Professor J. Vasanthan - A Tribute

I am stunned when I look with respect and awe at a picture of Prof. J. Vasanthan. The fire in his eyes, the grace in his looks, the nobility in his visage, the determination in his firm lips, his royal bearing and his majestic posture compel me into a wild guess of what an enigma of a professor he must have been!

Loved all, loved by all, hated none, and hated by none.

J.Vasanthan, started his teaching career at Madras Christian College, and later retired as Professor of English with the American College, Madurai. His passing away recently in Madurai, has created a void which cannot be replaced now or in the future. Such was his style! such was his verve! such was his commitment to his vocation!

JV (as he was fondly called by his students and admirers) was a versatile personality - a professional cartoonist, writer, actor, professor all rolled in one. He also had a wonderful sense of humour and an artful way with words. One could sit with him, at his dinner table, and listen to him recollecting fond memories of days past in MCC, or talk about Tom and Jerry, or bring out the aesthetic and the sublime in Shakespeare, or Milton or Wordsworth, or Keats, with abundant verve and gusto. He was teacher to famous stalwarts in academics, like Dr. Nirmal Selvamony, Dr. Benet, Dr. Premila, Prof. Daniel David, to name a few, and eminent politicians like Prakash Karat, etc.

Chennai Book Fair - 2014

The Chennai Book Fair is getting better and better, by the year, going by present indications. The YMCA Grounds that played host to the Fair this year, was a lot more effective in crowd management and parking management. Unlike last year, when volunteers from BAPSI controlled the parking lots using their own volunteers, this year saw the traffic constables and SIs doing a really commendable job in traffic management and parking management. They facilitated neat parking of cars and bikes.

Celebrating the Eternal Woman...

Dr. Dasan delivered the key note address on “Celebrating the Eternal Woman:  A Note on the Heroism of the Feminine Psyche” at the National Seminar on Women’s Writing in English, held at St.Mary’s College, on 10 January 2014.

Excerpts from his address:

This keynote address aims at the figural portrayal of the female self. While attempting to highlight the contrasting perceptions between the ‘female self’ as a biological and natural construct and ‘the woman’ as a social construct, it underscores that ultimately it is the paradoxical differences in gender sexuality, differences which simultaneously reiterate the beauty and richness of the biological complementarity ingrained in the very act of the creation of man and woman, which prevail in terms of true humanity. I am one of those who subscribe to the view that the social construct of woman, woman as objectified Other, ‘reified as a sexual and linguistic commodity fixed, written about and traded among men’ by the metaphysical Self, ought to be dismantled and deconstructed, and the natural construct of the female self, attuned to the biological and the eternal feminine, should prevail as a liberating force.

The Elizabethan Age - Lesson Outline - IV

DONATE BLOOD..! SAVE LIFE..!

Ring in the New Year with a Noble Deed!

DONATE BLOOD! SAVE LIFE..!

1st January 2014 (Wednesday)

9.30 am to 3.30 pm

Venue: Lotels Serviced Apartments,

No: 6, 4th Main Road, 

Jayachandran Nagar, 

Jaladampet, 

Chennai.

Ph: 43304252/53

In Partnership with:

LOTELS: SERVICED APARTMENTS

INDIAN RED CROSS SOCIETY

VERVE

Back in Shelf..:

Dear Students of III BA English Lit., Copies of Achebe's Things Fall Apart are now available at Landmark, Spencer's. 

Clicked at Landmark, Mount Road

Release of the Sixth Issue of Eclectic Representations

Dr. Ranga Narayanan receiving the first copy of ER

Dr. G. N. Devy, Chairperson, Bhasha Research and Publication Centre, released the sixth issue of Eclectic Representations, on Monday, 16 December 2013, in the Media Centre, Madras Christian

Chennai Literary Fest @ MCC

APHASIA IN THE 21st CENTURY

The Department of Humanities and Social Science (DoHSS), IIT Madras is conducting its third Academic Conference structured around the theme Urban Spaces. The Conference is inter-disciplinary in nature, with the Call for Paper proposals open in the three streams of Economics, Development Studies and English Studies.

Taking place in the February of 2014, between 7th and 9th, the Conference will have a session on each of the streams, featuring leading thinkers in their respective fields of work and research while also offering an array of events including paper presentations, movie screenings, and workshops. Paper-proposals are open to undergraduate, post-graduate and PhD students.

For more details, click HERE

Prakriti Poetry Fest @ MCC

Kabir Kala Manch performing...

The Elizabethan Age - Lesson Outline - III

The Elizabethan Age - Lesson Outline - II

The Elizabethan Age - Lesson Outline - I

[Click on the slideshow to enlarge]

Congrats Udhayaraj, DoE, MCC ❤️

Hearty Congratulations to dear Udhayaraj, on receiving the 'Top Notcher' Prize and Certificate from the Vice-President of India, for excellence in his MA English Programme here at MCC. We wish, pray and bless that you win many more laurels in the years to come. 

Your proud teachers. 

Photo Courtesy: Dina Thanthi (scanned picture)

All geared up..!

A security blanket has descended on the salubrious portals of Madras Christian College, even as inquisitive eyes in grey and white corduroys strut across the length and breadth of the campus, with walkie talkies to assist them in their zealous mission. Barricadings in vantage positions  have been strategically placed to help usher in the dignitaries to the venerated venue. 

Interestingly, 'chaos' of all hues and colours, has been asked to fall in line for the big show, and for once, the id card got its respect at the entrance points. For absent-minded professors who happen to have lost their id cards, solace is nearby. They could now sport any 'one' from among the govt. issued identity cards like passport, driving licence, voter’s id etc. on D-day.

Yes, the reason for the season is that, MCC's  D-day is at hand. Wednesday, 13 November 2013 - the day that celebrates the 34th Graduation Day and the Valedictory of the 175^th year celebrations. Distinguished dignitaries who are expected to adorn the hallowed dais of the Anderson Hall on this memorable day include, the Vice President of India, the Governor of Tamil Nadu, the Deputy Chairman - Rajya Sabha, and the Minister for Higher Education. Students and staff, past and present, are expected to throng the venue in large numbers, to reminisce their eventful days in their alma mater. God bless MCC. 

The sod-turning ceremony to mark the start of the ultra-modern indoor sports stadium, was performed by the retiring staff members in an august ceremony conducted near the Pavilion today at 10:45 am. The event also saw the dedication of the RO Drinking Water Purifiers, which are strategically placed, one on each side of the Arts and Science blocks respectively for the benefit of the student community. Dr. Stephen Jebanesan, Head, Dept of English was given the honour of inaugurating the RO Purifier located in the Arts Block, while Dr. Ramesh Sundar, Head, Dept of Pol. Science inaugurated the RO Purifier in the Science Block.  

And the monsoon sets in... (MCC)

Withdrawn books for Sale at British Council

The withdrawn book sale is being organised from Sunday 20 October till Thursday 24 October between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. at the British Council Division.

All books which BCD had in their IT, Science, Medicine, Engineering, History and India Collection will be on sale. Junior books and magazines will also be on sale. 

The books are priced between Rs.50/ and Rs.500/- based on their value and condition.

The sale will be on a first-come, first-served basis. Since the sale is extended only to library members, you are requested to carry your membership card with you. There is no restriction on the number of books an organisation (in the case of institutional membership) can buy.

Seminar @ Madurai - A Report

Dr. Ganesh was the Chief Guest at the UGC-Sponsored National Seminar on Indian Writing in English, organised by MTN College, Madurai, in association with TJELLS on Saturday, 28 September 2013. His brilliantly absorbing and thought-provoking talk was on “Indian English Literature: Shifting Terrains”.

Outlining the broad framework of Post-Independence Indian Literature in English (ILE), he classified the post-Independence ILE into two broad generations of writers – the 1950–mid-1980s and late-1980s–current, respectively.

Identifying the general trends in the Poetry of the First Generation of Writers, he outlined the shift in themes and techniques, from idealistic nationalism  and romanticism to personal engagement with the problems of a newly formed, extremely diverse nation, wherein national identity came into conflict with personal experiences.

Praising Amitav Ghosh as a novelist with substance, he said that, Ghosh belongs to a relatively new genre of novels called the research novel.

Theatre @ WCC ❤️

A Theatrical Triumph at Women’s Christian College

26 Sept 2013 #theatre #WCC

Women’s Christian College (WCC), Chennai, hosted two captivating theatrical performances: Mahesh Dattani’s Where There’s a Will, a witty exploration of family dynamics, and Jokumaraswamy, a gripping tale centred around the superstitions and schemes of a village zamindar named Gowda.

Staged as a fundraiser over three consecutive days (26 – 28 September 2013), the productions played to a packed hall of enthusiastic spectators. Both plays were helmed by our former professor, Dr. Rajani. His distinct ‘director’s touch’ was palpable, evident not only in the cast’s stellar performances but also in the meticulous attention given to the stage props.

Tightly paced at 50 minutes each, the productions kept the audience thoroughly engaged from start to finish. The characters endeared themselves to the crowd through deeply passionate performances, drawing thunderous applause and ovations throughout the evenings.

Where There’s a Will dives into the life of Hasmukh Mehta, a wealthy businessman and staunch male chauvinist, alongside his wife Sonal, son Ajit, daughter-in-law Preeti, and mistress Kiran Jhaveri. The narrative hinges on Hasmukh’s cleverly drafted will - his ultimate tool for maintaining control over his family even from beyond the grave.

However, his posthumous meddling unexpectedly unites his wife and his mistress. With Hasmukh’s ghost serving as an ever-present, humorous observer, the play masterfully exposes the power politics inherent in patriarchal households.

The stark contrast between Hasmukh and Kiran is particularly well-executed: while he attempts to dominate his family through legal constraints, she builds alliances and genuinely works to mend fractured relationships.

Jokumaraswamy proved equally powerful. The character of Gowda dominated the stage with grand costumes and quirky mannerisms, standing in sharp contrast to Basannya, the tragic victim of Gowda’s plotting.

Gowdti, the zamindar’s neglected wife, was portrayed with tremendous emotional depth. Meanwhile, the supporting cast demonstrated a near-perfect sense of comic timing, frequently leaving the audience in splits.

Under Dr. Rajani’s brilliant direction, the students were able to bring to life these two complex plays, with such nuanced precision and incredible emotional depth.

As such, the students of WCC deserve a massive round of applause for their ability to portray such a wide spectrum of emotions truly enthralling everyone in attendance.

Finally, a special mention must go to the lighting committee - their impeccable timing and flawless execution enhanced the atmosphere of both plays, rounding out a truly unforgettable theatrical experience.

Research Methodology Workshop: A Report

Dr. Joseph Dorairaj, Professor of English, Gandhigram University, conducted a workshop on Research Methodology today, (04 September 2013) for our MA, MPhil and PhD scholars. The workshop started with the invocation by Dr. Ann Thomas, followed by Dr.Stephen’s welcome address. Dr. K.Ganesh introduced the resource person of the day, Dr. Joseph Dorairaj. The first session of the workshop touched upon the theoretical framework of Research, and its various nuances, while the second session highlighted the best practices in research.

Defining Research as a “systematic activity that is directed toward discovery and the development of an organized body of knowledge” (Best and Kahn), he also outlined the three elements or components, namely: (1) a question, problem, or hypothesis, (2) data, and (3) analysis and interpretation of data,” respectively.

A good research, then, is “expected to make a contribution to knowledge. It is expected to be ‘original’. . . It does not have to be ‘original’ in the much more daunting sense that it springs fully armed from the head of the  researcher without reference to any previous account”, but, “on the contrary, in fact: it is much more likely to involve assembling ideas that have not been brought together in quite that way before. And it does not have to shift the paradigm: the contribution can be quite small, a piece of the jigsaw”. Citing Belsey, he said, that, “research is expected to make a difference to the standard account of a topic, whatever the topic might be”. Dr. Dorairaj also outlined the three basic concepts in Research Methodology, like the Research Tools, Research Methods and Research Methodology, and the three domains of Research activity, which are broadly divided into: Physical and Life Sciences: (experimental – laboratory-based),     Social Sciences: (empirical & numerical – quantitative and qualitative), and, Literature: (textual analysis).

Professor then proceeded to detail on the various types of research, namely, Pure/Basic/Fundamental and Applied Research, Experimental (lab-based) research, Deductive and Inductive Research, Quantitative and Qualitative Research, Diagnostic Research, Intervention Research, Action Research, etc.

On choosing a topic for one’s research, Dr.Joseph Dorairaj quipped that, most research starts with a hunch, or, an inspired guess. Moreover, it should be interesting, and one should be passionate about it. The work should not only be original, but also preferably non-canonical, and that which contributes to the existing body of knowledge. Most of all, it should have a usefulness or relevance to society. He also suggested around five key texts like Research Methods for English Studies, which  would provide a frame of reference for the research scholar. 

The session ended on a happy note, with feedback by Sebastian (MPhil), Ajil (II MA), Lemma (I MA) and the Vote of Thanks by Prof.Phebe Angus.

Our sincere thanks to our Photographer Mr. Jagadeesh Kumar (BA English, MCC), and to our Videographers Mr. Albert and Mr. Naseem of the MA Communication Department, MCC.            

Seminar Review:

walking with the leader...

The two-day National Seminar on “Thesis-Antithesis-Synthesis: The Scope of Postcolonial Theory and Literature” organized by the Research Department of English St. Xavier’s College (Autonomous), Palayamkottai, Tamil Nadu, on 2^nd & 3^rd September 2013, was informative and thought-provoking by all means. All the plenary sessions and satellite sessions were well-organized and resulted in rich exchange of ideas. Plenary Sessions on Postcolonial Studies, Diasporean Literature etc were very informative and challenging to both teachers and researchers in these fields. Dr. K. Ganesh gave a brilliant talk on Diaspora Literature, while Prof.A.S.Dasan and Dr.Joseph Albert spoke extensively on Postcolonial Studies. to be contd...

And the rich legacy continues to live on...

Legendary (late) Dr.Vishnu Bhat's grand daughter little Isha's (II Std) spontaneous short story on caring for mother Nature, that appeared in Young World, The Hindu, Bangalore Edition, recently. Three cheers to little Isha. We, at MCC are so happy that the legacy continues to live on... God bless.

Petition the Speaker for a Noble Cause...:

As India finished celebrating sixty six years of Independence, political parties in the country are making amendments to the Right to Information Act (RTI) in order to keep themselves out of its purview. The Central Government has acted  in a hasty manner by introducing the Right to Information (Amendment) Bill, 2013 in the Lok Sabha and it is likely that the amendments would be passed next week.

This would in effect: Exclude all political parties from the purview of the RTI Act…

As Citizens of this country, we all have an equal stake in saving the RTI Act as it ensures that organisations working in the public interest are answerable to the people.

I encourage you to sign  this petition and demand the Speaker to facilitate widespread public consultation on the RTI (Amendment) Bill, because, without the freedom of information, our Independence would mean nothing…

PS: As told to me, by our alumnus, Vidya Venkat. This post is on her behalf, and on behalf of every responsible Indian. To petition the Speaker, click HERE