A Blessed Homecoming | St. Mary’s College, Tuticorin

#memories

This news coverage by The New Indian Express is close to my heart for several reasons. 😊

That’s also the reason for this little nostalgic post, down ‘sentimental’ lane!

Well, I was so happy when I got a call from Professor Sumathi, with the Department of English, St. Mary’s College, Tuticorin, requesting me if I could deliver a Talk in their National Seminar on South Asian Literature, on 11th October 2023.

Since a Seminar plays host to innumerable researchers and vibrant faculty members,  I wanted to focus on a topic that would appeal to researchers and faculty alike, in the realm of South Asian Studies.

That’s how I choose the topic, “Heterotemporal Sensibility and Textual Materiality in the Teaching Machine”.

While elucidating on the concept of ‘Home’, I emphasized on the need and the importance of ‘understanding our homes’ which in turn impacts and influences our identities to a great extent.

‘Home’ connotes a ‘sense of belonging’ which in turn becomes a key factor in ‘identity formation’!

On this note, I confided something to the distinguished luminaries and academics gathered there –

Well, I wish to let out a secret at this juncture. When I told my Mom that I’m going to St. Mary’s College, Tuticorin, to give the key-note address at the National Conference organized by the Department of English, her joy knew no bounds.

That’s because she had studied for six long years in this prestigious college, right from her PUC, to her MA in English, emerging class topper as well.

And Mom immediately started reminiscing on her fond teachers, who taught her in this very same College, 50 years ago, including Sr. Teresita Mary, Sr. Eucharista Mary, Dr. Sulochana, Dr. Shenbagavadivu, and a host of other professors, who had taught her Shakespeare, Milton, amongst others.

So your College is such a blessed College, I said, to cheers from the audience.

Coming back -

Well, the Pearl City Express was supposed to arrive at 6.30 am in Tuticorin – Pearl City.

However, the train had arrived a wee bit early – by 5.45 am itself.

So when I stepped onto ‘mother’land, I was soon surrounded by a host of autorickshaw anneys, whose primary focus was on getting their traveller into their vahana by all means.

I politely refused their constant coaxings, and quite soon, walking my way out of the railway station, I ordered a cup of coffee (Rs.12/-) at the nearest coffee shop.

There, again, auto rickshaw anney was standing just next to me, waiting for me to finish my cuppa. No sooner had I finished my last sippa off my cuppa, than he started asking, ‘Anney, vaarialaa’? 😊

Thanking anney, I said that, the place is quite close by, and so I can walk across!

Then I started walking across the road that’s adjacent to the Railway Station.

I was quite reminded of a lovely line from Jack Kerouac’s On the Road –

“…because there was nowhere to go but everywhere, keep rolling under the stars.”

Yes! I just wanted to take this long morning walk, relishing the serene morning air, looking on either side of the East Coast Road, for some vestiges from the past, that could be ‘offered’ as photo memories to Mom via WhatsApp!

I could click a few of such memorable relics from the past and the beautiful sunrise just opposite to College, along the way as well.

Then, I had yet another coffee, at a tea shop quite close to College, and then went to the Guest House that was meant to host me for the day.

From there, I came out, and strolled my way across the College – the College where my Mother had studied some five decades ago! 

When I sent some of the snaps to Mom, her joy knew no bounds. She was simply overjoyed.

Well, Mom, and her three sisters had done their English Literature at St. Mary’s, which proved a great launchpad for their illustrious academic lives ahead. 

All of them went on to become illustrious Professors and teachers of English Language and Literature in their respective places. 

Mom’s elder sisters - Dr. Ananthi was Professor of English at Jawaharlal University, New Delhi, Dr. Usha was Professor at Bokaro Steel City College, Bokaro, while Mom taught Literature in Tamil Nadu. In fact, Dr. Ananthi and Dr. Usha had even taught at St. Mary’s College, for three and four years respectively, before moving over to join their husbands.

While talking with Dr. Joachim, Dean of Arts with St.Xavier’s College, Tirunelveli, [who was part of the Conference], we both were having a casual chat on the important role of women’s colleges - Colleges that played a great role in educating, empowering and emancipating the girl children, who later on went ahead with confidence and boldness, to make a mark for themselves in their respective fields, as shining stars, and luminaries, shining their best lights - not only for their families but also for their societies.

I feel, I’ve imbibed to a little extent at least, my Mom’s literary temper and spirit!

St. Mary’s College, Tuticorin then, has been the revered holy ground that has shaped Mom to what she is today, which in turn has impacted us - her children to a great extent!

In fact, we her children can never match her literary acumen – which is simply way beyond phenomenal!

So proud of you, Amma!

And full credits to St. Mary’s College, Tuticorin for having played a pivotal role in shaping Amma’s literary sensibilities.

Amma used to say that, Dr. Srinivasa Iyengar, author of the renowned book titled, ‘Indian Writing in English’, has also visited their Campus to give lectures.

The Principal was so happy when she heard about this news. She gave a special invite for the four sisters, and also requested the four sisters to write articles for the Platinum Jubilee Special Issue of their College Magazine. I gladly passed on the information to all the four sisters, and they’ve happily agreed to write articles on their blessed memories with St. Mary’s!

Was so happy to know that Dr. Sudha, a good family friend, is also part of the Souvenir Committee, and the Editor of the Platinum Jubilee special volume of the College Magazine.

Bespeaks to the need and the importance of ‘understanding our homes’ which in turn impacts and influences our identities to a great extent.

We all, ‘dwell’ in various homes in our journeys on planet earth.

The home that we were born in, the home we migrated to! The home we settled in! All these homes have given us our ‘identities’, and they have also influenced our ‘language’ to a great extent, Ain’t it!

Every home that we inhabit, gives us a unique ‘culture’, a unique ‘variety of language’, a unique ‘identity’, etc.

That bespeaks volumes to the latent pluralities within us all! 

So let’s join with Tennyson’s Ulysses and say in unison –

I am a part of all that I’ve met! 😊