Then he said, ‘I went to MCC. That was my undergraduate school. Goodness, that’s bringing back so many memories of my life in MCC’. ❤️

Inauguration of Writers’ Nook & Fireside Chat with Ms. Meenakshi Ahamed

Author of Indian Genius | Today in Campus

Weeks of vibrant planning, coordination, and cooperation came to fruition today, with the Inauguration of the Writers’ Nook today at the MCC-MRF Innovation Park, in Campus.

We had the inauguration of the Writers’ Nook, at the MCC-MRF Innovation Park, at 9.15 am, today, by Ms. Meenakshi Ahamed, writer of the celebrated books A Matter of Trust and Indian Genius.

Ms. Meenakshi interacting with our vibrant student authors

[On an aside, a brief bio on Ms. Meenakshi: Well, Ms. Meenakshi Ahamed is a multifaceted personality and such a great inspiration to today’s youngsters. She has worked at the World Bank in Washington, DC, and then for the Ashoka Society. In 1989, she moved to London and became the foreign correspondent for New Delhi Television (NDTV). After returning to the United States in 1996, she worked as a freelance journalist. Among the great leaders whom she has interviewed are Nelson Mandela, John Major, and Bill Clinton during his presidential campaign]

Our Principal Dr. Paul Wilson outlined the functions of the Writers’ Nook.

Dr. Rufus, coordinator of Think Tank – the Ideation Wing of our College, outlined the programmes done by Writers’ Nook over the past two years.

The occasion also saw twelve of our student authors being honoured by Ms. Meenakshi Ahamed. She was awestruck seeing their writing, and had a special word of appreciation and congratulations to each one of them. Finally, they all took a fab snap with Ms. Meenakshi as well.

Speaking on the occasion, Ms. Meenakshi observed –

I am so happy to see the motivation that MCC is giving to her students for creative writing. It’s very important. As an educational institution, you should all treat your text books as sacred, because within its pages is the accumulated wisdom and wealth of information by scholars that are now sharing their knowledge with you.

When I was young, I remember, when we dropped a book, we used to do an obeisance-gesture as a forgiveness for having shown the disrespect by dropping the book. People don’t do that anymore. Why did we do that? because these books gave us knowledge. Books are so important to transform our lives for the better.

Since time immemorial, we humans as a species have invented ways to communicate with one another. From the ancient Egyptians who developed the writing tools in papyrus, to the Guttenberg Press, which made information available to the masses, to today’s digital formats, we have used writing to communicate, preserve our history and culture, and promote our influence beyond borders and spread ideas.

We are also story tellers. And the world has given us great literature, from Du Bois to Tolstoy, from Maugham to Murakami!

Just yesterday I was telling your Principal, that yesterday at the Taj I ran into Abraham Varghese – who’s now as famous for his writing, as he is famous for his medicine. His famous book titled, Covenant of Water is about Kerala. I recommend you to read that book. It’s truly beautiful writing. And if any of you here is from Kerala, you can easily identify with it. And guess what? he asked me, ‘Are you here for the Hindu Literary Festival?’

Then I said, ‘No, I’m going to MCC’.

Then he said, ‘I went to MCC. That was my undergraduate school. Goodness, that’s bringing back so many memories of my life in MCC’.

I am expecting now that, the next Abraham Verghese should come out from this group of students. So remember, you now have a lot to live up to. One of you, or five of you hopefully would become the next Abraham Verghese, and be on the bestseller list, and Ophrah Winfrey would be begging you to make a series.

There would be no better time in life than now, as a student, to take the time to read. And to broaden your perspectives as much as you can, before jobs, careers and family responsibilities, claim your time. Think of this as a precious gift that MCC is giving you.

Read, discuss and write. BE it fiction or non-fiction – learn from people’s biographies and histories, and explore ideas. But most of all, enjoy the process, and your time here at MCC. That’s what my wish is for you. 

And the fact that you have taken the initiative to publish these books is quite remarkable. The creative spirit that I see in MCC is quite remarkable, and I’m happy that the Writers’ Nook is nurturing it. I’m truly impressed.

And I just want to mention that my journey as a writer started quite late in life. I was a journalist, and I started writing books when I was 50! So it’s never too late!

Just remember that, sometimes you can keep a journal – where you can keep your recordings of your impressions about life.

At times when you are deeply unhappy, or something is not going your way – just write it down! Go back to it and look at it, and see if you can learn something from it.

Remember, there’s no such thing as a bad experience. You can always learn something from it. So talk to each other, learn from each other, and continue to read books, because you can learn a lot from other people’s experiences.

I wish you all the luck,

she signed off!

This was followed by a lovely time of interaction with our student authors.

A total of 16 books have been published by our present students in this current year (2024-25) as follows.

Thanks to Prof. Christina Dhanasekaran for having meticulously compiled the list.

II BA English

1. Lekhaa MeenakshiSundaram

The Werewolves of Brooklyn: Siege of the Dokkalfar

ISBN - 979-8894986784

Genre - children's fiction, fantasy

I Just Wanna Be A Girl: A Collection of Blogposts

ISBN - 979-8895193242 (hardcover)

ISBN - 979-8895193235 (paperback)

Genre - Collection of blogposts, comprising of various topics

2. Veena J

'Metaphorically Metaphorise' METANAFIC - A new genre

ISBN – 979-8896328704

3. Gracelin Patrica J

The Fading Darkness

ISBN - 979-889588048-7

Genre - Collection of blogposts, comprising of various topics

4. Pearlina Gracelyn.P

Red Verses

ISBN - 979-889588024-1

Genre - Poetry, non-fiction, young adult literature

III BA English

5. T ABRAHAM

I ADMIRE YOU: A SELF-ADMIRATION OF MY INNER FEELINGS

ISBN: 9789358316506

BookLeaf Publishing

Loud Inner Voice: Multiple voices ringing inside

ISBN: 9798893223248

Notion Press

Sweetness In Nostalgia: Cherishing the past and living the present

ISBN: 9798894467351 (Paperback)

ISBN: 9798894467368 (Hardcover)

Notion Press

SHOWERED BY STARLIGHT: Oscillating between the past and the future

ISBN: 9798895446225 (Paperback)

ISBN: 9798895446232 (Hardcover)

Notion Press

6. Ganga Santhosh

Aurora: A world in poesy

Genre: Poetry

ISBN: 9360941255

7. Shreya Prasath

Blossoms of the heart

Genre: love, life, friendships

ISBN number:978-93-6083-646-7

8. Mahima (Joshua Mahima S).

Musings Of A Wretched Soul

Genre: Poetry - Tragedy, Romance Existentialism and Christian Literature.

ISBN number - 979-8-89556-559-9

I MA English

9. Nitish Kumar R K

Silhouettes of Solitude: The Unseen Ink of Emotions

Genre: Poetry

ISBN: 979-8896328698

10. Dhanush Kumar

Bye, Sweetheart!

Genre: Fiction

ISBN: 979-8896730798

11. Prakalya

Seized by Shadows

Genre: Poetry

ISBN: 979-8895566589

II MA English

12. Jennifer Sandra

Dandelion Dreams

Genre: Poetry

ISBN: 978-9360833275

13. Krishna Hari, I BA English (SFS) has authored two books. Shall update the titles here asap.

We also had with us Mr. Ravin Carr, our illustrious alumnus, CEO of the renowned Katha Publishing House as our Guest of Honour for the day.

After the interaction with our student authors, our Guests of the day, moved over to the Anderson Hall for the exciting Fireside Chat.

Dr. Franklin Daniel, Head, Dept of English, so beautifully set the tone and the tenor for the launch of the Fireside chat. This was followed by Dr. Rufus initiating the chat.

We had a very exciting round of engaging questions that sparked meaningful responses from Ms. Meenakshi Ahamed.

Reproducing some of the questions asked by the Panelists on the Fireside Chat.

I should appreciate the faculty and the students for their insightful, thought-provoking questions. Ms. Meenakshi was highly appreciative of the calibre and the mettle of each of the questions that were posed to her, as part of the Fireside chat.

Questions from Faculty Members

Dr. N. Nirmal Thyagu, Dept. of Physics

Dear Ms. Meenakshi Ahamed,

I am enjoying reading your book “The Indian Genius” that profiles successful Indian Americans from various fields.

The bio-sketches you brought out beautifully capture not only their bright side that symbolize their inherent talents or acquired super skills that that led them to their stardom, but also the calms and the storms that punched their faces relentlessly. In a way your book stands out as a delectable collection of biographies (and not hagiographies, where only the bright sides are shown).

The stories are relatable; they instruct; they capture the imagination of the Indians who dream to make it big. Your book comes along and matches up to a similar collection written by Walter Isaacson entitled “American Sketches” where great leaders, creative thinkers and heroes of America were profiled.

I have two questions to ask you:

5. In your book “Indian Genius” you have succinctly captured the enterprising spirit behind creative people (from and of Indian origin) who sought and eventually found their so-called “haven” in the United States.

The entry to this “creative haven” has been and still is limited only to a selected few, as you have clearly brought out through all the stories in your book.

Looking at the trend of how India as a country is progressing, do you see if India too could one day create an environment where people can call it their “haven” to discover their creative streak, nurture it and even thrive doing it in India as they do in the US and Europe?

Putting it in another way, do you see a “critical mass” of people who could instrument this change in India?

[BACKDROP - There is a lot of fire-fighting one does in India, with the oppression coming from a range of issues:  population, scarcity of clear air and water, traffic and corruption - you name it - that bothers the general public incessantly and takes away their creative energy.]

6. In this book you have brought together the success stories of some remarkable people and classified them in broad categories - techies, healers, and influencers.

Although there are scholars who wear multiple hats (like Siddhartha Mukherjee) what is conspicuously absent is a devoted section on superstar academicians and thinkers.

Examples include Nobel prize winners Abhijit Banerjee, Venky Ramakrishnan, and the remarkable ones like V. S. Ramachandran and Manjul Bhargava.

Was that a hard decision not to include them in your book? I ask this because academic excellence is the hallmark of almost all the success stories that the Indians got recognized for in the United States.

Prof. Hemalatha. N. N, Dept. of English (SFS)

Dear Ms. Meenakshi Ahamed, My questions are as follows –

7. How did you zero in specifically on these professions, i.e., medicine, tech and public policy? You do sort of offer an explanation on the rationale behind your choice, but could you please elaborate more on it?

Was it simply for practical reasons (I know you’ve been associated with Doctors Without Borders) or is there more to it?

As an avid reader and as somebody who is curious to know of the opportunities in the US, can we expect a sequel to the Indian Genius where you focus on successful Indians from other professions settled in America?

Prof. Adarsh Vijay, Dept. of Political Science

Dear Ms. Meenakshi Ahamed,

My question is as follows –

8. What unexpected vulnerabilities or struggles did these individuals profiled in your work share that aren’t visible in their public personas?

Questions from students

Ms. Catherine, II BA English

1. I wanted to take the time to acknowledge the fact that it's such a full circle moment to interview the interviewer.

So as I was reading through the book, my immediate thought went over to what your pre-interviewing process looks like.

Is there any structure that you go about to gather your questions and how do you narrow down the plethora of information about a specific person and know what to ask them? Does your questionnaire change over the course of an interview?

Ms. Lekhaa, II BA English

2. As someone who lived in the US and returned back here, I personally know the differences that the cultures have.

I'd like to ask you about the differences between the first-generation immigrants and Indian children born and brought up in the US. Did the patterns of their success vary? Did their lifestyle still have the traditional values that we as an Indian society value.

Ms. Ranjitha, I MA English

3. "Your book highlights how trust or the lack thereof has been a recurring theme in India-US relations, shaped by personalities, policies, and geopolitical realities.

Do you think the relationship between the two countries will ever evolve beyond this 'trust deficit' to become truly strategic and symbiotic, or will mistrust remain an intrinsic part of their dynamic due to the fundamental differences in their political systems, historical experiences, and global priorities?

What conditions or shifts do you think would need to occur to bridge this gap meaningfully?"

4. Mr. Sabarinathan Murugan, III BBA

(A Matter of Trust) emphasizes the core values of India and US Relationship with the world Perspective. Also, why after Mr. Modi became the PM, the bond between India and the US became very strong. Finally, I am eagerly waiting for the Next edition of this book.

The Fireside chat was followed by an Endowment Lecture hosted by the Dept of Political Science in the Anderson Hall.

Ms. Meenakshi with our Principal, flanked by the Dean IP & Dean - R & D

The session was well-attended by a packed audience of faculty and students - past & present.

This post also wishes to acknowledge the love and support all the individuals who did an amazing job at the helm and at the background – to make this event a huge success.

Prof. Arun Kumar, Associate Dean of International Programmes, and APRO, was awesome as Master of Ceremonies.

Special kudos to Dr. Tabitha for the meticulous planning and scheduling of the event right from the start.

To Dr. Aarthi Ram, Head, Operations, MCC-MRF Innovation Park for the exemplary way in which she organised the event at Writers' Nook today. 

Thanks to Dr. Franklin Daniel, our lovely and vibrant HoD, for so beautifully coordinating the event for us, and to all the faculty members of the vibrant Dept of English (Aided & SFS).

And we owe our thanks to Prof. Sridhar, our Vice Principal for his effective interventions all through the planning of the programme.

A special note of thanks to Prof. Daniel David, Head, Dept of English (SFS) for ably assisting us with all the help needed.

To Dr. Adarsh Vijay, for ushering Ms. Meenakshi Ahamed. To Dr. Vidya, for doing an excellent MC at the helm.

To our beloved Principal, Dr. Paul Wilson, the brain behind the event, we owe our love and thanks.

And finally, to all our dear students - past & present, who made the event a huge success!

Thank you dear all.

A Special Birthday Wish: Birthday greetings to the birthday kid Ms. Jaysudha on her birthday today. One of our most vibrant kids - you are such a great blessing to all of us. Have a blessed year ahead, dear Jaysudha. 

"If you don’t have anything to do, go, do some bird watching” | And that's how it all started! ❤️❤️❤️

A Momentous Meeting with the Legendary Karthikeyan Sir

#CoffeeConversations

#Today

It was indeed a delightful rendezvous with the legendary Karthikeyan Sir, today.

While almost having been lost in the woods, and the added ecstasy of having sighted a few rare birds – the Tickell’s Blue Flycatcher and the Verditer flycatcher - still singing in our hearts, we were so delighted to have our breakfast today with Karthik Sir. 😊

The Malabar Parakeets (c) Rufus

Well, for bird and butterfly enthusiasts, especially in Karnataka, Karthik Sir is a phenomenon.

He has nurtured a deep love for wildlife for almost 40 years. He is an avid birdwatcher and also has a keen interest in butterflies. 

The Verditer flycatcher (c) Rufus

As an amateur photographer he has till date photographed a wide variety of subjects including butterflies, landscapes, wild flowers, flowering trees, lesser mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and other insects.

Tickell’s Blue Flycatcher (c) Rufus

So when we asked him about how his love for bird watching - on where it all started, he said,

It was because of our teacher! One fine day, he told us, “If you don’t have anything to do, go, do some bird watching”.

We took his words quite seriously, and we went to one of the main circles of Bangalore, and we started watching birds. That’s how it all began. And from then on, there’s been no turning back’, he observed.

When we next asked him if he has a blog, where he documents his thoughts, he said –

Well, yes, I’ve been a blogger for long, and it’s a collection of my past blogposts that have come up as a book now!

His blog can be accessed here: https://www.wildwanderer.com/

That’s indeed added motivation for all our bloggers out there.

When we had a discussion on our bird watching this morning, and the seed dispersal done by certain birds and bats, he said,

There are around 400 species of mammals in India, and 25% of these mammals are bats. Added, there are over 200 species of rodents. But not many are aware of the part played by the bats and rodents in seed dispersal, he observed.

We also took a photograph with him at the end of our coffee time.

Karthik Sir has been educating and creating awareness among the young and old alike on various aspects of natural history through nature camps, talks, slide shows, and nature-based activities.

He has undertaken various faunal surveys including those at Biligirirangaswamy Temple Wildlife Sanctuary and Devarayanadurga State Forest and Bannerghatta National Park. He has also done a project on the little-known Indian Tree Shrew.

The Fauna of Bangalore: The vertebrates and butterflies of Bangalore – A Checklist that gives a listing of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fishes and butterflies published by WWF-India, Karnataka State Office was authored by him.

He has co-authored a booklet comprising of activities targeted at high school students titled Ideas for Outdoors – Plants also published by WWF-India, Karnataka State Office, Bangalore.

He has also published a pocket book titled Discover Avenue Trees and Explore Spiders of India.

Some of these books can be ordered from the publishers on the link given below.

https://ecoedu.in/shop/

Karthik Sir has over 50 technical publications in International/National journals and periodicals and over 85 popular articles (most with supporting pictures) in leading dailies, magazines and other periodicals. He was with the WWF-India for over 13 years.

Sources for the bio on Karthik Sir: wildwanderer.com

Fireside Chat with Author Meenakshi Ahamed ❤️

 

Cordially Inviting You... ❤️

 

Thousands Trapped by Sydney Bush Fires | This day - 30 years ago! ❤️

10th January 1994

#memoriesfromdiaries

[This day, 30 years ago, from my personal diary entry]

Today’s Newspaper had Nine Prominent Newspaper Headlines.

The most prominent news of the day was on the Sage of Kanchi or Mahaperiyavar (The great elder) who had passed away on 8th January 1994, just a few months ahead of his centenary year celebrations (b. 20th May 1894 | d. 8th Jan 1994). He was laid to eternal rest today. 

Secondly, the Indian Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao’s surprise visit to Coimbatore disrupts flights.

Thirdly, it is a very important day for the Cultural Capital of Kerala – Thrissur and Guruvayur – also called the Dwaraka of the South! The first phase of the Thrissur–Guruvayur section was inaugurated today, by the Prime Minister of India, Narasimha Rao.

Fourthly, thousands were trapped by Sydney Bush Fires - Sydney experienced severe bushfires that trapped thousands of people, causing mass evacuations across the city and surrounding areas. This event is widely known as the “1994 Eastern Seaboard Fires” where an estimated 800,000 hectares of land were burnt and four people lost their lives.

Other news of the day include –

Operations intensified in J&K

PWD ordered to take up road repairs in Pondy.

Helicopters to be deployed to flush out Naxals in AP.

Annamalai Varsity teachers go on fast.

Former Minister expelled from AIADMK. 

Congratulations Ranjitha ❤️

Congratulations dear Ranjitha, I MA English, on successfully finishing the Chennai Marathon on 5th January 2025. We are so proud of you. We wish you many more laurels in the days ahead. 

The Hindu, dated 6th January 2025, Chennai Edition

First-person Writings are Tools of Self-construction... ❤️

Nikki bungaku | & Writing the Self

The fellowship of the first person

first-person writings as tools of self-construction

#memoriesfromdiaries

2nd January 1997

Well, the purpose of this post is three-fold.

Firstly, it recollects the day’s events that unfolded during my day today and gives a sneak peek into how I had spent my day. (This year, I was a first-year undergraduate student of BA English Literature).

The top ten things I did today in that particular order are as follows –

1. Early morning, went to my final driving classes, and took my rehearsal for LMWG today at 11.45 am.

(Driving Schools are usually known for pampering the RTO Officials, and today was one such day). 😊

2. Then I went to Pasupathy Shop to buy a black pen, since I had misplaced my pen.

3. Later, I met my close friend Ani.

4. Posted letters to near and dear.

5. Met my school teacher, and my high school class mate B. Karthik.

6. Changed the glass crystal and strap pin for my hmt watch.

7. Bought the month’s main grocery items.

8. Bought this particular diary for Rs. 65/-

9. Had refreshing barottas en route home.

10. Bought the weekly Tamil magazine – Anantha Vikatan which still continues to be my favourite Tamil magazine even today. 😊 A free calendar was given as a compliment with this issue.

Well, the pages of the past, might sound anachronistic, by today’s standards.

For example, writing and posting snail mail in the post box!

Judging by today’s yardstick, the phrase, ‘posting letters’ might be considered quite anachronistic!

The Cambridge English dictionary defines anachronism as,

‘something placed in the wrong period in history, or something that belongs to the past rather than the present’.

So that brings us to the second purpose of this post - to highlight the importance of anachronisms to literary studies in general, and memory studies in particular; on how anachronisms could serve as a powerful tool for the periodization of history and memory.

Gerard Genette calls them “narrative anachronies!”

For example, consider the following two sentences –

‘I need to write an inland!’

Or

‘I need to clean the photos’

Well, writing an inland and cleaning the photos have become obsolete or anachronistic by all means!

Hence the above two sentences might sound quite weird to anyone who hasn’t seen an inland letter anytime in their lives or hasn’t known the process of ‘cleaning photos’ – which involves taking their negatives to the photo studio, - being extra careful not to expose them to light while removing the film roll from the camera, etc.

Writing an ‘inland’ and the ‘cleaning’ of photos, could then be periodised or pigeon-holed to a specific time-frame in history, that predates the arrival of the email or the arrival of digital photos!

As eminent critic Scupin Richard rightly points out,

Anachronism hence becomes a lovely liasioning agent connecting the present with the past!

Finally, coming to the third and most important topic now –

Well, why do you think one needs to jot down their day’s events on to a diary?

The main reason is that, these diary entries are a voice of your own!

They provide a microcosm of your life, as you have lived it in your own terms! and how your character and your personality are formed, acquired and influenced by the environment in which you are placed.

In fact, a famous literary movement of the late 19th and 20th centuries – American Naturalism – puts forth a similar proposition.

According to the American naturalists, then –

Our character is inevitably shaped by the vast array of social conditions, heredity, and the environment in which we are placed!

And since a diary resonates the social conditions, and the environment in which the diarist is placed, a diary, [like a novel], can provide a lot of enriching insights into the character of the diarist as well.

In this process, the diarist creates or constructs, either consciously or unconsciously, their identity and subjectivity, under the watchful eyes of Time!

In the words of prominent critic Scupin Richards,

Unlike memoirs that are retrospective ‘self-writing’,

or autobiographies, that are ‘introspective’ self-writing,

diaries are purely ‘reflective’ self-writing in nature!

The term ‘reflective’ in diary writing would then intend to mean that,

I have to reflect back on the day, and write down what I had specifically learnt at the end of the day!

Reflective diary writing hence becomes a strategic pedagogic tool both for the educator and for the pupil as well.

That apart, a reflective diary helps in enhancing, enriching and fine-tuning one’s learning experiences for the better!

And this is where, Peter Heehs comes into the picture!

Well, the renowned American historian, who’s done extensive studies on Sri Aurobindo, has written a voluminous treatise on the concept of the Self, that’s simply phenomenal!

His impactful treatise on the ‘Self’ titled, Writing the Self: Diaries, Memoirs, and the History of the Self, presents an enriching history of the idea of the ‘self’, told mainly with reference to diaries, memoirs, and other forms of first-person literature, which Peter Heehs calls, ‘fellowship of the first person’.

‘Writing the Self’ also has the honour of being named the ‘Outstanding Academic Title for 2013’, by Choice.

The book offers ‘an account of the self over the last two millennia’, in such a lucid and gripping narrative!

Says Peter Heehs – (excerpts from his book, Writing the Self)

All of us feel we are different than everybody else.

We see the world through our own eyes, hear it with our own ears, touch it with our own hands.

We call this our “I,” our personal identity, our self.

Giving Voice to the “I”: The SELF: Memoir, Autobiography, Diary

First-person genres are of special interest in the study of the self because they are, or at least profess to be, immediate self-expression.

It is natural to think, along with sociologist Alain Girard, that “among all written texts, it is those in the first person that tell us most about the image of the self.”

Some critics go further, suggesting that first-person writings are tools of self-construction: not just accounts of what happened but ways of moulding the stuff of the past into models of what the writers wish to be.

To such critics, writing an account of one’s life is an act of self-creation.

Memoir, autobiography, and diary are separate genres though there is a certain amount of overlap between them.

A memoir, as I use the term, is a retrospective narrative about a portion of the writer’s life.

An autobiography is a long memoir, covering most of the subject’s life up to the time of writing.

A diary is a document in which the writer records his or her experiences, thoughts and feelings shortly after they happen, in discreet entries, often dated.

Diaries differ from memoirs in not being retrospective and in not having an explicit plot. They are written from day to day, with the present as a moving vantage point and without any knowledge of the future.

But the distinction between diary and memoir is not absolute: many diaries became the bases of memoirs, many memoirs have passages that read like diary entries.

Diaries and memoirs are important sources for biographers and historians because they provide first-hand accounts of public and private events and offer privileged access to the personality of the writers.

It is hard for us to be honest with ourselves, harder to be frank with others, still harder to write the truth as we have seen it and preserve what we have written.

No one has spoken of this with more perception than the novelist Fyodor Dostoyevsky.

As the narrator of his Notes from Underground begins to write his memoir, he remarks –

“There are things in every man’s past that he won’t admit except to his most intimate friends.

There are other things that he won’t admit even to his friends but only to himself – and only in strictest confidence.

But there are things, too, that a man won’t dare to admit even to himself, and every decent man has quite an accumulation of such things.”

Eighty years later, George Orwell wrote –

“Autobiography is only to be trusted when it reveals something disgraceful.”

By this standard, Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s Confessions, the prototypical modern memoir, ought to be regarded as trustworthy, since it contains many things that eighteenth-century readers found scandalous!

Even more than the memoir, the diary has been, in the words of critic Susan Sontag, an “exemplary instrument in the career of consciousness.”

Diaries as we know them today did not appear in Europe before the sixteenth century but they were preceded by other sorts of verbal recording devices.

The Greeks had hypomnemata, wax tablets on which they jotted down things they wanted to remember: ideas, quotations, things said or observed.

The primary aim of early diarists was to record what they observed, thought, and did. As the genre developed, people began to use their diaries for subjective expression as well as objective documentation.

Along with self-expression came self-reflection, and along with self-reflection the desire for self-improvement.

As the scholar Roger North observed in the seventeenth century, for a man to keep a diary was a useful “check upon all his exorbitancies,” since, “being set down they would stain his reputation.”

Two hundred years later, Swiss philosopher Henri-Frédéric Amiel wrote toward the end of his 17,000-page Journal, “the chief utility of the personal diary is to restore wholeness of mind and equilibrium of consciousness, that is to say, inner health.”

His remark could have been taken as a watchword by the millions who have tried using diaries as parts of self-improvement programs.

More recently, the Web has made it possible for bloggers to upload their observations, confessions, and harangues a moment after writing them.

Autobiographers, memoirists, diarists, bloggers, and users of social networks share the urge to express themselves or to create themselves through writing. All belong to what might be called the fellowship of the first person!

And that’s how interestingly the book develops on the concept of the ‘Self’, the ‘I’ and the fellowship of the first person!

I would strongly recommend that you read through this book to get a beautiful, holistic view of the concept of the ‘Self’!

More power to Peter Heehs and his ‘Self’-ie narrative!

And more power, to all ye daily diarists and bloggers who express yourself in such beautiful, creative ways every day...!

On Russia’s Rocket Boosters, Manmohanomics, the Lone Lion of Rajasthan & 69% Reservation for TN ❤️

When Manmohan Singh offered to Resign from his Post (As Finance Minister)

#memoriesfromdiaries | A sneak peek ❤️

This day, 31 years ago, from my daily diary ❤️

1st January 1994

Four key news items feature in my diary entry for this particular day.

The first one is on the surprise decision of Dr. Manmohan Singh to quit as the Nation’s Finance Minister.

The Finance Minister of the Nation Dr. Manmohan Singh (who passed away in December 2024), offered to resign from his post on this particular day.

An upright person with great moral integrity, he had offered to resign from his prestigious post as Finance Minister of the Nation, when a parliamentary investigation report was critical of his ministry for failing to anticipate and check the securities scandal.

However, the then Prime Minister Dr. Rao refused to accept Dr. Singh’s resignation, as he had proved to be a valuable asset for the Finance Portfolio, at that point of time.

Interestingly, Dr. Singh had held a lot of key portfolios during the 1970s and 1980s, with the Government of India, (prior to his appointment as Finance Minister) such as Chief Economic Advisor (1972–1976), governor of the Reserve Bank (1982–1985) and head of the Planning Commission (1985–1987).

[On an aside: Dr. Manmohan Singh is the pioneer behind the Liberalisation of India’s economy way back in the 1990s and 2000s, which resulted in the country recording a phenomenal economic growth.]

The second news article that assumes significance for this particular day is –

Russia’s agreement to supply four rocket boosters to India.

This was done, as a ‘penance’ for canceling a promised transfer of missile technology  and training to India, under a 1991 contract, (at U.S. insistence!!!).

The 1991 ISRO deal, valued at around $400 million provoked verbal fire from the United States which subsequently even threatened to invoked trade sanctions against ISRO and the Russian space agency.

But why Russia’s Rocket Boosters for India?

Well, three decades ago, in the 1990s, India was dependent on Russian rocket boosters primarily because it was still heavily reliant on Russia for space launch capabilities. 

Since there were  restrictions imposed by the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) that  prevented India from accessing crucial cryogenic engine technology needed for its own advanced rockets, India was forced to purchase pre-built stages from Russia, at that point of time.

Fast-forward to today, and it is so heartwarming to see how India has prided herself on the space front. 

Thought of reproducing an article in today’s Times of India, Chennai Edition, where ISRO Chairman S Somanath gives a press briefing on India’s space achievements in 2024 and informs them about upcoming launches.

Today's Times of India

He remarks -

ISRO was born in 1969 when the US was busy sending humans to the Moon. But now the situation has changed as ISRO is launching US satellites as he refers to the upcoming commercial launch of a satellite for an American customer, which will be used for mobile communication.

That’s tremendous advancement in leaps and bounds for India on the space front!

The third news article that assumes importance for this particular day is -

The Lion of Rajasthan Bhairon Singh Shekhawat proves majority in the State Assembly.

After his government was dismissed in 1992 and President's rule imposed in the State of Rajasthan, in the subsequent elections, in December 1993, Shekhawat led the BJP to power, winning 96 seats.

He later became the the 11th vice president of India from 2002 to 2007.

As Vice President, he was famous for having climbed the Eiffel Tower at the age of 83. He later contested for the post of President of India, but lost to Pratibha Patil.

The fourth and final news from the State of Tamil Nadu, is the passing of the Bill on 69% Reservation.

Called the Tamil Nadu Backward Classes, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Reservation of Seats in Educational Institution and of appointments or posts in the Services under the State) Bill, 1993, the then Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa also made sure that the Tamil Nadu government’s Act should be brought under the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution, which ensured that it cannot be challenged in any court.

The President's assent came soon, and this confirmed the 69% reservation for Tamil Nadu. 

PS: You may also want to read an article in The Hindu on The Woman behind the Quota, HERE

"If you want to be known for coining something, make sure to document it" ❤️

The BS Dictionary | Importance of Documentation

Make Sure You Document It…

I am presently reading this book on Business Speak, that has a weird and funny title.

It’s titled, The BS Dictionary: Uncovering the Origins and True Meanings of Business Speak.

“A fantastic book for anyone studying business in the English-speaking world. It not only clearly defines many of the business words and phrases they need to know in the corporate world, it also gives them the origin of each phrase in a very fun and informative way,”

says Kathleen O'Connor, Professor at London Business School on the book’s credentials.

Well, what I especially love about the book is the fact that, the authors try their hand at uncovering the earliest documented record of a particular ‘business speak’ expression in a very engaging, endearing and albeit funny way, thus making the expression all the more memorable to the reader.

As the authors Bob and Tim themselves confess,

In this book, Tim and I have tried to lighten up the subject matter some with the comedic aspects of business speak. We relied heavily on trusted sources (which we detail in the acknowledgments), including the OED, which really is an amazing resource. And where possible, to 3 supplement what we found, we tried to locate the original documentation or confirm with other reputable sources,

says Bob.

For example,

when elucidating on the meaning of the business speak expression, bait and  switch, Bob and Tim hunt for the earliest documented reference of the expression.

Here goes –

bait and switch fraud

1. The action of advertising a low price or special feature but then adding extra fees (or taking away the special feature) when the purchase becomes final.

2. The intention of substituting inferior or more expensive goods compared with what was advertised.

Origin: Bait-and-switch techniques have probably been around since the first days of commercial transactions.

One of the earliest references on record comes from 17th-century China, where Zhang Yingyu’s book about fraud, The Book of Swindles (published in or around 1617), contains 84 short stories about rip-offs and deceptions—including bait-and switch schemes.

The purported purpose of the book was to teach the reader about various detailed scams that had flourished during the latter part of the Ming dynasty, and how to avoid them. Zhang, though, is somewhat mysterious in his leanings, at times condemning the swindlers’ deceptions, and at other times praising their ingenuity.

According to the OED, the first known reference to bait and switch in English comes much later, in an August 1953 volume of Reader’s Digest:

This was my introduction to the “bait ’em and switch ’em” racket… . I learned that “bait advertising” is the biggest gyp and the most widespread abuse in advertising today.”

Well, almost all the terms connected with business speak, have the self-same method of analysis. Bon and Tim strike at the roots – the earliest documented reference, which counts a lot to understanding both the context and the story behind the birth of an expression.

Or take another expression.

face time

1. Time spent visiting with someone in person, as opposed to phone conversations or other means of communication.

2. The amount of time an employee spends in the workplace.

Origin: Face time—the term with two words—has been seen in print since at least the 1970s.

One of the earliest documented references comes from U.S. News & World Report, which said this about then-President Jimmy Carter in 1978: “drops by the White House press room … guaranteeing himself a few precious seconds of face time on the evening TV news.”

Later, Major General Perry M. Smith compiled a glossary of the insider lingo at the Department of Defense in his 1989 book Assignment: Pentagon that includes: “Face time: time spent near big bosses in attempts to impress them with your diligence and loyalty.”

Others say the phrase had been used on college campuses for decades, but was taken to mean a slightly different thing: to be seen or be seen.

One last point that Bob says in this book, is also a key takeaway for us all.

He talks about the importance of documentation.

Especially for students of literature!

Says Bob –

One thing we’ve realized in this whole process is that if you want to be known for coining something, make sure to document it.

For example, if you want to invent a new term— let’s say it’s a new style of music called “thrash disco”—you have to put it somewhere in writing so the Internet will see it.

Then, you need to spread the word about your new term and how you invented it. By doing so, you will become the “victor” of that phrase’s history, and all the spoils will flow to you—and reward you with Internet glory,

says Bob!

Speaks volumes to the importance of documentation.

Be it a word! A phrase! An expression! A neologism! A nonce-word! A made-up word!

A poem, a short story, an event, a memory! an opinion!

Document it!

By documenting it, you’re doing a great service for posterity!

Added, you’re finding yourself a unique space and place in the digital archives of the future as well! 😊

Remember: Every word that you write counts! And... your writing – whatever you write - has the power to make a difference!