She said, “They gave me permission to work, so I’m going ahead with the marriage.” I was shocked. ❤️

Interviewing A Vibrant Student

Ms. Shweta Vamsee | III BBA, MCC

Just a couple of days ago, Ms. Shweta from III BBA, MCC, had approached me for an LoR for her Higher Studies Abroad. I was perusing her portfolio, and I was highly impressed with her array of skills, that I asked her if I can do an interview with her on Wednesday, 23rd September 2026. And she gladly agreed.

So today, at 11.45 am, I was so happy to interview Ms. Shweta at the Office of International Programmes.

[Well, Shweta Vamsee CH is doing her third year BBA in MCC. Known for her effective communication and leadership skills, and a polyglot herself, she has already made a professional impact by doing a lot of internships, successfully training fellow interns, managing department events, and authoring a published academic chapter on workplace equity]

Here goes vignettes from the interview today -

Sweta, I am so happy to interview you this afternoon - or rather, this morning, right? 

Sweta: Almost 12:00, Sir!

Looking back at your journey so far at Madras Christian College (MCC), what is one truly memorable moment for you?

Sweta: I have had a wide range of experiences as a student at MCC. When I first joined, I wasn’t very familiar with all the activities happening on campus. It was only in my second year that I realised I had to take the initiative and actively participate. That’s when I learned about the student exchange programme in France, which turned out to be a fantastic experience.

Initially, I never thought I would have the opportunity to go abroad, assuming my family wasn’t financially stable enough. But when I learned about the programme, I decided to try. For the next 15 days, I was completely absorbed in researching and applying for scholarships. That was my most memorable experience because I held onto the dream that, with time and effort, financial status doesn’t have to be a barrier. Through our college, we really can reach great heights. That realisation will always stick with me.

Looking at your area of study, your trajectory is both surprising and interesting. You transitioned from being a Bio-Maths student in higher secondary school with good grades to pursuing a BBA. Because I was also a Maths-Bio student, I know full well that it’s a completely different ball game. What prompted that sudden shift?

Sweta: My childhood passion was actually medicine. Biology was my favourite subject, and I loved science. However, as I grew older and understood my family’s financial situation - and being the eldest daughter - I realised I had to take on financial responsibilities quickly. But I didn’t give up easily. I didn’t want to just abandon my dreams due to finances. I took a gap year after 12th grade and secured a free government seat in dentistry, but I wasn’t very interested in pursuing a BDS. I also tried JEE and got a seat at an NIT, but it was in a far corner of India, so I chose not to go.

So you made the choice not to go there?

Sweta: Yes, sir. It was a chemistry-oriented track, and my main interest was biology. I had to choose between strictly following that specific passion or becoming a breadwinner for my family. I decided that passion can be pursued anywhere, at any time. Apart from science, I’ve always had a strong interest in teaching. So, I haven’t abandoned my passion at all. I still tutor students in grades 9 through 12 in science - especially biology, chemistry, and physics.

It’s good to hear that. So you also do part-time teaching?

Sweta: Yes, I’m a part-time tutor. Through that, my passion stays alive; I haven’t lost touch with the sciences. At the same time, studying BBA allowed me to tutor students in arts, accounts, and business studies as well. I realised I could teach a wide variety of subjects for 11th and 12th-grade students.

As for why I chose BBA instead of a B.Sc. in Zoology or Biology - I felt those fields were very subject-oriented and might limit my career scope primarily to full-time teaching. I was certain I wanted to keep teaching as a fulfilling hobby rather than a full-time career. Right now, I have a strong interest in IT, so I might pursue an M.Sc. in IT and eventually transition into the information technology sector. BBA gave me the flexibility to explore these diverse interests.

That’s great, Sweta. If I were to ask you about one academic endeavour or one extracurricular activity you’ve done at MCC that you are most proud of, what would it be?

Sweta: I would personally say public speaking. It’s something I’ve been doing since my school days.

Wonderful. When did you first discover this skill?

Sweta: During high school. Like any other student, I was nervous to speak in front of people. But one thing I found unique about myself was that while others might freeze and stop, I wouldn’t. Even with fear, I still went up there and started speaking. What turned public speaking into a real skill for me was simply choosing to step forward and pick up the mic. I started anchoring events in school, which eventually helped me conquer my stage fright.

I participated in every competition that came my way - elocution, block and tackle, you name it. Whether I won or lost didn’t matter; I just participated. All that experience on stage gave me the confidence I use today as a part-time content creator. Now, I speak on camera!

Wow! So you are creating content now?

Sweta: Yes, I post content on YouTube and Instagram. Alongside speaking on camera, I still take on anchoring gigs. Here at MCC, I recently anchored a farewell event. I also volunteer for paper and business presentations. Whenever there’s an opportunity to present, I’m usually the first to step forward. Public speaking is definitely my core strength.

Wonderful. I’m so happy you discovered this early on and continue to pursue it. Speaking of presentations and publications, I saw that you recently authored a chapter on "Women, Work, and Workplace Equity." What were some of your key discoveries while writing that paper?

Sweta: Honestly, I had been in a bit of a shell regarding the corporate world. I assumed women had achieved equal rights and were universally thriving. But as I researched this paper, I discovered a starkly different reality. Even in prominent, forward-thinking tech companies, cases of workplace harassment still occur every year.

It also made me reflect on societal attitudes. People often speak very progressively in public discussions, but private realities differ. A friend of mine is getting married, and when I asked her about the traditional ‘bride-seeking visit’ (ponnu paaka varum pothu), she told me, “They gave me permission to work, so I’m going ahead with the marriage.” I was shocked. We are living in 2026, and women are still being “granted permission” to work by their future in-laws.

Even after entering the workplace, women face immense challenges, from male dominance to harassment. Another major issue I highlighted was the lack of menstrual leave. Women are expected to work exactly like men, often pushing through severe pain and abnormal cramps because leaves aren’t granted. If I ever have the opportunity to be part of a policymaking committee, I would strongly advocate for at least two days of mandatory menstrual leave. Health should always come first. The persistence of these issues - especially harassment in modern environments where perpetrators think they can get away with it - truly surprised me. That realisation formed the essence of my paper.

That is incredibly insightful. Now, moving to your internship experience in HR - what were your biggest takeaways? What did you learn?

Sweta: I’d say HR is meant for people who genuinely love communicating. During my internship, my first task was making calls. Even though I’m a good communicator, I was initially nervous because I was interviewing professionals with much more experience than I had.

However, I quickly learned that in the corporate field, HR naturally commands respect, regardless of your age or qualifications. More importantly, I realised that HR can change lives. Your hiring decisions can transform both a company’s trajectory and an individual’s livelihood.

I also learned a valuable lesson about evaluating talent. Communication skills alone shouldn’t be the sole metric for judging a candidate. I saw individuals who struggled to communicate flawlessly but were absolutely brilliant at their core work. A skilled HR professional needs to look beyond the resume and basic interview polish to identify a person’s true, innermost capabilities. Communication can always be developed over time, but raw ability and teamwork are what truly drive a career forward. Developing that discerning eye is the skill I admire most in HR.

Absolutely. The skill of the HR professional is critical in drawing out good talent. You’ve coordinated a lot of events in your department and completed several internships. How do you think your college environment helped you develop these multitasking abilities?

Sweta: The environment and ambience at MCC have helped me immensely. Through coordinating various events, I learned that in teamwork, your own perspective alone isn’t enough. You have to absorb countless ideas and consider situations from multiple angles.

You have to be open to new perspectives, right?

Sweta: Exactly! You have to weigh everyone’s opinions and reach a consensus that satisfies the group. That is probably the hardest part of event management - aligning conflicting ideas so everyone feels heard. Taking leadership in that environment is crucial because often, people hesitate to step up. I learned to take that step forward, synthesise everyone’s ideas, reach a conclusion, and effectively communicate it to the higher authorities. I essentially became a bridge between the students and the department.

Through all of this, I learned immense patience, which is the bedrock of teamwork. It gave me a preview of what corporate teamwork will look like. I also learned conflict resolution. When working in groups, there will inevitably be disagreements, back-talk, or gossip. But as a professional, it’s entirely about how you handle those situations without taking things personally. At the end of the day, success is about managing dynamics professionally to ensure the work runs smoothly.

Right. Those are two very important skills: handling people patiently and handling situations professionally. Now, looking at the data-driven world we inhabit today, how do you think decision-making will evolve in the future? Do you think it will rely more on human intuition, or will it become entirely data-driven?

Sweta: I believe the world is already heavily data-driven. In the next five to ten years, with the exponential rise of AI and immediate access to information, it will only deepen. Even now, if I need to make a decision, I often consult AI tools like ChatGPT for data. Once I see the statistical breakdowns - like “80% prefer this, 20% prefer that” - my thinking is naturally influenced by those numbers. So, even when a human is ultimately making the decision, data and AI are undeniably shaping that intuition. Data is definitely going to play the leading role moving forward.

Great point. Earlier, you mentioned that during your HR internship, you had to train others. What were the major hurdles you faced in that process? Training people can be quite challenging.

Sweta: Yes, definitely. The biggest challenge was adapting to different “learning phases.” Everyone absorbs information differently. I might grasp a concept quickly, but when I tried to teach it, others might struggle. I often had to start over and explain things much more elaborately and patiently. Adapting to each individual’s unique learning style was difficult.

However, the beautiful thing about teaching is how much you learn yourself. Whenever I hit a roadblock while explaining something, clarifying that doubt deepened my own understanding. Teaching others genuinely increases your own knowledge, and that’s how I became more confident and experienced in those concepts.

Right. Now, outside of your academic and professional spheres, if I were to ask you to speak on a topic for 30 minutes, what would it be?

Sweta: For 30 minutes…? Probably cats!

Oh, okay! Why cats?

Sweta: I just personally love cats. I would talk about the scientific and psychological benefits of having them. A lot of people struggle with depression and loneliness, and getting a cat or a dog can significantly relieve that stress. Pet animals, and cats in particular, would definitely be my go-to impromptu speech topic!

How has your own cat changed your life?

Sweta: It’s been two years since I adopted my cat. Whenever I get stressed, I just spend 20 or 30 minutes playing with him, and I completely forget about whatever was bothering me. They are natural stress busters. You don’t always need an expensive therapist - sometimes you just need to play with a pet to feel happy again. Mental health is so vital in our day-to-day lives, and having a pet is such a practical way to relieve stress.

So cats are ultimate stress-busters?

Sweta: Yes, absolutely! They are a wonderful addition to anyone’s life.

That’s lovely. I have two last questions for you. You juggle so many things beautifully - your passions, professional internships, personal commitments, regular college classes, and part-time teaching. How do you manage your time so effectively, and how do you prevent burnout?

Sweta: Time management is crucial, but I do still get burnt out sometimes! When that happens, I allow myself to just sit and do nothing for a while. But the number one key to my routine is having a strict timetable.

Wow! So you map out a timetable?

Sweta: Yes, I do. I make sure my days are productive, but I also schedule enough rest time. I don’t work all seven days; I carve out time specifically for myself. I take tuitions on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays. Saturdays are my creative days - I shoot three to four videos for the whole week so I can post them on alternate days.

When I do internships, I schedule them for the mornings to maximise that time. (Though currently, in my third year, I’m focusing more on project reports than internships.) I’ve also started hitting the gym. It’s all about allocation - I have time for everything because I make sure nothing overlaps. If unexpected work comes up, I honestly assess my schedule and rearrange things.

Most importantly, I give myself one dedicated rest day. Every Friday, I turn off my alarms and just sleep in. I need that rest to reboot my energy. On other days, I stick to the schedule. I also make sure to go out, enjoy some alone time, and take advantage of holidays to simply relax.

If you could give one piece of advice to your juniors who look up to you for inspiration, what would it be?

Sweta: I would tell them to just go out and explore every single opportunity available to them. Whether you think you will succeed or fail, you must try it to the very end.

And today you are off to explore another great opportunity this afternoon: Tea with the British High Commissioner. That is a wonderful honour and a great representation of MCC. It was such a joy interacting with you, Sweta. We wish you the absolute best in your future career.

Sweta: Thank you so much, Sir.

"Here I Became" | The Transformative Journey of Ms. Anarsha KM ❤️

A Rendezvous with Ms. Anarsha KM

Past Intern with the Office of International Programmes, MCC

Well, I remember the day quite vividly in memory.

It was the 11th of July 2025 at 2 pm in the CMS Indoor Theatre, where I was invited by the HoD of the VisCom Dept to give a Talk on Orientation for students who aspire to do their Higher Studies Abroad.

The Creative Invite

At the end of my Talk, there were quite a lot of thought-provoking questions from the audience. One particular student from the II BSc Visual Communication Class asked a question relating to studies abroad, and after the programme was over, she came up to me and asked me if she could intern with the Office of International Programmes.

Her decision to approach me directly speaks volumes about her character and professional readiness.

In fact, it takes a significant amount of nerve for an undergraduate student to walk up to a speaker immediately after a presentation to pitch themselves. She possesses the confidence to advocate for her own academic growth thereby stepping outside her comfort zone.

Moreover, she didn’t wait for a formal circular, or a call for applications, to apply for such a programme. I impulsively felt that, she was able to clearly envision how this practical experience fits into her desired professional trajectory.

Hence, as a first step, I asked her to be nominated by her Head of the Department, and then to come to our Office for a formal interview. She aced the interview well, and also promptly joined the Office for a two-month stint as Office Intern in our Office.

Anarsha's First Paper Presentation

In addition, on one occasion, I asked her if she would be able to present a Paper in an International Conference. She gladly agreed. She got the paper ready in a week’s time and showed it to me as well.

On yet another occasion, when I asked her if she would be confident enough to give a lecture in my II MA English class for my students, she gladly agreed, and did an impactful presentation on “Podcasts as a Digital Humanities Tool: Preserving Oral Histories in the Digital Age”. She also handled the questions that followed with such elegance.

Yet on another occasion, I asked her, ‘Anarsha, you have a very good way with words. Why don’t you start blogging?’ She started blogging soon after. 

I personally feel that, this is exactly the kind of behaviour that separates students who just come to College as a routine and passively consume lectures from those who are actively building a portfolio of real-world skills.

And today, 29th June 2026, after successfully graduating from MCC, she came to meet me with a meticulous prior appointment. And she was there on time spot-on! I was so overjoyed to see her, and I decided to have an impromptu interview with her as well. Without any hesitation, she gladly nodded to the call.

Here goes excerpts from the interview -

Hello Anarsha, are you ready for a surprise, impromptu interview?

Gladly yes, sir.

Okay now, you’ve done three years in MCC. Now tell me, how has your perspective to life changed in these three years. Also tell us about how MCC happened?

I wanted to belong somewhere. I was a social butterfly. Initially I was not able to make friends. But then, MCC changed it all for me.

The famous documentary titled, ‘Here I Became’ that was released during Deepwoods, you must have watched it, Sir?

Oh yes!

I am so happy to say that, I gave the name to this documentary, Sir.

On an aside, Here I Became is a student-led documentary that captures the legacy and transformative journey of students at Madras Christian College. The documentary explores campus life, personal growth, and the lasting impact of the institution on a student’s life, from their initial steps in the corridors to the lasting values they carry forward after graduation.

The film was created to capture the essence of life and growth on the campus, in tune with the belief system of all students who pass out from MCC - You don’t just GO through MCC. You GROW through it.”

So how did MCC transform you?

Well, Sir, MCC has made be the somebody that I am today. When I came here, I didn’t believe in myself. But after coming here, I gained lots of confidence in myself.

How did MCC happen?

Well, in the first place, MCC was not my first option at all. I intended to join NIFT, as I was planning all about fashion. But then MCC happened. It gave me a new hope. MCC gave me a family of friends. Most importantly, MCC gave me confidence to face life. MCC helped me to think out of the box, and now I can say, that MCC made me a better version of myself, of which I’m so proud of, today.

Now, coming to the Office of International Programmes, how has your Internship with the Office helped you?

Earlier, before coming to this Office, I used to look out for fellowships, scholarships and programmes outside the College. But after coming to this Office, I got the confidence that, I can go abroad without spending money on tuition fees and other miscellaneous fees. Earlier I thought, I would take an edu loan, spend a lot of money on my tuition fees, and do higher studies abroad. Now I’m confident of getting a 100% scholarship.

Moreover, I learnt that on-site experience is very important. To interact confidently with people, ask questions politely to visitors, etc.

Any one particular instance that you can quote from memory, from your stint in this Office?

Yes, Sir. The Taiwan programme that happened on 14th July 2025. I was totally unprepared for the event, and I was fresh into my internship, and when you suddenly asked me if I could do the MC, I agreed, but I felt a bit underconfident though! But then I told myself, ‘Anarsha, you should do it, you should do it!’.

Guess what? I didn’t even know the Taiwanese professor sitting next to me all through the programme. But when the programme was over, she came up to me, and said, ‘You did it so well’.

That felt so nice to hear. That was indeed a very memorable occasion for me.

Anything else you learnt during your time in the Office of International Programmes?

I started reading a lot of books and newspapers that were stacked up in the Office. I also learned the habit of documenting the daily visitors to our office. I also read through the brochures of the hundreds of foreign universities that were decked up in the Office. Added, I was also able to engage confidently with a lot of people from many foreign countries. To me, the Office is so pleasant and positive. I learnt to make my day ‘rewarding’ in every way, after coming to this Office.

Thank you Anarsha. It was such a joy talking to you.

Thank you, Sir.

It was indeed such a joy and delight to know that our Interns are doing so well now. I then rang up her Head of the Department Dr. Selvaraj, who had a lot of good words to share about her.

I would like to mention a few of his observations on his vibrant student –

She was such a good student, Sir. She was very good at content writing. In fact, she helped us a lot with the IQAC documentation so meticulously. She also actively participated in all the events that were organised both in the Department and in College. All the Newsletter reports for the College Newsletter were curated by Anarsha. Right from Day One she actively involved herself in all the activities with a cheerful spirit. She’s been part of our PR Campaigns as well. This apart, she has also presented Papers in many conferences, he added.

Felt so happy to hear that from her Professors.

Here's wishing Ms. Anarsha all success in all her noble endeavours.

The creative, retractable standee that Ms. Anarsha had designed
for the Office of International Programmes, MCC

"It takes place probably 600 years ago, but the characters in the novel are the ones you see on a daily basis – they are highly relatable" ❤️❤️❤️

“I Found Out that Literature was My Home”

An exciting, freewheeling discussion with Mr. Insoll, II BA English

On Books & Reading

12th September 2025

This week (Tuesday, 9th September) in my II BA English Literature class, I had given the students a challenge - 

How many of you in class can list out 20 books that you’ve read in the past one year? (Apart from the prescribed books that are part of your syllabus) 😊

The question found quite a few takers from the audience, and I was quite happy about it as well.

However, there was one student who personally met with me after class, with an entire list of books that he had read in the last one year, written down in his note book, with the month and year of reading them.

The list had more than 20 books with the month and year neatly mentioned against each book. I was so happy to read through the entire list.

Then I asked him if we could meet up in my office for a freewheeling discussion on his tryst with reading, this Friday, 12th September at 10.20 am. (today). He gladly agreed. And today I was so delighted to see him turn up at our Office on time.  

We then started spontaneously on our freewheeling discussion.

Meet Mr. Insoll, from II BA English, ladies and gentlemen.

Well, Insoll, I’m so happy to see a passionate reader in you. Who, pray, inspired you to become such a passionate reader?

My dad is a very avid reader. In his spare time, he used to have this habit of reading books a lot. I guess I take after him on that. I’ve been reading since age five.

I was really into literature from a very young age. In my higher secondary days, when I was given the task of choosing my career, I contemplated on a host of options, including JEE, but then found out that literature was my home.

I feel very close to this course at a spiritual level. At the same time, by my ninth grade, I had started watching world cinema, and I found that, literature kind of compliments films as well.

Initially I was just consuming these scripts, but from my eleventh grade I started to critically evaluate films, like ‘Why is this scene here?’ etc.

Thus, I was able to develop my own way of analysing films, and that really helped me in writing my scripts as well.

So you are into script writing as well?

Yes. I’ve been writing scripts on a daily basis. I keep working on the script again and again.

Interesting. How long have you been writing these scripts?

Almost for a year now, sir. Since in my school days I couldn’t do much because of my studies. College life kind of complimented my time well.

The script writing you do – is it for short films or movies?

Well, I wish to do that later maybe. And I wish to show them to producers. But now I have written a script for a short film. We were almost about to begin the shoot this March, but then it was held up. But right now I am trying to better this short film script.

I am taking a complicated way of writing a film script. It has got multiple layers to it. It’s really an exciting experience.

The writing process for me begins with a 40-page summary, then I try writing the scenes. I then bridge the scenes, experimenting with the linearity, transposing scenes at places. That way, the idea per se is complete. I like reading Tamil literature a lot.

What made you interested in Tamil literature?

Dad was very particular that I do my education in Tamil medium up until my eighth grade, to have an immersive experience in the language. Then in my ninth grade when I felt I was confident with my Tamil language skills, I turned to English medium from my ninth grade.

However, in my fifth grade, I took a basic course in English skills with British Council.

So it was a well-meaning strategy on the part of your dad to give you a cultural grounding in Tamil.

Yes, not only that! There’s this strangeness you find in English. Obviously we can master it. But it feels very accessible if it is in Tamil.

So how many writers have you read in Tamil literature?

I have read Puthumaipithan, Ashokamitran, B. Jeyamohan, Sundara Ramaswamy, Ku. Alagirisami,  Ki. Rajanarayanan, Vanna Nilavan, G. Nagarajan…

If you’ve read Ki Ra then you must have read Es Ra also…

I haven’t started on Es Ra. I’ve read Charu Nivedita…

So who’s your favourite among them?

Obviously B. Jeyamohan!

Great! So happy to note that, his daughter did her UG in English here in MCC. She was one of our best students. What makes you choose Jeyamohan?

Well, writers generally have specific boundaries to themselves. They only operate on a specific region or on a specific subject. But Jeyamohan is like – if you tell me a particular story line, he would have already written on it. He doesn’t set a limit. 

He has the range. He has also written such voluminous works. Sundara Ramasamy is also a great writer. But he has written only three novels in his lifetime, whereas Jeyamohan has written a 26-volume, modern Tamil retelling of the Mahabharata titled Venmurasu (The White Drum) which is a great achievement, and to top that, he has also written the voluminous and critically acclaimed Vishnupuram which explores Indian philosophy, mythology, and history through a fantasy narrative.

Have you read his Kaadu?

Yes I’ve read Kaadu, and I am reading it again now. I read it first time when I was in my first year. I recently went to Idukki. It was a beautiful forest, and so I tried reading it there. And the experience was quite different there.

As regards Jeyamohan, his range is immense. Added, I feel that, he is very close to heart. His words directly touch the heart. I don’t have to intellectualise him in order to understand him.

Any examples that you can cite from any of his novels?

Well, there is Vishnupuram where you find almost three books packed in a single word. Vishnupuram is a very imaginary world. When writers create imaginary worlds, there are very few writers who make you not feel that alienation or strangeness – who have the capability to present the world to you as you have seen that before in your life – in some point of time. Jeyamohan creates this world.

It takes place probably 600 years ago, but the characters in the novel are the ones you see on a daily basis – they are highly relatable. All their suffering, and their ideals, have not changed even now, even after 600 years. This understanding of history – of how people have changed the way they live, but their ideals haven’t changed. That’s why it is close to my heart, because I can feel it rather than just observe it as mere information. In short, I can feel his works.

How often do you read?

I read on a daily basis. At times, I start at 7 pm and it goes on till sometimes late into the night. However, as I said earlier, the book decides the pacing. 

When I don’t read for a week or something, it is very hard for me to get back into reading mode again. The focus and the concentration is not there. I again have to struggle to build that practice.

What book have you been reading lately?

I just finished re-reading Kaadu. Now I’ve started reading this postmodern novel titled, V. by Thomas Pynchon, an American novelist. He is yet another writer I love reading.

Do you buy hard copies of the books or do you read them on your digital screens?

I buy books! I don’t like reading them on my digital device. I’m more of the old school person, who buys a book and reads it.

That’s interesting. Where do you buy these books from?

Mostly from Amazon. Jeyamohan has his own website, from which I can order copies. I also go to these annual book exhibitions and so I dedicate a large amount of my budget for books. I buy a lot of books in such book exhibitions to read throughout the year.

Apart from Pynchon, Kerouac is my favourite. Allen Ginsberg is also my favourite. I also like Hemingway.

What makes you like Hemingway?

I like his simplicity. I feel like you can just pick a Hemingway book any day without having to emotionally prepare yourself for it. You just pick it up and start reading. The diction is quite easy.

So do you have a regular routine for reading? And do you get encouragement from home?

Yes, I have a regular routine for my reading. And yes, my parents have been encouraging me in reading ever since the age of five. I stopped watching TV at a very young age, except for TV Shows.

How many books do you read a month?

Probably two or three books per month. I save up for buying the books. I also do part-time work. I write scripts for people. I also edit books. I get paid for that as well. Crime and Punishment is one book that took me a lot of time to read. In fact, I didn’t want the book to end...

What made you love Crime and Punishment?

Well, Tamil novels mostly foreground the Tamil Nadu landscape. I love the Petersburg landscape. I also felt at home there. Very strange it might seem though, but I didn’t want to escape that landscape. I kind of want to live inside that book for long.

So happy talking to you, Insoll. And your name is so beautiful. It strikes a chord. It means ‘beautiful word’, right?

It means ‘sweet word’.

Your parents’ choice?

No. It was my grandfather’s choice.

So you’re into reading, writing, and you also find time to do balance your priorities with a part-time job, and at the same time you are able to attend your classes also… Best wishes for you, Insoll. May all your dreams come true.

Thank you sir.

Our rewarding time of discussion was followed by a photograph, taken by Ms. Anarsha, Intern with Office of International Programmes.

We are so proud of you dear Insoll. Keep shining. Blessings.

"If 70% don’t speak Hindi as their mother tongue, the question of Hindi becoming the official language or the national language of India doesn’t arise" 💜💜💜

On Prof. Ganesh N Devy | In today’s Times of India

#newspaperinlearning

So happy to see Prof. G N. Devy’s interview featured in today’s Times of India, where he emphasises on the need for preserving India’s multilingual character.

But first… Who is this 75-year old Ganesh N Devy? And what are his unique achievements?

Well, G N Devy is a Professor of English who had left his illustrious academic career in Gujarat, for the noble cause of supporting and preserving the diverse cultures and languages of the innumerable indigenous communities of India.

He is an illustrious academic who took upon himself the noble task of doing a nation-wide survey of Indian languages - to identify, document and understand them; especially languages of fragile communities such as nomadic, coastal, island, hill and forest communities.

The Reason?

The previous linguistic survey of the languages of India was done almost a century ago, in British India, that is quite outdated by today’s standards. The Linguistic Survey of India (LSI) was a comprehensive survey of the languages of British India, conducted between 1894 and 1928.

This monumental ‘British India’ project was the first systematic linguistic survey of the region and was spearheaded by George Abraham Grierson, an Irish linguist and member of the Indian Civil Service).

The survey described 733 languages and dialects. Grierson employed school teachers for much of the data collection, and the absence of trained linguists did lead to several deficiencies in the survey.

During the Post-Independence period, the Government of India initiated two similar surveys, which are yet to be completed.

That’s hence G. N. Devy took it upon himself to bridge the missing gap, and undertook this massive survey, carried out by scholars, writers and activists in partnership with members of different speech communities.

Times of India, 11 May 2025 | Chennai Edition

To this end, he had founded the People’s Linguistic Survey of India (PLSI), a massive project, which involved around 3,000 volunteers to survey and document all the living languages of India, thereby documenting 780 languages. A survey that resulted in 50 multilingual volumes.

Coming back –

He is an influential literary critic, who works with DNT communities, leading to the creation of the DNT-Rights Action Group.

A voracious writer who has written and edited around ninety books in multiple languages (English, Marathi, and Gujarati) covering literary criticism, anthropology, education, linguistics, and philosophy. His notable books include After Amnesia (1992), which won the Sahitya Akademi Award, Of Many Heroes (1997), A Nomad Called Thief (2006), and The Crisis Within (2017).

A passionate linguaphile, known for his extensive work in language preservation and advocacy for marginalized communities in India.

An accomplished academician, who founded the Adivasi Academy, in Tejgadh, Gujarat, to support and preserve the cultures and languages of Adivasi (indigenous) communities.

A veteran linguist who established the Bhasha Research and Publication Centre, in Baroda to focus on linguistic research and publication.

An organic intellectual, in the Gramscian sense, who is also the Founder of the Dakshinayan Movement - A movement of artists, writers, and intellectuals, founded in response to growing intolerance.

A Padma Shri awardee, and a recipient of numerous other awards including the Linguapax Prize (2011), the Prince Claus Award (2003), and the SAARC Literary Award (2001).

A grassroots activist, whose work bridges academic scholarship and grassroots activism, focusing on linguistic diversity, the rights of marginalized communities, and cultural preservation in India.

[On an aside, doubly happy to note that Professor G. N. Devy was with us in the Department of English to give the TG Narayan Endowment lecture, 12 years ago, on 16th December 2013. You may want to read on that, on our past post HERE.]

G N Devy releasing the sixth issue of Eclectic Representations in MCC

Hence, so happy to see G. N. Devy’s interview featured in today’s Times of India, where he emphasises on the need for preserving India’s multilingual character.

In a candid chat with Kamini Mathai, Ganesh N Devy opens up on epistemic shifts, and the future of language in the AI Age, in today’s Sunday Edition of Times of India.

It is in India’s multilingual character that Indianness can be located, says Devy.

Kamini: There has been a pushback against the three-language policy from some states. As a linguist, what are your views on it?

It is good as a normative policy. However, imposing it on all language groups in India is a bad idea as it forces people to study languages that are not in their linguistic family.

Hindi belongs to the Indo-Aryan family, making it easier for Punjabi speakers to learn but harder for those speaking Dravidian languages such as Kannada or Tamil.

Never in our long history have we had any single pan-Indian national language. India has always been multilingual, and it is in its multilingual character that Indianness can be located.

How did Hindi come to be seen as a ‘unifying’ language?

Hindi was the colonial choice as the number of kingdoms under British rule was much larger in the Hindi-speaking area. So, it became an important language ‘functionally’ speaking until the 19th century, as English was not universally understood by princes.

Post Independence, the Constituent Assembly decided there would be no single national language, but Hindi or English could be used for inter-state communication for 15 years.

Though Hindi was expected to replace English, it could not as it lacks the vocabulary for full administrative or legal use. In fact, no Indian language has the capacity to replace English as the medium of communication.

You contest the numbers that show a growth in Hindi speakers. Why is that?

Because Hindi was expected to replace other languages, it became necessary for the Union govt to show that there is constant growth in the language.

During the 2011 census, which was the last census done and for which data was released only in 2018, the citizens of India provided 19,569 names of mother tongues.

Of these, close to 17,000 were outright rejected and another 1,474 dumped because not enough scholarly corroboration for them exists. Only 1,369 — roughly 6% — were grouped together under 121 labels and presented to the country as languages. Of these, 22 are called the scheduled languages.

Was the elimination of mother tongues done on a scientific basis?

The architecture of the census has its foundation in the principle of exclusion. To use a term from medical science, this act amounts to imposing an involuntary aphasia on citizens.

In this instance, the numbers on whom it is imposed run into crores. The logic was that a language deserving respectability should not have less than 10,000 speakers. On no scientific grounds, a fair decision, but the practice continues.

Most languages I encountered during my linguistic survey had no written form, relying on oral traditions.

The Gondhali community in Maharashtra, for instance, ‘wrote’ in the air — one person moved their arms to convey sentences, and the other understood. This invisible script has been passed down for generations.

When you start looking closely, you will also find that most of the language groupings in the census are forced.

How has this helped Hindi ‘grow’?

In 1971, 20 crore of India’s 54-crore population were listed as Hindi speakers. By 2011, that number jumped to 52 crore, with the proportion rising from 36.9% to 43.6%.

The data for Hindi has been bolstered by adding the speakers of nearly 50 other languages. This includes Bhojpuri — claimed as mother tongue by five crore speakers, and with its own cinema, theatre and literature — as well as languages in Rajasthan, Himachal, Uttarakhand, Haryana and Bihar claimed by six crore people.

Even a language in Maharashtra called Pawari is listed under Hindi. Its speakers do not understand Hindi well, and Hindi speakers do not understand Pawari either.

If we were to remove these languages that are forced to sit uncomfortably with Hindi, only 32% would speak Hindi as their mother tongue.

If 70% don’t speak Hindi as their mother tongue, the question of Hindi becoming the official language or the national language of India doesn’t arise. India has no national language — only official ones.

What is the future of language in the AI age?

Nearly 75% of the world’s natural languages are in decline or nearing extinction. Globalisation, with its push for cultural uniformity, has accelerated this loss.

A similar decline occurred 8,000 years ago with the shift from hunter-gatherer to agrarian economies.

The crisis is intensified by AI. Neurologists and linguists warn of reduced memory and disappearing grammar structures, such as the past tense.

What about Indian languages?

India is home to one in eight of the world’s languages. With the deaths of the last Bo speaker in the Andamans and the last Majhi speaker in Sikkim, their languages died too.

Many coastal and nomadic languages have vanished, and tribal ones are fading. The word stock is dwindling too. People now use fewer words; metaphors and proverbs are nearly lost.

In Bengal, for example, heavy code-mixing with English is common. Few can speak a full sentence in pure Bangla. Languages lacking in digital presence like Odia, for instance, will slowly be left behind.

Tamil fares better than Marathi, Telugu, or Bangla, but reading skills among schoolkids remain low. English medium schools are reducing children’s exposure to songs and stories in their mother tongue. As a result, children inherit storylines, not the language,

he signs off, in this insightful interview to The Times of India.

Coming back –

Akin to the concept of epistemic shift, that Devy has mentioned in this above interview, he also talks about a ‘forced aphasia’ something similar to ‘epistemic violence’ that Spivak talks about!

Says Devy -

The most useful indictor of tribal identity is language - the literary imaginations of those communities whose speech traditions face the prospect of forced aphasia.

Most tribal communities in India are culturally similar to tribal communities elsewhere in the world. They live in groups that are cohesive and organically unified.

They show very little interest in accumulating wealth or in using labour as a device to gather interest and capital. They accept a worldview in which nature, man and God are intimately linked, and believe in the human ability to spell and interpret truth.

They live more by intuition than by reason, they consider the space around them more sacred than secular, and their sense of time is personal rather than objective.

The world of the tribal imagination, therefore, is substantially different from that of the non-tribal Indian society.

Once a society accepts a secular mode of creativity, within which the creator replaces God, imaginative transactions assume a selfconscious form.

The tribal imagination, on the other hand, is still to a large extent dreamlike and hallucinatory. It admits fusion between various planes of existence and levels of time in a natural and artless manner.

In tribal stories, oceans fly in the sky as birds, mountains swim in water as fish, animals speak as humans and stars grow like plants. Spatial order and temporal sequence do not restrict the narrative.

This is not to say that tribal creations have no conventions or rules, but simply that they admit the principle of association between emotion and the narrative motif.

Thus stars, seas, mountains, trees, men and animals can be angry, sad or happy. It might be said that tribal artists work more on the basis of their racial and sensory memory than on the basis of a cultivated imagination.

In order to understand this distinction, we must understand the difference between imagination and memory. In the animate world, consciousness meets two immediate material realities: space and time.

We put meaning into space by perceiving it in terms of images. The image-making faculty is a genetic gift to the human mind—this power of imagination helps us understand the space that envelops us.

With regard to time, we make connections with the help of memory; one remembers being the same person today as one was yesterday. The tribal mind has a more acute sense of time than the sense of space.

Somewhere along the history of human civilization, tribal communities seem to have realized that domination over territorial space was not their lot. Thus, they seem to have turned almost obsessively to gaining domination over time.

This urge is substantiated in their ritual of conversing with their dead ancestors: year after year, tribals in many parts of India worship terracotta or carved-wood objects representing their ancestors, aspiring to enter a trance in which they can converse with the dead.

Over the centuries, an amazingly sharp memory has helped tribals classify material and natural objects into a highly complex system of knowledge.

The importance of memory in tribal systems of knowledge has not yet been sufficiently recognized, but the aesthetic proportions of the houses tribals build, the objects they make and the rituals they perform fascinate the curious onlooker.

It can be hard to understand how, without any institutional training or tutoring, tribals are able to design, organise, craft, build and express so well. In contemporary practice, the tribal memory is greatly undermined.

There is a general insistence that tribal children attend schools where non-tribal children attend school, that they use medicines manufactured for others and that they adopt common agricultural practices.

All because the world has very little time to listen patiently to the tribals, with their immense knowledge and creativity. We have decided that what is good for us is good enough for them. In the process we are destroying a rich vein of our cultural heritage.

A proper understanding of the tribal imagination can add to our literature and art. Indian literature has been burdened for the last two centuries by the ‘perspective imagination’ of Western origin.

Because our systems of knowledge have been more or less replaced by Western systems, the tribal is now the only Indian unaffected by the colonial consciousness. To pose the question of memory once again may thus help rekindle our culture.

A vast number of Indian languages have yet remained only spoken, with the result that literary compositions in these languages are not considered ‘literature’. They are a feast for the folklorist, anthropologist and linguist, but to a literary critic they generally mean nothing.

Similarly, several nomadic Indian communities are broken up and spread over long distances but survive as communities because they are bound by their oral epics.

The wealth and variety of these works is so enormous that one discovers their neglect with a sense of pure shame.

Some of the songs and stories I heard from itinerant street singers in my childhood are no longer available anywhere.

For some years now I have been collecting songs and stories that circulate in India’s tribal languages, and I am continually overwhelmed by their number and their profound influence on the tribal communities.

The result is that I, for one, can no longer think of literature as something written. Of course, I do not dispute the claim of written compositions and texts to the status of literature; but surely it is time we realize that unless we modify the established notion of literature as something written, we will silently witness the decline of various Indian oral traditions.

That literature is a lot more than writing is a reminder necessary for our times,

says G N Devy, in the introduction to his 2002 book titled, Painted Words.

You may want to read more on G N Devy’s tribute to his friend Mahasweta Devi, on her passing away, in our past post HERE.