"I enjoyed doing what I really loved, with my head held high!"

Princess Diana in Conversation

Sruthi as Princess Diana

#classactivity #roleplay

Hi everyone!

I’m Diana, the Princess of Wales. I was widely called the ‘People’s Princess’.

I enjoyed doing what I really loved, with my head held high!

I was known as a humanitarian, as someone who travelled extensively across the world, especially to Egypt, Angola, and a lot of backward countries, to create an awareness on charities, HIV-AIDS, etc.

One historic event in particular that I fondly cherish is an event that happened in January 1997, when I stepped onto an active minefield in Angola, just to create an awareness on landmines, and to put an end to this ‘plague on earth caused by landmines’.

Very soon, the Ottawa Mine Ban Treaty was signed, that united all countries of the world to put an end to landmines.

I’ve always wanted to do the noblest things for my people,

said Princess Diana (Sruthi) introducing herself to her classmates.

Then came the questions –

Could you share with us about your memories, during your visit to India?

Well yes, I was in India, for a six-day tour, in February 1992. Charles was in Delhi for some events, and so I came alone to Taj Mahal. I had some really wonderful memories.

Joanna - How was your life as a princess?

Well, I’ve always wanted to look beyond all the negatives! It was hard though, you see!

But still, I had a vision which was not the Royal Salad! I wanted to remain true to who I was!

Sneha – After your divorce, you had opened up about the English crown. Don’t you think it was like exposing the crown, with such grotesque details, to the world?

Well, to be honest, I had to be quite open about it. I’ve lived all my life there latched up! I was into depression. So I thought I should speak up!

And I guess those interviews really helped me, and they were so therapeutic as well, as I had the chance to interact with people outside the crown.

The crown is not what it really seems to be!

Sneha: But don’t you think it affected your children?

Actually, these interviews uplifted me, and egged me on! They really inspired me to be in touch with the laypeople.

Today, I’m a bit happy to note that, the royal family has at last acknowledged my service for the laypeople, by inaugurating a statue to my memory, at Kensington Palace, on 1st July 2021, on the occasion of my 60th birthday.

Beera – Have you ever regretted your life as a Princess?

Not really! I’ve regretted the marriage, but not my life as a princess. Since, it made me charitable, and come out and help people, with my own free will.

Sharan – Any book that you’ve read that has inspired you?

Well, not really! But I’ve read a lot of books that were written on me. Especially the book titled, The Bodyguard's Story: Diana, the Crash, and the Sole Survivor, which had sold millions of copies.

Vivilia: Could you tell us more about your charity?

I was known for my fashion. So most of my clothing and jewelry, that I had worn my entire life, were sold for record prices, to be of help to charities. They sold for a record 3.25 million dollars. So I feel, my love for fashion has indeed helped me and the people a lot.

Dhanavaishnavi: You are supposed to be the ‘most photographed person’ in the world. How do you feel about that?

Well, the paparazzi was always after me. We had cameras flashing away all the time at me. The fact that I was under constant surveillance – from the crown and from the paparazzi - led to another level of depression for me.

What’s so unique about your life as a princess?

Well, I was the first to wear unconventional suits, that were not in line with the royal fashion.

Diya – What would you have done, if you were alive today?

Well, I’d have continued with my charity work.

Sarukrishna – Why do you think we should know you?

Well, I’ve always felt that Indians had a great fascination for me. I was told that, millions in India watched my wedding ceremony.

Nishita: In what way did you try to change people’s ways and opinions of British monarchy?

Actually, the Crown was always quite distant from the common people. I took the initiative to make the Crown feel closer to the people.

Sneka – What’s your opinion about your second daughter-in-law?

It was wise that she had the guts to move away from the Crown’s control and custody. Again, it was quite obvious that the elder in line to the throne, always gets the crown.

That way, I’m happy that she followed in my footsteps.

Kevin – Were you targeted by the Crown, post-divorce?

Yes, of course! But then, well, there were three of us in this marriage, so it was a bit crowded, and so I had to brave it all for the sake of my self-esteem, and take a bold call to step out,

signed off Diana!

Teacher’s Remarks

So happy to note that Sruthi was so cool, calm and collected in her responses. And for a moment it looked like she had almost lived Princess Diana the past week or so, up until the Role Play got over. Sruthi had really done her homework so well, and it showed in the way she answered all questions with aplomb! Kudos to you, Sruthi. 

A special note of thanks to all of you - her classmates - who asked her such thought-provoking questions.

On the whole, it was a rewarding time  on the Role Play hour in class today.

Photo Courtesy: John Stillwell/PA Wire & VoguedotCom

"Equality is not discrimination. Equality means justice, Equality implies individuality"

“Inclusivity Leads to Equality” | Crosstalk

Vlogger Speak!

#studentcreativity

Sneka is one of the first to have submitted a vibrant vlog as part of her course work!

She’s given a captivating name for her channel as well!

It’s titled, ‘CROSSTALK!’ 

Special kudos to Sneka for having chosen a very pertinent and intriguing topic,which goes thus –

Does Gender-Neutral Language Promote Gender Equality?

A brief and insightful introduction to the topic foregrounds the importance of the question at hand, and in the process, it gently leads us to the meaningful responses from students, that’s in store for us!

Says Sneka –

The subject has ignited passionate debates and discussions across the world, as it touches upon the fundamental principles of equality and inclusivity.

The way we use words can be a powerful tool for change, by reimaging how we communicate with others.

She then takes a stroll across campus, scouting for students of all hues – and then proceeds to ask this pertinent question to them!

There is considerable clarity in the questions and the answers given by MCC-ians are so spontaneous and from the heart!

It speaks a lot to how the younger generation today, are well-aware of such pertinent issues, and also reveals the fact that, when given a chance, they can give out such thought-provoking answers as well!

You may access her Vlog on her YouTube Channel, HERE.

In conclusion, Sneka presents her observations in a convincing way –

The different viewpoints given by college students, surrounding the concept of gender-neutral language, illuminated diverse perspectives within our society.

A gender-equal society would be one where the word ‘gender’ does not exist: where everyone can be themselves.

Equality is not discrimination. Equality means justice, Equality implies individuality.

Assessing the responses given by the students, Sneka observes –

This survey reflects the complexity of evolving language and cultural norms.

Our ability to engage in these discussions with empathy and open-mindedness is a crucial step forward.

Our collective goal should be to create a world where everyone feels seen and respected regardless of their gender.

I would like to conclude by saying that, inclusivity ultimately leads to equality,

signs off Sneka on her first vlog!

Please encourage our students by subscribing to their YouTube Channel, and giving them your ‘Likes’ and ‘Comments’ as well.

"We Should Create an Awareness on the Importance of Books to the Student" ❤️

A Rewarding Day @ Crescent! ❤️

Crescent Readers Club | An Inspirational Report

How blessed it is, when institutions of higher learning, give a great impetus for reading!

Added delight, when the librarian himself takes the initiative to start such a noble endeavour!

Well, today was a memorable day of sorts for many reasons.

Hari and Aakash, from III BA English Literature at Crescent University, accompanied me to their Campus. En route, all along our way towards Crescent, in the car, I was talking with Hari and Aakash, and enquired with them about their library. 

Hari said, ‘Sir, we’ve got a grand library, and an equally good Department library as well’.

Felt so happy to know that! 

On arrival at Crescent, I was so delighted to see Dr. Panneerselvam, Librarian of the University, and Dr. Nazneen, [a vibrant author, translator, poet, critic and professor all rolled into one], waiting at the entrance to the Convention Centre, to welcome me.

And of course, Dr. Nazneen, who’s known my love for the brew for many years now, made sure a steaming cup of coffee was served to me the moment I landed there.

Appreciating the Librarian for his laudable efforts towards the formation of the Crescent Readers Club, I asked him, a very pertinent question -

On how to bring the book back to the reader!?

He promptly gave me two valuable thoughts –

Firstly, we should create an awareness on the importance of books to the student.

Secondly, we should ensure that they have accessibility to the resources housed in a good ambience.

Valuable thoughts indeed!

Then, we were led to meet with the Registrar and the Pro Vice-Chancellor of the University.

I was touched by the warmth and cordiality they exuded in their interactions with me.

In our casual conversations at his chamber, Dr. N. Thajuddin, the Pro Vice Chancellor, spoke about the importance of publications in reputed Journals.

With Dr. N. Thajuddin, Pro Vice-Chancellor, and the Registrar

I was so delighted to meet with such an eminent scholar. 

One thing in particular, that he said, quite inspired me. He said, 

Today’s youngsters have a lot of brilliant thoughts and ideas. But it’s of little use unless it translated into a research paper, that’s cited by scholars from across the world.

Hence, today’s youngsters should be taught the values of writing good research articles, 

he quipped. 

Equally glad to know that he’s visiting us at MCC on 6th October 2023.

Interestingly, Dr. Thajuddin has more than 390 research articles in reputed journals, and more than 11,000 citations as well. He’s also got DST Projects worth more than Rs.10 crores for his University.

That’s indeed the hallmark of a great scholar!

Felt so honoured to have met him today.

The Inauguration of the Crescent Readers Club was graced by a host of dignitaries including Dr. N. Raja Hussain, Registrar, Dr. N. Thajuddin, Pro Vice Chancellor, Dr. P. Panneerselvam, Coordinator – CRC, Dr. Karthikeyan Ramalingam, Dean (Student Affairs), Dr. Nazneen. M.Y, Joint Coordinator – CR, and Dr. Radhika. M, Joint Coordinator.

Thanks to Dr. Sornam, Dept of Tamil, MCC, for sharing this snapshot with me three days ago!

Since today also happens to be the day when eminent Postcolonial Studies Scholar Edward Said passed away, [exactly 20 years ago], I touched upon his concept of the Liminal Intellectual, while delivering the Inaugural Address.

The Programme also saw a book release - of a lovely book authored by Dr. Nazneen, and Badges were then given away to Office Bearers of CRC.

I was happy to know that CRC was included in the Syllabus, and hence, students have the choice of earning their credits by participating in the activities of the CRC.

Well, after the Programme was over, I was waiting to meet with one particular student by name Shah Jahan, right from morning!

After having heard a lot of good things about him from his Professors, I expressed my desire to meet with him today, at least after the programme got over.

And yes! After the Programme was over, I got to meet Shah Jahan.

I was so excited to get to know about his passion for books, and spoke to him for quite sometime.

When I asked him about the latest reads that he’s purchased, he spontaneously gave out a list of books that included Ikigai, and a host of books published in the last two years.

Curious and excited on his passion for books, I asked him, who was his inspiration for reading books.

He said,

‘I was self-motivated, sir. In Instagram, I used to watch reels in which, there were inspiring quotes given from great books, by some avid bibliophile vloggers. That’s when I thought of getting the books for myself, and ever since, there’s been no turning back, sir’, he said.

Indeed! Shah Jahan is a great role model for today’s youngsters!

Congratulating him on his admirable efforts towards reading, I said,

‘Keep up your passion for books, Shah Jahan, and make sure your passion rubs off on all the members of CRC’,

I wished Shah Jahan, before signing off from Crescent for the day, a memorable day in every way!

Thank you Crescent!

Crescent Readers Club ❤️

 

Alumni Data Capture - Reg.

Dear Alumni / Alumnae of MCC,

Greetings from your alma mater.

The Alumni & Development Office of MCC is a new initiative of the College to connect Alumni across the world with their alma mater.

The Alumni & Development Office would like to engage with alumni and share the progress the college has made in many fields. 

Also, the office would like to share the successes achieved by our alumni. 

This is possible only if we have a robust database.

We are reaching out to you to share your contact details by filling out a form at the link below.

https://mcc.edu.in/alumni-data-capture/

Thank you and warm regards,

Alumni and Development Office

MCC

"I’m Just Like a Packet of Yellow Lays" - Students at their Creative Best! ❤️

Celebration Time | With Students

#mccrocks 

Dear Readers,

Please join me in appreciating and congratulating Arunthathi, a student of BA English Literature, MCC, for her exceptional vlog – her first vlog on her brand new You Tube Channel that she’s created today, HERE. 

She has also given a catchy title to her channel, that looked so cool! - It is titled, ‘That Yellow Lays’.

Then she so beautifully justified this catchy title to her channel, saying –

My channel’s name is That Yellow Lays.

Well, that’s because I’ve always felt that I’m just like a packet of yellow lays… Yellow Lays is an original flavour which is chosen by people only when there is no other lays/chips in the shops.

Request you to please give your valuable comments and likes for Arunthathi on her YouTube Channel HERE. 

Great going, Arunthathi.

Special congratulations to Souparno Bhattacharya, Lalitha, Brindha, Joanna and Teresa, for having interviewed Dr. Gopalan, Former Head, Dept of Chemistry, MCC.

Dr. R. Gopalan was with us here today, for the Staff Study Circle, to give a talk on the topic, “MCC Halls Tutorial System: Genesis, Practice, Extinction, and Revival”.

The Talk, as part of the Conservation of Cultural Heritage Series, was hosted by the Faculty, Department of Chemistry (Aided), MCC. Thanks a lot to Dr. Tabitha Durai, Dean, R&D, for giving us a lovely platform to host the interview with Dr. R. Gopalan.

Hearty Congratulations to Sneha Dominic and Diya Susan Roy, II MA English, for having presented your insightful papers in the Annual Student Seminar organized by the Department of English [Shift II], Stella Maris College (Autonomous), Chennai, today.

To cap it all up, the blessed puddle was back at its rightful destination, what with the intense spell of rains, gracing the woods, all of this morning!

Within a short time, the jelly oops... I mean the Uppuma... was ready!!! 😉

My First Cooking Experience!

Uppuma Time | Hostel Days

#funwithcooking 😊

19 September 1996

#memoriesfromdiaries 

[This day, 27 years ago]

Hostel life is real fun you see! 😊

One fine day, early into the morning, [a bit tired of eating from hotels], I had quietly taken a daring resolve, to opt for the ‘high-risk category’ work – making my own breakfast - all by myself! 😉

With this great resolve up my sleeve, I gently went to the nearest vegetable shop, bought the required ingredients – right from salt, mustard seeds, Rava (semolina), Sugar, dry chillies, onion, tomatoes, etc, and then, first things first - looking skyward, offered a little prayer, asking for God’s protection, care and guidance, in my first tryst with making my breakfast all by myself – Call it Uppuma for now, folks!

Within a short time, the jelly oops I mean the Uppuma was ready. 😉

Thank God, no culinary experts were around! 

Otherwise, they’d have, I’m sure, seized the blessed moment, to give the jelly-like breakfast some interesting new name of their own sweet choice and liking, and woulda sure made it viral as well!

So yes! After having finished making my breakfast, I was so thrilled and happy.

The feel and the mood was something akin to the likes of Tendulkar, looking up skyward after hitting his century, you see! 😊

On this happy-happy mode and mood, I gracefully offered my vote of thanks to the heavens above, and proceeded to start on the next crucial component of cooking – the eating part! 😊

But you see, I found out to my utter, bitter shock, that the Uppuma (for now let’s agree to tentatively call it this way please) 😉 had become a bit too hard, like the rock-solid stones you find on your trek up the mountains!

But… I didn’t want to despise my own cooking you see!

So I took a sacred and solemn second resolve now! to push it down my stomach!

And Hurray! I did! And how!!!

Today, thanks to my adventures with cooking, I’ve learnt to make some added dishes.

Pandemic times were those high-octane experimentation times, when I experimented with a variety of dishes, and found takers for my eating as well!

So yes! cooking is an art, that you master by patient practice over time! 😊

This is just a little motivation for all ye aspiring cooks out there! Godspeed to thee!

Coming back,

Well, Higginbothams, Mount Road, was a hot-favourite with students back then in the 1990s. You got the latest books – both fiction and non-fiction – at this sacred abode of knowledge!

New Century Book House, again in Mount Road, had a huge premises, which contained a whole lot of literature from Russia as well, so beautifully lined up in their stacks.

This particular day was a memorable day for me, you see, because I had almost got my membership in Connemara Library, Egmore, on this blessed day.

Added charm to this particular day, because we had the sensational Third ODI between India and Pakistan, the Sahara Friendship Cup, at Toronto.

India had won by a record 55 runs.

Quite interestingly, Nayan Mongia had opened the batting line-up today with Sachin Tendulkar, and both were out quite soon, in quick succession, dismally scoring just two runs, each!

Today it was the bowlers who stole the show for India.

Disciplined bowling by Venky Prasad, Anil Kumble, Srinath, Joshi and Tendulkar, was the main reason for today’s record win against Pakistan.

Well, the word ‘Puscot’ that I’ve circled in blue on my diary entry, refers to the night meals that we hostelers usually had on the ‘Push Cart’ adjacent to our hostel, that served such yummy egg dosas with equally tasty chutney and sambhar for company. A sumptuous dinner at puscot cost us just around Rs.10/-

And it was just Re.1 for Cycle Parking Fees at Connemara Library Premises back then!

On the whole, 19 September 1996 was a real memorable day that remains etched in my memories up until today!