Books & Reading, in her talk titled, Wading through Literature, on our past post HERE.

PS: We are extremely grateful to Ms. Usha Alagappan, American Center, Chennai, for sharing this valuable information with us.

image courtesy: indotusembassydotgov/education-culture/american-spaces/american-space-chennai/

Calling all Philatelists!

Summer Camp for Stamp Collectors 

via ONLINE MODE | 05 - 28 May 2021

Stamps provide a microcosm of the world, or in other words, they are miniature gateways to the globe! 

Philately is the study of postage stamps, stamped envelopes, postmarks, postcards, etc. It also refers to the art of collecting these items.

It is a lovely and exciting hobby that’s not only sheer joy and fun, but also highly educative in its appeal.

The stamp collector gets to gain knowledge on a range of fields right from geography, geology, demography, to history, culture, art, etc.,

That’s hence philately is also called “The King of hobbies!”

To nurture the young minds on this highly educative component of stamp collecting, the Philatelic Bureau, Anna Road HPO, Chennai 600 002 is organizing a “Summer Camp” through Online mode in the month of May 2021 in the following Sessions.

Batch 1 | 05.05.2021 – 07.05.2021 | 10.30-12.30

Batch 2 | 11.05.2021 – 13.05.2021 | 10.30-12.30

Batch 3 | 19.05.2021 – 21.05.2021 | 10.30-12.30

Batch 4 | 26.05.2021 – 28.05.2021 | 10.30-12.30

Eligibility Criteria

Interested Children between age 8 and 14 (as on 31.03.2021) may enroll for this camp by paying a registration fee of Rs.250/- per individual.  The allotment for the session will depend on the motto “First Come First Serve only”. The Modification for the Session will not be encouraged.

Entry fee should be sent through Cheque/Demand Draft Only. Drawn in favour of The Chief Postmaster, Anna Road HPO, Chennai 600 002. 

The entry fee should be sent along with the Application in the format mentioned below, through Speed post of Registered post only, addressed to “The Chief Postmaster, Anna Road HPO, Chennai 600 002”. 

Last date for receipt of Entry fee and application is 30.04.2021.

Entry fee will be utilized for the following:

For opening of Philately Deposit Account in the name of Participant, through which New release of Commemorative Stamps will be dispatched to the participant until it is exhausted. 

The account can be Recharged further by the Children in due course.

Besides, the Philatelic materials required for Summer Camp will be sent to the Participant by Post.

Batches/Sessions will be allotted by this end and will be communicated through email along with the “Line for Webinar” created for Summer Camp.

On Completion of Summer Camp, Participation Certificates will be sent to the Participants by Post.

This is stated in a press release issued by the Shri. Kumar, Chief Postmaster, Anna Road HPO, Chennai 600 002

For more details, you may contact 9600113460 or on 044-28543199.

image: pinterestdotcom

The Library Summer Challenge

The Library Summer Challenge

[In honour of World Book Day]

@ EBOOK BINGO: ONLEIHE – GOETHE-INSTITUT’S ELIBRARY

The Library Summer Challenge is back this year as eBook Bingo - a digital reading challenge!

Participants need to register yourselves on their registration link.

eBook Bingo encourages readers to plunge into a variety of books, authors and genres at Onleihe, the free digital library offered by Geothe-Institut.

The aim is to expand the reading comfort zones and inspire reluctant readers with reading incentives.

If you love to discover new books, authors and genres in Onleihe - the free digital library offered by Goethe-Institut, register rightaway at their link HERE.

Once you register and activate, you will have access to more than 35,000 eBooks, audio books, movies, materials for German language learners, etc.

Magazines and newspapers are available for downloading from the Onleihe on PC, laptop and mobile devices. At the end of the loan period, the media becomes unavailable by default.

Registrations open Friday, 23 April 2021.

Click HERE for the POSTER.

Birds, Birding & Bioregional Consciousness

Birds, Birding & Bioregional Consciousness

Today’s video lesson is on the topic, ‘Birds, Birding and Bioregional consciousness!’

It begins with an outline to what bioregional consciousness is all about, with reference to a few nature enthusiasts whom I so love and adore, and it’s followed by a range of videos and images of birds from my own backyard – at the place where I dwell – Mogappair West, Chennai, TN, INDIA. 

Finally, it exhorts and motivates the listeners / viewers to cultivate a bioregional consciousness, and a bioregional sensibility. 

You may want to access the video HERE on our YouTube channel.

Yes, We Can...!

Dear gentle reader,

As y’all musta seen, advertisements pop up on our blog, for the first time ever, in almost seventeen years!

And that’s because I’ve always felt that advertisements are a great deterrent to readability!

However, this year has been a devastating year for millions and millions of our own brothers and sisters across our nation, deprived of their livelihood, their food, their clothing, their shelter, etc.

In this solemn hour of calamity, let us stand by our leaders, and shoulder, in our little ways, the big burden that’s befallen our nation – to help the economy come back to normal, by helping alleviate the poverty and the suffering of the majority who have been deprived of their everything for more than two months now.

Hence, as a little gesture, for the very first time ever, I’ve decided to activate Ads on our blog.

Any revenue that’s thus generated, would go towards poverty alleviation!

That means, when you click on an advert on our blog, you are doing your little might towards helping the needy!

Together, let’s help our nation come out of this devastating crisis, as soon as possible.

And yes! together, we can!

At this juncture, I also request and sincerely hope that we shall all, in our own little ways help our nation in this hour of crisis.

Yes! This is the time we rise up and demonstrate our love for our brothers and sisters!

In our own little ways, if we could alleviate the sufferings of the masses, who are now, languishing without roof or shelter, food or clothing, we would be celebrating our humanity, ain’t we?

Thank you.

Love,

Dr. Rufus

'Apple-tree summers give birth to new ideas. People tread new paths'

Olga |A Deserving Winner

Right from the very instant when Polish writer Olga Tokarczuk’s name began flashing across our screens as the winner of the 2018 Nobel Prize for Literature - myself, like most of our tribe, badly madly wanted to get hold of one or a few of her writings, to get to know more about her!

By fortuitous coincidence, as luck would have it, I stumbled upon one of her novels, which is also unanimously hailed as her masterpiece, and it is titled, Primeval and Other Times.

It proved to be a real unputdownable read of sorts, and i bet you could really finish it off in a single sitting, what with just around 166 pages on it in toto! 

The novel brilliantly weaves into its fabric the lives of three generations of the Niebieski / Boski family of the little Polish town of Primeval. Alongside, Olga also simultaneously traces the experiences of the inhabitants of Primeval, a land that’s got such a harmonious interconnected relationship with Nature.

Yes, an Ecocritical reading or a Bioregional reading would sure click big time on this Olga read, you bet!

In Primeval, then, Olga gently leads her reader by the hand into a wonderful rural landscape, a community that lives in close harmony with Nature. Her descriptions of the rich flora and fauna of this rural community, are so intense and gripping. What’s so beautiful about her Nature-descriptions are the awesome analogies that she so casually strews across her passages.