"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

Skills Over Scores | The Power of the Portfolio ❤️

How a Strong Portfolio Won Our Visual Communication Student a Ticket to France

I was so delighted to get a warm note of congratulations from the French Embassy, on our student Mr. Sanjay Srikant, (BSc Visual Communication, MCC) being awarded the prestigious Charpak Master Fellowship 2026.

[On an aside, even last year, our BA Economics student Ms. Alisha Shaji had won this prestigious Fellowship to France]

I’m sorry I won’t be able to share the exact content here, as the email has an explicit clause that forbids me from sharing the contents of the message.

When I called up Dr. Selvaraj, the Head, Department of Visual Communication, MCC, regarding his student Sanjay having been awarded the Scholarship, he had such glowing words to say about him.

“He never wasted a moment here in MCC, Sir. He was always into honing some skill or the other, and busy building his portfolio. He also did short films here, and one of his famous short films got him an interview with the famed film critic Baradwaj Rangan. He deserved the Fellowship, Sir”, he said about his student.

Quite curious and excited, I eagerly looked up the interview that Baradwaj Rangan did with Sanjay Srikant.

The interview is highly engaging and it delves into how Sanjay’s film maps the psychological landscape of Lakshmi (played by Vinithra Menon). Baradwaj Rangan heaps praises on the movie for showing the audience the “reality” of a sex worker trying to survive the pandemic lockdown, even while she tries to manage a complex relationship with her son, Karna.

You may want to watch the interview HERE. 

Coming back,

The France Excellence Charpak Master Fellowship 2026 is quite unique among scholarships as there is no minimum CGPA or percentage required to apply for this Fellowship, and selection is based heavily on the applicant’s overall academic excellence, skillset, portfolio, consistency, and the quality of their Statement of Purpose (SOP).

This makes it highly attractive for students who have cultivated practical skills and strong portfolios rather than just chasing marks.

And now we know why Sanjay got the prestigious Fellowship!

PS: You may want to read our past post on Skills Over Degree by our Principal Dr. Paul Wilson, HERE on our blog.

The Discipline of Time | Celebrating the New Top Cop of Greater Chennai ❤️

Punctuality and the Clock | Leadership Lessons from Mr. Amalraj IPS

& A Few of My Lovely Students

#newspaperinlearning #rolemodels

23rd May 2026

I was so happy to read a news article in today’s The Times of India & The Hindu newspapers, Chennai Edition, on Mr. Amalraj IPS, taking charge as the Police Commissioner of Greater Chennai.

Yes! I felt so happy for him on his promotion to this prestigious office.

The reason?

I’ve had the blessed opportunity of witnessing first hand, his amazing sense of punctuality and discipline, during my tenure in the Deanery of Student Affairs.

On an aside, personally, I’ve got the greatest admiration for Mr. Amalraj, because of the fact that he is an accomplished writer as well. He has authored several successful books as an IPS Officer. An IPS officer doubling up as a writer is a lovely combo, ain’t it?

Coming back –

In June 2022, Mr. Amalraj had taken charge as the new Police Commissioner of Tambaram.

As part of the Deanery of Student Affairs, we had then wanted to organise a Road Safety Awareness Programme, in collaboration with the NSS Unit of our College. Our Principal had wanted me to invite him personally for the programme, and so we got an appointment from his Office to meet with him.

We were promptly informed that, he would like to meet us at 11.30 am in his (Commissioner’s) Office. We were there much ahead of time, waiting to meet, interact and invite him. Sharp at 11.30 am he asked his Private Secretary to invite us into his office. We had a short and rewarding time of interactions with him, and the gentleman promised us that he would be there in Campus on time.

As promised, he was there on time – in fact 20 minutes ahead of time – and then after the formal welcome and honour given by our Principal, he came to the event venue sharp at 10 am.

During his lecture at the event venue – the Chemistry Seminar Hall – he gave some very valuable advice for students.

Here goes Mr. Amalraj IPS -

When does rashness happen?

Rashness happens only when you’re late. So you should remember to start early. By habit you should make it a point to start a bit early.

In the police force, we have a saying –

‘To be a successful police officer be a bit early to office. Remain a bit late in office’.

Never rush.

We used to have periodic meetings in the Marina office. Some officers always come well in advance.

For them it’s become a habit. When the Chief Minister calls for a meeting, we’re there on time. Once you make it a daily routine, it becomes part of your habit.

80% of the work that we do, happens because of our habit: be it the dress we wear, the food we eat, or the friends with whom we talk, etc.

Similarly, the habit of being early a bit always helps in preventing accidents.

To catch a bus, be there a bit in advance. Tell this to your friends and relatives as well.

The beauty of life is not just winning. It’s about following rules.

Winning is always there. You will always win. Win depends on your opponent. If your opponent is a child, you win easily. At the same time, if your opponent is tougher than you, then it’s quite a task to win!

So what matters is, follow the rules and win. When you write an exam, no one is watching, still you follow the rules. That's integrity. Winning that way, gives you credibility and integrity.

So to sum up what I’ve said –

1. Follow rules always

2. Be a bit early by habit on a regular basis.

3. Lead by example. Be a perfectionist.

said Mr. Amalraj, IPS. You may want to read his entire talk on our blogpost HERE. 

Even as Mr. Amalraj IPS, takes on the prestigious mantle of Police Commissioner of Greater Chennai, his amazing sense of punctuality and discipline stand as living testaments to the fact that true leadership is not an accident; rather, it is the ultimate reward of a life governed by punctuality and discipline!

I am reminded of this timeless thought by eminent critic Scupin Richard –

Punctuality is not just about arriving on time; it is a profound expression of respect for your own commitments and the time of others.

Now, on a personal note –

I’ve always admired students who come to my classes ahead of time. Late comers? I really pity them and I feel so sad for them, and I so wish and pray that they come out of the chaos that has engulfed them! 😊

I would love to quote from a recent message I received from one of our best students – Fr. Jomon Joseph, (2022-24 Batch MA English) who has always been to my classes a record 10 - 15 minutes ahead of time.

You may want to read through our past blogposts on his name featuring in the Early to Class Club HERE.

Just two days ago, I heard the blessed news that he has been promoted as Vice Principal of a famous School in Kerala. So proud of you Fr. Jomon Joseph!

There’s a classic proverb that goes like this –

“Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before obscure men”.

A timeless reminder that punctuality, dedication, and true discipline will always open doors and bring elevation in life!

On that note, I take this opportunity to sincerely appreciate all my lovely students who have been consistently writing their blogs with such punctuality and discipline all through their holidays. I admire you guys. Keep it up!

I’m sure you will stand before kings!

“To every teen out there who thinks they’re alone.” ❤️

Red Verses | Pearlina Gracelyn

#BookReview

One of the most joyous moments for a professor is to see their student transition from a novice to a scholar, from a blank page to an author!

As such I am so overjoyed to write this review for one of our best students - Ms. Pearlina Gracelyn’s lovely book which I would proudly call - a soulful poetic memoir!

The book starts with a dedication -

“To every teen out there who thinks they’re alone.”

The book also has a soulful epigraph –

“The courage to love in this mortal and ever-fleeting world is something to be celebrated.”

Then, the author also explicitly states that her book presents life as lived through the eyes of a teenage girl, capturing her raw, unfiltered realities.

Indeed all the 49 chapters of the book offer the reader a slice of raw, unfiltered realities from the author’s teenage life!

In this regard, one interesting feature about Pearlina’s book is that, she provides contextual prose before most of her poems, which provides her readers with an intimate and deeply personal experience that everyone of us can relate and also empathise with!

That way, one of her avowed goals through her writing is to offer comfort and care, aiming to show readers who have faced similar struggles that they are not alone!

Moreover, Pearlina uses her writing as an emotional outlet to process her resentment and her grief. Indeed, a significant portion of the anthology, recounts the devastating impact of COVID-19 on the author’s family. It is also the most deeply affecting section of the book, and her poem titled, "Cherished" acts as a poignant, melancholic elegy.

I cherished every moment with you, / and I would’ve cherished it more, / but you went without a warning / and it disheartens me every morning.

Pearlina frankly discusses her destructive coping mechanisms during the year 2022, and the deep-seated insecurity of feeling like a secondary option. A major turning point in the text is the author’s spiritual awakening during her college years and she credits God as her sole reason for living and her anchor through her darkest moments.

The charm of Pearlina’s poetry lies in its candid touch. She is refreshingly candid about her craft, stating she does not consider her poems to be profound literary works. Instead, the writing serves as a raw mechanism for managing her darkest thoughts. Her poetic tone is often melancholic and urgent, but the prose sections offer a mature, retrospective voice that looks back on her past pain with sympathy and how she has evolved into a stronger and better version of herself.

On this note, I feel that, despite the thematic focus on trauma, the collection is ultimately an arc of redemption! For example, in her poem titled, “Confessions”, Pearlina displays a mature willingness to introspect and apologise, realising that healing requires both standing up for oneself and possessing the humility to acknowledge one’s own transgressions.

One of my favourite poems is the one on “Growing Up” –

Growing up

Is like untying knots.

It’s like you’ve always had this rope,

And Day by day,

Lesson by lesson, you start noticing where it’s tied.

Untying it will be hard, as we all know, old habits die hard.

But if taken gently, and untied with utmost patience,

It makes a lasting impact.

Untying makes the rope longer,

as when you put off unhealthy habits, life does seem longer.

In a good way of course.

Things, thoughts, people.

That use to bother and rue the day,

Seem childish to one with good ways.

Furthermore, in "What is Love?", she completely redefines her understanding of affection, moving away from toxic paradigms to embrace a love rooted in patience, kindness, and spiritual grace –

But you taught me, so patiently / Love is joy, / Love is life, / Love is everything / We are called to one another, what a joy.

In essence, Red Verses is a raw, coming-of-age exploration of a teenager's darkest valleys and hardest lessons. It concludes on a triumphant and uplifting note, redefining happiness not as external success, but as the peaceful realisation that life will eventually be okay.

Ultimately, Pearlina leaves her readers with a powerful message about the necessity of self-confidence and learning to stand up for oneself thereby providing a lovely roadmap for healing - proving that our most vulnerable verses are often our most victorious as well!

As such, it would be apt to sign off on this blogpost with a lovely quote by Edith Wharton who once noted –

There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it.

With Red Verses, Pearlina has bravely chosen to be both - reflecting on her own life’s journey as a teenager, even while offering her writing as guiding lights for those who still feel alone, through her will to write!

Looking Beyond the Sensational | A Tribute to P. Sainath and Our Student Bloggers ❤️

On P. Sainath - Historian of the Everyday! 

& A Lovely Note of Appreciation for our Consistent Bloggers

#onhisbirthdaytoday

13th May 2026

We live in an age where media outlets and content creators right from independent YouTubers to major digital news outlets, heavily rely on sensationalism and clickbait tactics to drive views for their pages.

To this end, they make use of sensational titles or dramatic thumbnails that provoke curiosity in the innocent viewer and misguides them to their videos, thus gaining their valuable attention time.

Yes, we live in an attention economy where attention equals revenue for these media outlets. As such, the noble role and responsibility of media houses has been relegated to the back burner especially in this past decade!

And this has fundamentally altered journalistic priorities, often pushing deep, people-oriented issues like poverty and unemployment to the margins in favour of immediate, high-emotion content.

Back in ages past, journalists were held in high esteem, because they acted as public watchdogs, voice of the voiceless, and conscience-keepers of a vibrant democracy. And this they did by investigating governments, corporations, and institutions and holding them accountable for their actions. They exposed corruption, unethical practices, and abuses of power.

Moreover, ethical journalists used to amplify the stories and perspectives of the people living in poverty, deprivation and unemployment, shining a light on social injustice.

P. Sainath is one of those rare journalists who is famous for his consistent dedication to reporting on rural India, poverty, and structural inequality.

At a time when mainstream media depends on sensationalism and increasingly focused on urban consumerism and the lifestyles of the elite, Sainath directed his focus entirely toward the marginalised -

I’m all in awe and admiration for his unrelenting focus on the everyday lives of everyday people, in his writing - on rural India, poverty, and structural inequality.

Instead of covering sensational political corridors or the entertainment quotient of the silver screen, Sainath committed himself to grassroots reporting.

He has spent an average of 270 days a year walking and traveling through India’s poorest, most drought-stricken districts. His philosophy centres on documenting the resilience, labour, and tragedies of ordinary people!

He also deserves credit for being one of those rare-breed of journalists who exposed the profound agrarian crisis in India to mainstream reporting, through his groundbreaking work on the huge scale of farmer suicides in India! He also highlighted the reasons for these mass suicides as a crisis driven by their huge debts, and policy failures on the part of the governments.

It was because of his reporting that, governments across many states were forced to acknowledge the seriousness of the issue and pushed for policies like farm loan waivers and crisis packages for farmers. Nobel laureate Amartya Sen had once famously referred to him as “one of the world’s great experts on famine and hunger.”

In the year 2014, with the noble aim of combating the corporate media’s failure to cover two-thirds of the country’s population, Sainath founded the People’s Archive of Rural India (PARI).

PARI is a completely independent, free-access multimedia digital platform dedicated entirely to rural India. It aims to document the 833 million people speaking 780 living languages, archiving their unique occupations, arts, crafts, and cultures before they disappear.

Furthermore, he is a dedicated educator, teaching courses on inequality and rural affairs at institutions globally, including Princeton University, and training young journalists from marginalised communities.

His 1996 book, titled, Everybody Loves a Good Drought - a collection of 84 field reports analysing rural deprivation - remains a seminal text in journalism schools and universities worldwide, encapsulating a career built entirely on giving voice to the voiceless.

I am an avid reader of The Hindu newspaper, every morning, for the past four decades, 😊 and I’ve always admired their consistency in giving wide coverage to rural affairs – which includes poverty, deprivation, hunger, malnutrition and unemployment.

Proud to note that, P. Sainath was the Rural Affairs Editor with The Hindu for a decade, from 2004 until his resignation in 2014. One reason why we have Sainath prescribed in our syllabus HERE.

I still remember the day I listened to a lecture by The Hindu’s Mr. N. Ram, organised by the Asian College of Journalism, on 18th January 2013, where N. Ram said, “You can study anything under the sun, but you can’t be a good journalist unless you cover deprivation!”. You may want to read more on that Lecture on our past blogpost HERE.

18 January 2013 | ACJ

To conclude this post with a fervent and urgent plea for all of academia - 

It’s high time we celebrated the works of Sainath in our classrooms – not only as an academic exercise but also to provide a paradigm shift in the perspective of our students to look beyond the sensational!

In a way, this helps the student to shift their perspectives from a passive study of aesthetics to an active, critical engagement with the lived realities of society!

As Chinua Achebe so famously said, 

Until the lions have their own historians, the history of the hunt will always glorify the hunter.

It is time academia helped our students become these vibrant historians of the everyday.

And in this regard, I am so proud of our consistent bloggers who are doing us proud by being such cute little historians of the everyday, each and every passing day of their holidays!

So proud of you all for celebrating your personal space and making use of your holidays in such noble ways!

Keep it up guys! A huge and memorable special prize awaits you all when College reopens! 😊

“I’m Ordering Ten Copies of the book Rightaway, Thambi” ❤️

“I’m Ordering Ten Copies of the book Rightaway, Thambi”

Programmed Selves | Ms. Catherin Sabu

#bookreview

This morning, I had scores of students visiting our office to discuss and to interact with us on higher studies.

I also had a brief meeting with our vibrant Associate Deans of International Programmes – Dr. Serena and Dr. Arun (whom I call the angels of our office) 😊 on a few important matters.

I was also overjoyed to have a special guest today in our Office – Dr. Rama Subbiah, the vibrant Principal of the renowned Mannar Thirumalai Naicker College (Autonomous), Madurai, who had come along with two of his Heads of the Departments. It felt so joyous to see Dr. Subbu Anna today.

I was so happy to learn about Ms. Lekhaa’s new assignment – a Bootcamp that she’s coordinating along with the MCC-MRF Innovation Park - a “Gamified Entrepreneurial Training Programme” that is led directly by actual “Startup Founders” rather than academic instructors in the last week of May 2026.

Then I had Ms. Catherin Sabu presenting me her first publication titled, Programmed Selves, which is now available on Amazon as well.

She also gave me a beautiful card from Mr. Ben, that he had personally handcrafted for me! Ben is one of my favourite students, and an efficient Quiz Master at Think Tank! Thank you dear Ben. You really made my day today.

Coming back,

I handed the copy of the book, Programmed Selves to Dr. Rama Subbiah, Principal, MTN College, Madurai.

Dr. Rama Subbiah, read through the book, and the title of the book intrigued him the most. When she explained in a nutshell the gist of the book, and the significance of its title, he felt so happy, that he immediately ordered for ten copies of the book for his College Library, and he also said that he’d invite her to give a lecture at his College sometime later this year. Congrats Catherin. We are so proud of you.

On that same vein, me thought of presenting a short review of her book here, for our readers.

Well, it is indeed a profound joy to see our student Catherin Sabu – who has just completed her five years of literature at MCC, authoring a very highly insightful book that foregrounds a highly relevant central premise: in today’s world, gender is no longer just socially conditioned by family and culture; it is algorithmically programmed by the screens that we hold in our hands – and this algorithmic conditioning in social media not only constructs but also subtly reinforces modern gender norms.

Catherin foregrounds Laura Mulvey’s “Male Gaze” and Stuart Hall’s representation theories in the context of Instagram filters, meme pages, and the exhausting pursuit of the “that girl” aesthetic that is widely disseminated on social media.

Moreover, the book also presents a highly empathetic perspective on masculinity to examine the emotional isolation of young men. It highlights how their vulnerabilities are commercialised into “masculine discrepancy stress” by an “Algorithmic Broligarchy”.

The book scores skyhigh in contrasting the quiet, habit-forming gender expectations of a traditional Malayali household (“Kalloor House”) with the liberating, nonchalant academic space she found at Madras Christian College.

Tweaking a bit on Mulvey’s concept of the gaze, Catherin highlights the Digital Gaze and how young women are forced to self-curate and filter their identities, not out of vanity, but as a defence mechanism against the constant surveillance of comment sections and Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence (TFGBV).

On this note, it’s indeed quite heartwarming to note that, she positions literature and critical thought as our best remaining tools for unlearning these programmed binaries, allowing us to humanise others before we judge them.

In a world where we are constantly filtered, curated, and quantified through the Digital Gaze, Catherin’s book offers a beautiful rebellion - reminding us that humans are not data to be processed, but poetry to be understood!

Therein lies the success of her maiden publication! 

Shaping the Nation's Future | Celebrating Our New Civil Servants ❤️

Hearty congratulations to two of our vibrant students who have cleared the UPSC Civil Services Examinations recently.

Ms. Sreeja J. S. (BA & MA Pol Science in MCC) on securing All India Rank 57

Ms. Athidhi Krishnadev B (BA English in MCC) on securing All India Rank 451

Ms. Sreeja J. S pursued both her Undergraduate and Postgraduate studies in Political Science at Madras Christian College from 2019 to 2024, and distinguished herself as a committed and intellectually vibrant student.

During her time at MCC, she remained actively engaged in academic pursuits, successfully cleared the UGC–NET during her Master’s programme, and contributed a chapter on “SDG 4 & Global Citizenship: A Case for India” to a volume on Quality Education: Mapping the Global Trajectories, published by the College, reflecting her deep interest in global affairs and public policy.

She was also an active member of Martin Hall, serving as the Literary and Debating (L&D) Secretary, demonstrating leadership and active participation in the college’s vibrant campus life.

This remarkable achievement brings immense pride to the entire Madras Christian College community. On behalf of the College, I extend my very best wishes to Sreeja as she embarks on her journey in public service.

We are confident that she will carry forward the values of integrity, leadership, and service that MCC upholds, and make meaningful contributions to the nation through the Indian Foreign Service. Her accomplishment will undoubtedly inspire many young minds at MCC.

Ms. Athidhi pursued her Undergraduate degree in English Language and Literature (Aided) at Madras Christian College from 2019 to 2022 and distinguished herself as a diligent and committed student during her time on campus.

Athidhi served as an NSS Leader during the academic year 2021–2022, demonstrating a strong spirit of service and leadership. She was also an active member of TheatrEyrie, the theatre wing of the Department of English (Aided), and performed in two stage productions, contributing vibrantly to the cultural life of the College.

We take great pride in Athidhi’s achievement and extend our heartfelt congratulations to her. On behalf of the Madras Christian College community, I wish her every success as she embarks on a career in public service. Her accomplishment stands as an inspiration to many students of MCC, reflecting the values of dedication, leadership, and service that the College seeks to nurture.

Excerpted from our Principal Dr. Paul Wilson’s Note of Appreciation for the two soon-to-be-Officers!

Kudos Sreeja and Athidhi. We are so proud of you!

When Bertolt was misspelt as ‘Beetroot’ | Kavya's Inspirational Talk @ MCC ❤️

Alumna Speak ❤️

Ms. Kavya Prabakaran @ MCC

19th January 2026 | A Report

It is such a joy and pride to have one of our vibrant alumnae back ‘home’ on campus to address her juniors on how to prepare for their Higher Education-Related Entrance Exams.

Ms. Kavya Prabakaran (now with JNU) was here with us today, at 11.40 am, to talk to the II BA English Literature Class. She spoke with the maturity, empathy, and clarity that is the character-trait and the hallmark of a true-blue MCC-ian!

Kavya highlighted on the various types of questions asked in entrance examinations, and in the personal interviews that follow. Since negative marking is there, she advised students not to attempt questions that they aren’t quite certain about.

The books - Glossary of Literary Terms, Brief History of English Literature, English Literature in Context, and Beginning Theory helped me a lot, she said, and added that, candidates should be well aware of dates, years, timelines, especially the chronological order of publications, the chronological order of Winners of Nobel Prizes, and other famous Prizes.

There was also this interesting question that asked us to ‘Plot the events of a given novel’, she observed.

Taking a lot of mock tests helps a lot. You can even try solving past UGC-NET question papers, she said.

At the same time, she also cautioned students on the pitfalls of working with Q&As from online sources.

I remember this question where Bertolt was misspelt as ‘Beetroot’, she remarked, and, lastly, she exhorted students to be at the Centre at least an hour in advance!

Have a paper, have a strategy, and ace the test well,

signed off, Kavya.

On a personal note, well, there is a specific glow and joy that a teacher feels when they find themselves taking notes during the alumna’s speech - to go from teaching someone, to learning from their expertise is something that only a teacher can experience – next only to parents. 😊 

More power to you, Kavya. We are so proud of you. ❤️

PS: You may want to look up yet another Alumna Speak on our past blogpost HERE

"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.