A Rewarding Day @ Pondicherry University

#thedaytoday ❤️

One thing I’ve always noticed, while driving down solo on the highway, is that, when you’re mindful of everything that’s ahead of you on the road, chances are, Lady Fortuna may so gracefully give you a ‘fortunate’ chance to activate the dormant shutterbug in you – for you to happily click away - on the highway! 😊

And this photograph happened in such a fashion this morning.

Something about this photograph struck me much-o-much!

Giving the click here below!

Yes, just one thousand words.

That’s because, as the adage goes, ‘A picture is worth a thousand words’. 😉

Coming back,

Well, it was such a rewarding day at the UGC-HRDC’s Refresher Course in English, Pondicherry University.

Today also happened to be the penultimate day of the Refresher Course in English.

Dr. T. Marx, Professor & Head, Department of English, warmly welcomed me to his Cabin.

On an aside, Marx Sir was my External Examiner for my PhD Viva Voce.

One thing that strikes you about Dr. Marx is the fact that, he makes you feel at ease in a jiffy.

Just hours before my Viva Voce Exam started, - years ago - I was a bit extra-nervous you see, like most PhD candidates of my ilk usually are, ahead of their defence. 😊

But Dr. Marx, sensing this unease and a slight tinge of nervousness in me, quickly called me over, and asked me to accompany him to one of the biggest restaurants in town.

There we were having the treat of our lives! 😊

Within no time, the nervousness in me, vanished into thin air, and I became calm and relaxed, all geared up for my defence. 😊 

Coming back, 

An established author with more than 12 books authored in the past 10 years, and an expert translator, Dr. Marx is one of the coolest HoDs I’ve known, and one of the nicest and loveliest of human beings I’ve ever come across!

I was glad and honoured when he introduced me this morning to the audience. The participants looked so vibrant and so dynamic.

My session from 10 am to 1 pm was on ‘Cultivating Literary Sensibility through Literary Sensitivity’.

I also made reference to the concept of the Sensitivity Reader, during the course of the Talk.

Much akin to the concept of the ‘Resisting Reader’ put forward by Judith Fetterley, wherein, -

the ‘Resisting Reader’ views their reading activity as inherently political, and resists the imposition of traditional interpretations, preferring instead to look for ways in which a text may challenge its usual reception,

The ‘Sensitivity Reader’ or ‘Authenticity Reader’, is always on the lookout for perceived misinterpretations, misconstructions and misrepresentations, offensive tropes, stereotypes, normative prejudices that underlie a host of stigmas in society, etc.,

It’s no wonder then that Cultural Sensitivity has been promoted as the fifth important skill in language learning.

I highlighted six broad vistas in Literary Studies that demand a ‘Literary Sensitivity’, emphasizing on the importance of Literary Sensitivity, as the ‘heart of literary studies’.

I was so happy to see a host of good friends in the audience as well, and well, I was doubly surprised when one of the participants quoted from our academic blog, and even highlighted the latest post on our blog which was on ‘World Literature’. Thankful to you dear Sir. Means a lot to me.

The participants were highly interactive, and focused, which made the session much more memorable.

After the Talk, I came back to Dr. Marx’s cabin, where I was presented a lovely copy of Benyamin’s Goat Days by our vibrant past student Kathiravan. Thank you Kathiravan.

Well, this is a lovely habit that I so admire and appreciate. Be it a birthday, or a memorable occasion, it would be nice, if, instead of presenting a shawl or a ponnaadai, or a memento, a lovely book is given or rather, exchanged.

That’s the hallmark of a true-blue literary being, and I’m so proud of Kathiravan for that. 

On the academic front, back home @ MCC –

I was so thrilled to see a consistency in performance by a host of students, who are keeping up on their word, and doing what they’ve resolved to do!

Abraham, II BA English, had promised me that he would write one poem each day on his blog.

And he’s been keeping it up regularly for the past one week and more. You may want to read his blogposts HERE. Please encourage Abraham by commenting on his posts.

Two other students from the PG English class, have sent me the first draft of their papers to be presented in an upcoming Conference. So proud of you dear kiddos. Keep up the spirit.

Yet another student had promised me that he will read the newspaper every day, and share something interesting from the daily newspaper with me. He’s been keeping up on his word thus far. So proud of you da.

One student from II BA English, came up to me to my cabin, and we were discussing books, when I asked her about her favourite book.

Spontaneously came the reply –

It’s Verity by Colleen Hoover, Sir.

‘So do you enjoy reading this book?’ I asked, with added curiosity.

She said, “Sir, it’s a real unputdownable, you see. Sir, I’ve had to catch a flight in an hour’s time, but you see, the storyline was so gripping, that, I was like, let the flight wait, until I’m gonna complete this page!” 😊

The excitement and the joy that she had on her face when she described this episode made me so happy. How focused our kids today are, when they take to reading so passionately.

Yet another kid from III BSc Physics came looking for me in my cabin, referred by her Professor Dr. Selvakumari, and she showed me some amazing poems that she’d written.

I was so in awe of her talent, and appreciating her on her poetic talent, I then asked her, ‘What made you take to writing such amazing poetry?’

She said, ‘In school I had a teacher who encouraged me in writing poems, sir. That’s how I developed the much needed confidence to write poetry’, she said.

So much for the power that lies in the encouraging words of a teacher, ain’t it!?

Finally, to end this post,

Today I received a lovely quote from Dr. Maria Preethi Srinivasan which goes like this –

“Teach the child, not the subject”. - John Dewey

And this one I received yesterday from Dr. Preethi, that’s so awe-inspiring! Here goes –

A child's mind is not an empty shell that a teacher fills

It’s a circuit which only a "live- wire-teacher" can get working

In a child's heart a loving teacher can kindle a bright flame, with just a spark

The child has it it him/her

The teacher is only like a wind which fans a flame...

How beautiful! How true!

On the personal front, 

So thrilled to note here that, one of our sweetest cousins, Mrs. Princy Prashanth, who lives in Alabama, came to visit us yesterday. We were discussing the importance of Alabama, Nashville, Kentucky etc, historicising them, when Princy said that, she had the opportunity of visiting Helen Keller’s home in Tuscumbia.

So we were talking about Helen Keller, even while Alfred Uncle was keenly listening to the discussion. 😊

Ivy Green, the birthplace of Helen Keller, contains a museum room in which much of the original furniture and rarest of collectibles of the Keller family are kept for visitors to see!.

It also houses hundreds of Helen Keller’s personal mementos, books and gifts – that she had received ‘from her lifetime of travel and lectures in 25 countries for the betterment of the world’s blind and deaf-blind’.

This morning, Princy sent a lot of memorable photographs from Ivy Green.

Giving y’all a few to relish and to savour the great legend and her life!

Thank you Princy ma. Well, on an aside, Princy carries back with her to Alabama a great assignment from us all. Hope she embark on this adventurous, and rewarding assignment. 😊