Literary Explorations: A Collaborative Lecture Series (Hybrid Mode)
Date: 11 November 2024
The Department of English at Kristu Jayanti College Autonomous, Bengaluru, Karnataka in collaboration with several esteemed institutions across India, i.e., Patna Women’s College (Autonomous), Bihar, Patna, Sophia Girls' College (Autonomous), Ajmer, Rajasthan, St. Xavier's College, Jaipur, Rajasthan and General Shivdev Singh Diwan Gurbachan Singh Khalsa College (Autonomous), Patiala, Punjab organized a lecture as part of the "Literary Explorations: A Collaborative Lecture Series" on the 10th of November, 2024. This initiative aims to expose students to diverse perspectives of literature and to facilitate a shared academic discourse among participating institutions.

The primary objective of the “Literary Explorations” lecture series is to promote a collaborative approach to learning and provide students with insights into diverse literary topics. The session was conducted online on Zoom which enabled participants from far and wide to attend the insightful session without any difficulties. The session was led by the Resource Person, Dr. Sreedevi Santhosh.

Dr. Sreedevi Santhosh introduced the students to the concept of canonization and the various dimensions and possibilities associated with the literature as a whole. She elaborated on the concept of linguistic identities in a simple, yet effective manner making sure information was catered to everyone on the online platform.

The event coordinator, Dr. Mary Raymer, Assistant. Professor, Dept. of English, Kristu Jayanti College along with the Student Coordinators Mr. Caleb Biju Mathew and Ms. Stefina Shaji of V BA Psychology English oversaw the successful conduction of the program, held over a Zoom Meet meeting, which was attended by the students of V BA Psychology English and V BA English Honours along with students and faculty members of the National Lecture Series member institutions.

All the students who attended the session were invited to participate in a 10-minute quiz designed to assess their understanding of the lecture content. Successful completion of the quiz would grant them a certificate, providing a tangible recognition of their participation and engagement.

The lecture by Dr. Sreedevi Santhosh on "Worlding Literature - Perspectives on Decanonizing Practices" was an enriching session that contributed to the "Literary Explorations" lecture series. It demonstrated the collaborative spirit of the participating institutions and offered students a valuable experience in the field of World Literature. There were total 116 students participants and 08 teachers who joined for the day one of the lecture series from the five institutions.

Expert Lecture on The Multi Disciplinary Dimensions of Gender Studies
Date: 30 October 2024
On 11th November 2024, the Department of English, Kristu Jayanti College (Autonomous), Bengaluru organized an insightful expert lecture by Dr. Neha Arora, a distinguished faculty member at Central University of Rajasthan. The lecture, titled "Celebrating Identities: A Narrative of Empowered Dalit Women," was held from 03:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. in Auditorium A3. The lecture was attended by students from the II PYEN, II BA English Literature Students, and II MA English programs. The session explored the intersection of caste, gender, and empowerment in the lives of Dalit women, shedding light on the struggles and triumphs that shape their unique narratives. Dr. Neha Arora presented a comprehensive analysis of Dalit women's stories, focusing on their resilience, agency, and the ways in which they challenge societal norms. Drawing from various aspects like literature, society, and personal testimonies, she highlighted how these women, despite facing systemic oppression, have emerged as powerful figures of resistance and change within their communities. The session concluded with a vibrant Q&A session, where Dr. Arora offered further insights into her research, inspiring students to continue exploring themes of social justice, identity, and empowerment in their academic journeys

Expert Lecture on Myth and the Landscape of the Indian Coastline
Date: 21 October 2024
The department of English organised an Expert Lecture on the topic Myth and the Landscape of the Indian Coastline on 21/10/2024 to introduce the concept of Maritime History and writing to the students of English Literature in preparation for the International Conference on Asia’s Maritime History and Identity at Cultural Crossroads scheduled on January 2025. The session began with a welcome address to the resource person Ms. Sheryl Puthur, UG Coordinator and Assistant Professor, Mount Carmel College, Degree, Bengaluru, during the lecture on the myth and landscape of the Indian coastline, Ms Sheryl provided a comprehensive foundation for understanding maritime culture through maps. She emphasized how these visual representations chart geographical features and encapsulate the rich narratives that have shaped coastal communities over centuries. By intertwining mythology with geography, Ms. Sheryl illustrated the significance of storytelling in conveying scientific truths about the coastline. She argued that narratives serve as a vital bridge between traditional knowledge and contemporary scientific understanding, highlighting how local myths can inform ecological practices and conservation efforts. This approach not only enriches our comprehension of the Indian coastline but also underscores the importance of integrating diverse perspectives in the study of maritime environments. Students felt that the discussion on the interplay between geography and mythology was particularly thought-provoking. It opened their eyes to how local narratives can inform our understanding of environmental issues, making a strong case for the inclusion of diverse perspectives in maritime studies. The session ended with a vote of thanks by Ms. Elizabeth, V Semester English Honours student.

Expect lecture and exhibition on Re-membering Bengaluru: Pastiches and Palimpsest
Date: 16 October 2024
The Department of English organised an expect lecture and exhibition on the 16th October, 2024. The key note speaker for the session was Prof. Shobana Mathews, Professor in the Department of English and Cultural Studies, CHRIST (Deemed-to-be University). Prof. Shobana brought to light the nostalgic sense of belonging individual living in the city occupy through their everyday experience in the city. She emphasised the role of being a critical insider and the agency the insiders have to the unknown past which is often unrecognized by individuals coming into the city for various prospects. Through cultural and spatial specificities, Prof. Shobana elaborated on the re-membering the city of Bengaluru through recalling moments of the past and how it continues to shape the future of the city. Through anecdotal experiences, Prof. Shobana highlighted how the city becomes a palimpsest, that is, the adaptive reuse of spaces in the current context. Followed by the key note address the students presented their exhibits on the marking the shifts of the remnants of Bengaluru. The students participated with enthusiasm and involvement and were able to apply the concepts explored in the certificate course. They were able to critically engage with the project as a group and present their idea creatively as well. The concluding ceremony was relatable and engaging to the audience.

Expert lecture on Revising Shakespeare, Reconstructing Gender
Date: 15 October 2024
The Department of English at Kristu Jayanti College (Autonomous), Bengaluru, organized an expert lecture on "Revising Shakespeare, Reconstructing Gender" on 15th October 2024. The session, led by Dr. Saradendu Bhattacharya, a distinguished faculty member from Hyderabad Central University, was held from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon in Auditorium A2. The event was attended by students from the 2nd-year BA English and MA English programs.

Dr. Bhattacharya’s insightful lecture focused on how Shakespeare’s works continue to thrive in popular culture and the impact they have on society today. He explored how contemporary discourses are engaging with the Bard’s plays, particularly in relation to gender dynamics and reinterpretations in modern settings. The speaker emphasized the evolving nature of Shakespearean texts, highlighting how they provide a rich ground for new interpretations, especially in the context of gender studies.

The students were introduced to various ways Shakespeare’s works are being re-envisioned, not only in academic circles but also in media, theater, and film. Dr. Bhattacharya's lecture provided a fresh perspective on the relevance of Shakespeare in today’s world, inspiring students to think critically about the intersection of literature, culture, and gender

Expert Lecture on Effective ELT Strategies for the Digital Age
Date: 17 September 2024
The Department of English, Kristu Jayanti College, Autonomous, Bengaluru, organised an Expert Lecture on Effective ELT Statergies for the Digital Age on 17th September, 2024, at 10 am, in A1 Conference Hall. Dr. T. Senthamarai addressed the contextual introduction to English Language Teaching (ELT), focusing on its strategies and relevance in the digital age. Through personal anecdotes, she underscored how technology has profoundly influenced human society and noted the potential for individuals to become subconsciously unaware of such advancements due to their rapid evolution. She emphasized the importance of staying current with these developments. Dr. Senthamarai also provided a concise history of recent technological tools, highlighting that advancements over the past century have spurred interest in their applications within teaching and learning. Key topics discussed included insights into the Digital Age, the prominence of the English language, Information and Communications Technology (ICT) learning tools, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of ICT in ELT. She successfully delivered insights on ELT skills and the concept of World English. Furthermore, Dr. Senthamarai stressed the necessity of balancing ICT with the cognitive capabilities of the human mind in the digital age. While discussing the role of artificial intelligence in ELT, she affirmed that AI will not replace the essential role of human teachers. Dr. T. Senthamarai’s presentation highlighted the impact of technology on English Language Teaching, emphasising the need for educators to remain informed and adapt to changing times, while also reinforcing the irreplaceable value of human teachers in the learning process.

Expert Lecture on Translation: A linguistic Voyage on the Sea of Languages
The Department of English at Kristu Jayanti College, Autonomous, Bangalore, organised an Expert lecture on the topic "Translation: A Linguistic Voyage on the Sea of Languages." Dr. M. Elangovan, Associate Professor, Department of English, Thiagarajar College, Madurai, Tamil Nadu, was invited as the guest speaker for the event. The session commenced with a warm welcome by Mr. Vaibhav from III BA English Literature, followed by an introduction of the resource person by Ms. Hiya. Dr. M. Elangovan began his lecture by discussing various definitions in the field of translation studies. He elaborated on the social and cultural significance of translation and provided insights into the different components of translation studies, including the originality and evolution of modern translation practices. An interactive session followed, where students engaged with Dr. Elangovan, posing questions and sharing insights. The event concluded with a vote of thanks delivered by Mr. Martin. The lecture proved to be highly informative and enriching for all attendees.

Expert Lecture on The Past in the Present: The Bengaluru Palimpsest by Dr. Meera Iyer
Date: 19 September 2024
The Department of English hosted an expert lecture on the 19th of September, 2024. The guest speaker for the session was Dr. Meera Iyer, the author of the book Dicovering Bengaluru: History Neighbourhoods and Parks and convenor of the INTACH Bengaluru chapter. The title of Dr. Iyer’s talk was “The Past in the Present: The Bengaluru Palimpsest.” Through her session, Dr. Iyer explored the history of Bengaluru and how it impacted the culture and spatial practices of the city of Bengaluru. The architecture of the city was specifically explored through visual images and maps of the city. The talk elaborately through insight on how the identities of people are shaped through historical and socio-cultural markers. In sharing her experience with the INTACH Bengaluru chapter, Dr. Iyer made her talk relatable and engaging for the students and faculty members.

Expert Lecture on The Scripting of a Story
Date: 10 September 2024
The Department of English, Kristu Jayanti College organised an expert lecture on 10th September, 2024. The guest speaker for the session was Ms. C K Meena, a renowned author and journalist. C K Meena's talk weaved around the topic, “The Scripting of a Story,” reflecting her own experiences in the field of journalism and writing about them. She emphasised the need to be an outsider to script a story that is based on everyday life. Through her writings as a columnist with The Hindu, she shared her experiential knowledge of writing stories about the city of Bengaluru. The students thoroughly enjoyed the session as the scripted stories shared were humorous and highly relevant to current times.

Online expert lecture on "The Ordinariness of Culture: Believing, Eating and Cooking"
Date: 20 August 2024
The Department of English at Kristu Jayanti College organised an online expert lecture on 20th of August, 2024. The resource person Dr. Mrinalini Sebastian titled her talk as "The Ordinariness of Culture: Believing, Eating and Cooking" and located the idea of culture within everyday life. Dr. Sebastian traced the history of Cultural Studies in the European and Indian context. She explored the routine and everyday working-class culture in the Indian context with relevant examples from the city of Bengaluru. Dr. Sebastian elaborated on the materiality of culture through the multiple representations of the city in the Shivaji Nagar area during the St. Mary's Festival. An interesting critique was laid out through blogs and videos to understand archiving and representation through the act of eating and cooking in the regional context of India. The session was well received by the students and was testified as an eye opener to newer ways of comprehending a text.

Expert Lecture on Language of Cultural Studies
Date: 12 August 2024
The Department of English at Kristu Jayanti held an expert lecture titled The ‘Language of Cultural Studies’ on the 12th August, 2024 at 10.00am. The address was delivered by Dr. Kishore Selva Babu, Head Department of English and Cultural Studies, CHRIST (Deemed- to-be University. Dr. Kishore articulated how the discipline of Cultural Studies is breaking boundaries to solve contemporary issues that have risen in the current era. He emphasised that in the digitalised world the role of Cultural Studies has vital as it solves problems through interdisciplinary contributions and involvements. The session was well received by the audience which also set the tone for the discussions to follow.

Introduction to Literature: A Road Map for a Better Understanding
Date: 26 July 2024
The Department of English, Kristu Jayanti College in collaboration conducted exchange of lecture for the students of First year UG and PG Literature from BSSS College and for the students of First year students of Kristu Jayanti College. The first lecture under this initiative was conducted on 26/ 07/2024– wherein an expert lecture was delivered by Dr. Mary Raymer, Assistant Professor Department of English, Kristu Jayanti College, on the Topic Introduction to Literature: A Road Map for a Better Understanding for the students of UG First year students of BSSS College. The next lecture was delivered on 23/08/2024 by Dr. Shibani B. Dubey on the topic Languages and Literature: Study of Figures of Speech. She explained the types of figures of speech with classic and trending text followed by a Q& A round. The welcome address and introduction to the speaker was done by Ms. Stefina Shaji of V BA PYEN and the vote of thanks by Ms. Arshana of V BA PYEN. The teacher coordinator from Partner institute was Ms. Deepa Wilson, BSSS and Dr. Mary Raymer. There were total 141 students (KJC and BSSS)

Expert Lecture on “Documenting Traditions"
Date: 17 April 2024
The Department of English, Kristu Jayanti College organized a lecture on the topic “Documenting Traditions" on 17 April 2024. The session was led by Ms. Lina Vincent ,Independent Curator & Art Historian ,Goa. Preserving cultural artifacts is crucial for maintaining a connection with our past and ensuring that future generations understand and appreciate their heritage. Organizing events to showcase the importance of these artifacts and the stories they hold can serve as a powerful tool in this preservation effort. Additionally, documenting traditions plays a vital role in conserving our roots and transmitting them to future generations she said. Cultural artifacts serve as tangible links to our history, offering insights into the beliefs, customs, and lifestyles of previous generations. Whether they are ancient relics, traditional artworks, or everyday objects, each artifact holds a unique narrative that contributes to our collective identity. Preserving these artifacts allows us to honor the achievements and experiences of our ancestors while fostering a sense of continuity and belonging within society.

The session concluded with a question-and-answer session, where the students had the opportunity to deepen their understanding of curating and the art of preserving traditions.

Skill Development Programme A Day with an Author
Date: 06 April 2024
The Department of English, Kristu Jayanti College organised an Expert Lecture on the topic “The Art of Creative Writing”, as part of the Skill Development Programme on 6th April, 2024. The Resource Person for the session was Ms. Swati Mishra, Author and Content Writer. The resource person delivered an insightful presentation on the art of Creative writing and the impact that words hold. Through her presentation, the author provided students with different strategies to enhance writing by adopting the steps of reading, editing, proof reading and feedback. Ms Swati Mishra also described the key concepts of creative writing that help in creating intriguing characters, timeline, and tone of a story. The lecture was also focused on duality of the language that coveys messages through metaphors, hyperboles and paradoxes. Ms. Mishra assigned students a task to write an account of a specific scenario that helped students incorporate imaginative and creative skills in their writing. The session concluded with a question-and-answer session, where the students had the opportunity to seek clarification, share insights, and engage in a meaningful dialogue with Ms. Swati Mishra.

Expert Lecture: Contextualising Disability: Society, Culture and Literature
Date: 14 March 2024
The Department of English, in collaboration with the Equal Opportunity Cell, organized an expert lecture titled "Contextualising Disability: Society, Culture and Literature" on March 14th, 2024. Dr. Boopathi P. from Central University of Tamilnadu delivered the keynote address, exploring critical themes in disability studies.

Dr. Boopathi's insightful presentation explored key concepts in disability studies, sparking potential new research avenues in this emerging field. He emphasised the significance of academic intervention across three dimensions: linguistic, cultural/economic, and educational. Drawing on his personal experience as a visually challenged academic, Dr. Boopathi used compelling real-world examples to keep the audience engaged. The session provided a foundational understanding of the field and its potential for further research in the Indian context.

Following a lively Q&A session, Dr. Boopathi received a memento of appreciation from Prof. Jithin Joseph. Dr. Aryamol KB delivered the concluding vote of thanks. The event proved to be a truly enriching and insightful experience for all participants.

An Insight into Constitutional Amendments in India
Date: 26 February 2024
The Department of English organized an expert lecture session titled ‘An Insight into Constitutional Amendments in India’ on 26th February 2024. The resource person for the session was Prof. Manjunath MS, Assistant Professor, Kristu Jayanti College of Law. With his expert knowledge of the subject, he led the session and provided a clear understanding of the significance of amendments made to the Indian Constitution and its effect on us as citizens. He also underscored the importance of constitutional literacy and civic awareness. He emphasized the role of informed citizenship in upholding democratic values and safeguarding constitutional principles. By elucidating the historical context, rationale, and implications of key constitutional amendments, he empowered the students to become conscientious participants in the democratic process. The session was conducted for the first and second-year BA English students. It was a very insightful session that left an impact on the need to be aware as Indian citizens of the Indian Constitution.

Expert Lecture on Word & World: Exploration of Next-Gen Research & Careers in Language Studies
Date: 23 February 2024
The Department of English, Kristu Jayanti College organized the “Expert Lecture on Word & World: Exploration of Next-Gen Research & Careers in Language Studies”, session on 23 rd February 2024. The Resource person for the session was Dr. J. Jehoson Jiresh, Assistant Professor, Department of English and Cultural Studies Christ Deemed to be University Yaswanthpur Campus. The resource person enlightened the students by highlighting various ways to use advanced technologies in Language Studies and Research. He stated that recently in both the eastern and western philosophies, grammarians are placed on top of the knowledge pyramids for the simple reason that “if one can understand words, a person can interpret and analyse the world better”. He emphasised new learning methods of understanding language from an entirely different perspective, especially with the influence of artificial intelligence. His focus was on “Future Proofing” in this, he gave his insights on the expectations of language scholars in the future and how to stay relevant with the rise in AI technology. He stressed that knowledge is in questioning and curiosity should always exist to explore the growing generation of technology. He also stressed that AI use is not shameful as long as it is used responsibly. He advised on how to harness AI not to replace humans but to enhance their capabilities. This whole session gave new insights on human and technology collaboration. The session was interactive explaining how to use reliable AI sources for Language Studies and Research.

Expert Lecture on “Intellectual Property Rights and IP Management for Startups”
Date: 23 February 2024
The Department of English, Kristu Jayanti College, Autonomous, Bangalore organized an Expert Lecture on “Intellectual Property Rights and IP Management for Startups” in P1 Conference Hall at 10:00 am on the 23rd of February 2024. The resource Person of the Day was Dr. D. Ravindran, Faculty, School of Management, Kristu Jayanti College, Autonomous, Bangalore. Ms. Sree Navami from VI PYEN welcomed the gathering formally. The resource person highlighted the relevance of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) with definition and its significance for Startups. He elucidated the different types of IPR, including patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets. He explained the importance of protecting intellectual property rights in the ecosystem. He gave valid information on various mechanisms available for protecting intellectual property rights, such as patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secret protection. Finally, his session ended with the IPR commercialization and monetization, IPR risks and challenges, and regulatory and legal considerations. The session was interactive and engaging in inspiring the young entrepreneurs among the students. 69 final year students participated in this session.

Expert Talk on Career Breakthrough in IT
Date: 16 February 2024
Department of English organised an expert talk on the topic “Career Breakthrough in IT” on 16th February 2024 from 12 pm to 1pm. The resource person for the session was Mr. Kevin Simon, Automation Tester at Cognizant. Mr. Kevin began the session by asking the audience about their awareness on career opportunities after studying English Major courses. After a deliberate discussion and engagement on the topic, he invited the attention of the students to his areas of expertise by adding stories from his life experiences. He successfully concluded the session by answering the queries of students and also by giving them pointers on job opportunities to think about. The session was met with highly engaged and responsive audience, who found it interesting and indeed helpful.

Expert Lecture on Varieties of Poetry
Date: 13 February 2024
Department of English organised the expert lecture on the topic “Varieties of Poetry” on 13th February 2024 from 11am to 1pm. The resource person for the session was Dr. Jacob, a retired assistant professor of English and Former Dean of Studies, Mar Ivanios College, Thiruvananthapuram. Dr. Jacob began his session by providing the deep understanding on the varieties of poetry. He discussed how poetry expresses the emotions and feelings. The speaker emphasized the types of elegies, lyrics, ballad and sonnets. Dr. Jacob concluded the session by discussing the diverse range of poetry, the exploration of identities, the impact of poetry in the society.

The lecture was met with highly engaged and responsive audience, there were numerous questions and discussion on the types of poetry. It was an enlightened event that contributed to a deeper understanding of the nuances of poetry. Students of IV JOEN and English Literature were part of the lecture.

Expert Talk on Emotional Intelligence and the impact of emotions on everyday life
Date: 07 February 2024
The Department of English organised an expert lecture by Ms. Shruthika Priscilla, CEO, Elite International School Bengaluru and inspirational speaker, on 07 February 2024. Ms. Shruthika is an alumna of Kristu Jayanti College. The lecture focussed on the topic of Emotional Intelligence and the impact of emotions on everyday life.

The session began by engaging the audience briefly in an unfiltered conversation. She explained the elements of a human being—mind, body, and spirit, and how our mind is divided into emotion and decision-making sectors. Ms. Priscilla further explained the importance of making rational decisions in our academic and personal lives concerning our interpersonal relationships.

Secondly, she delved into the topic of relationships. Opening with a rhetorical question she positioned her focus on the relationship constructed between a couple to which the crowd steered perfectly. She reminded the gathering that it is an “unfiltered conversation” hence her narrated instances were ideally related to the topic. Speaking on Childhood trauma which would hurt adult life, she went on to encourage the audience to seek professional help in identifying the root of the problem and eradicate it to have a better productive life. She also insisted on having a strong spiritual life to understand oneself better and claimed it has helped her to be a better positive person.

The talk concluded with a round of questions from a diverse audience seeking further clarity on how to love oneself without being selfish and how to deal with childhood trauma in adulthood as it does not disappear once and for all. Audiences were engaged and entertained throughout the session because the latter part of the conversation addressed their daily life. To wind up the session, a memento was presented to Ms. Priscilla by Mr. Jerrin Jose, UG Program Coordinator, Department of English, Kristu Jayanti College.

Expert Lecture on Cross-Cultural Adaptations in Films
Date: 08 November 2023
The Department of English organized an expert lecture on Cross-Cultural Adaptations in Films on November 08, 2023 for the students of III semester, MA English. The resource person for this special lecture was, Dr. Kirti Sachdeva, Assistant Professor, Galgotias University. She deliberated on the politics of cultural adaptations in cinema and how the adaptation techniques vary depending on the socio-cultural contexts. She illuminated the students through examples from films across cultures and spoke on the broad scope of research in this area.

Expert Lecture on Fundamentals of Research
Date: 07 November 2023
The Department of English organized an expert lecture on “Fundamentals of Research” for the students of V Semester, BA English Literature on November 07, 2023. The resource person for this session was Dr. Shijomon K.V., Style Sheet Editor, Editor’s Alert, Calicut. He arranged his lecture through basic concepts of research and the purpose of research. He elaborated on the ways to conduct research, the feasibility of a selected topic, and carrying out a literature review. He gave examples on trending research topics and their impact on our society to deliver a better understanding of research among the students.

Expert Lecture: American Drama: Theory and Praxis
Date: 18 October 2023
Dr. K. Ganesh commenced by delving into the theoretical underpinnings of American drama. He discussed the historical development of American theatre, from its European roots to the emergence of uniquely American voices. He highlighted the influence of figures like Eugene O'Neill, Arthur Miller and Tennessee Williams and how they shaped the American dramatic tradition. Key concepts like expressionism, realism, naturalism, and the American Dream were explored in-depth, providing a comprehensive understanding of the theoretical aspect of American drama. He also discussed various elements, such as playwriting, directing, acting, and stage design that contribute to the creation of a successful theatre production. The lecturer also emphasized the importance of cultural context and the portrayal of American life and society in the development and performance of American plays. His expertise and passion for the subject were evident in his comprehensive knowledge of American drama.

The lecture on American Drama: theory and praxis by Dr. K. Ganesh provided students with a holistic understanding of the subject, from its theoretical foundations to practical applications. It was an enlightening and inspiring session for all those interested in the world of American drama. After the question-answer session, the session ended with a Vote of Thanks, delivered by Ms. Anantha of V Semester JOEN.

Expert Lecture on Locating and Contextualising the Emergence of Indian Writing in English
Date: 17 October 2023
Department of English organised the expert lecture on the topic “Locating and Contextualising the Emergence of Indian Writing in English” on 17th October 2023 from 11am to 1pm. The resource person for the session was Dr. Saji Mathew, Associate Professor, M G University, Kerala. Dr. Mathew began his session by providing a comprehensive historical background of Indian writing in English, tracing its origin to the colonial period. He discussed how English became a tool for communication, education and literary expression in India under British rule. The speaker emphasized the evolution of Indian literature in English and how it has transitioned from imitating British literary styles to developing a unique Indian voice.

Dr. Mathew concluded the session by discussing the contemporary trends in Indian writing in English, which includes a more diverse range of voices, the exploration of regional identities, the impact of globalization on Indian writing.

The lecture was met with highly engaged and responsive audience, there were numerous questions and discussion on the interplay of language, identity and the relevance of Indian writing in English today. It was an enlightened event that contributed to a deeper understanding of the cultural and literary heritage of India. Students of III JOEN, PYEN and English Literature were part of the lecture.

Expert Lecture on Gender Studies: Histories and Futurities
Date: 05 October 2023
The Department of English organised an expert lecture on the topic “Gender Studies: Histories and Futurities” on 5th October 2023 from 11am to 1pm. The resource person for the session was Dr. Arunlal Mokeri, Assistant Professor, Government College, Mokeri, Kerala. Dr. Arunlal focussed on the complexities of gender, stressing on its social, cultural, historical representations. The key concepts and theories discussed in the session provided the students with an understanding of its evolving research opportunities.

THE WRITERS GUILD
Date: 19 September 2023
The Department of English organised The Writers Guild on the 19th of September, 2023 from 2.30 pm to 3.30 pm at the M4 Auditorium, Main Block. The resource person for the session was Dr.Lyola Thomas Department of English, Kristu Jayanti College. The session’s opening remarks were an outline of The Writers Guild. She went into further detail about how poetry fits into postmodernism. The speaker described the essence of her published book, “Psalms as Postmodern Poetry.” Elaboration on postmodernism’s core concepts, such as eclecticism, social constructs, subjective reality, and individualism, were given. Also discussed were the key tenets of postmodernism, including intertextuality, referencing, and context. Artworks like Dancing in the Prague (1996) and Museum Garage (2015) were used as illustrations to show how postmodernism is an integral part of daily life. The session overall was incredibly participatory and educational.

The Greatness of India
Date: 16 August 2023
India celebrating its 77th Independence Day, the Department of English, Kristu Jayanti College organized a guest lecture on The Greatness of India led by Dr. S J Michael on 16th of August 2023. Dr. S J Michael enlightened the students by highlighting the multicultural diversity, traditions, hospitality, architectural marvels, sovereign power and the various contributions of the nationhood of India to the world at a large. The resource person made the session very interactive with games and activities to involve the students and increase their awareness and knowledge on the greatness of India. Students were also allowed to clear their doubts in the Q & A session and were also allowed to give feedback on the session.

Expert Lecture on Unveiling the History through Travel Writing
Date: 23 August 2023
Department of English organized an expert lecture on “Unveiling the History Through Travel Writing” for the students of III Sem OE - Travel Literature on 23rd August, 2023 through the Zoom. Dr. L. Santhosh Kumar, Assistant Professor, Department of English, Kristu Jayanti College (Autonomous), Bengaluru was the resource person for the expert lecture. He introduced the students to the history of travel and travel writing through various travel writers and their travel writings. He also discussed the socio-cultural, political, and entrepreneurial aspects of travel literature, its emergence as an all embracing genre and its contemporary relevance in this twenty-first century. Students from the OE - Travel Literature showed much interest in the lecture and appreciated the lecture.

Expert Lecture The World of Linguistics: Dimensions and Possibilities
Date: 20 April 2023
Department of English, Kristu Jayanti College organized an expert lecture on the topic The World of Linguistics: Dimensions and Possibilities for the students of II BA PYEN (psychology and English) on 20/04/2023. The programmme was conducted in the online mode. Dr Devina Krishna, Assistant Professor, Department of English, Patna Women’s College (Autonomous), Patna, Bihar was the resource person. Ms Ann J Mathew, a student of BA II PYEN introduced the topic, and Ms Lucy M of BA II PYEN welcomed the gathering.

Dr. Devina Krishna started the session by introducing the basic concepts in linguistics such as the history of linguistics and the levels of linguistic analysis. The resource person elaborated on the new dimensions of linguistics and explained the interdisciplinary possibilities and career prospects of these collaborations for the students of linguistics. In the Q&A session, the question on artificial intelligence and linguistic possibilities, linguistics and corporate world career possibilities were also addressed.

Ms. Steffina BA II PYEN proposed a vote of thanks. Ms. Minu A, faculty, Department of English, the faculty coordinator of the progarmme was present at the meeting. The programme helped the students to explore new avenues in the field of linguistics. The programme was able to provide a proper direction to the students on the possibilities of language studies.

Science Fiction and Fantasy: A Lacanian Gaze
Date: 01 March 2023
The Department of English organized an expert lecture titled “Science Fiction and Fantasy: A Lacanian Gaze”, on the 1st of March 2023. The resource person invited to deliver the lecture was Dr. Abhishek Chatterjee, Assistant Professor, School of Liberal Arts and Sciences, RV University. The lecture was hosted in the A3 Auditorium in Admin Block at 12 PM. The resource person talked about intersectional Science Fiction writings and their adaptation into film texts, the importance of Jacques Lacan, and the application of psychoanalysis in Science fiction.

The lecture was attended by the students of the Fourth Sem BA English Literature, Fourth Sem BA Psychology English, Sixth Sem BA JPENG B, Sixth Sem BA English Honours, and MA English. The lecture was also attended by a few students from Christ University. At the end of the talk, the floor was open for questions and conversations, the conversations were participatory.

Expert Lecture on Romanticism, Imaginism and Modernism
Date: 14 February 2023
Department of English organised an expert lecture on “Romanticism, Imaginism and Modernism” on 14th February 2023 in M3 Audi, Main block. The resource person for the lecture was Dr. Atiqa Kelsy Assistant Professor, Department. of English, Department of English, St.Xavier’s College, Jaipur. As her lecture aimed at the elements and art of the Romantic and Modern eras. Dr. Atiqa explained the characteristics of the Romantic era and Modern era with many paintings and art which helped the students to understand the concept of romanticism, modernism, and imagine in detail. She also explained the way of understanding the concept through paintings and architecture.

Students from IV JOEN and English Literature attended the session. The students showed great passion in their participation and were excited to gain more knowledge regarding the subjects.

National Lecture Series: “Culinary Explorations: Food and the Literary Imaginations”
Date: 25 February 2023
The third lecture of the National Lecture Series, a collaboration between English Departments of six institutes i.e. Patna Women’s College (Autonomous), Patna, Bihar, General Shivdev Singh Diwan Gurbachan Singh Khalsa College (Autonomous), Patiala, Punjab, Kristu Jayanti College (Autonomous), Bengaluru, Karnataka, St. Aloysius’ College (Autonomous), Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, St. Xavier’s College, Jaipur, Rajasthan and Sophia Girls’ College (Autonomous), Ajmer, Rajasthan across India, was held on 25th February 2023 online vi zoom platform 1 PM. The resource person for the lecture was Dr. Sneha Suresh Assistant Professor, Department. of English, Kristu Jayanti College (Autonomous), Bengaluru, Karnataka her lecture aimed at acquainting students to provide a fundamental understanding of the study of food and a comprehensive knowledge of the scope of culinary studies

The event coordinator, Dr. Mary Raymer, Assistant. Professor, Dept. of English, Kristu Jayanti College along with the Student Coordinators, Mr. Shombit Das and Ms. Soha Anwar of VI BA English (Hons.) which was attended by the students of II BA English Lit., IV BA English Lit. and II Sem BA PYEN along with students and faculty members of the National Lecture Series member institutions. At the end of the lecture, the students were asked to take a 10-minute quiz upon the successful completion of which, students would be granted with a certificate. The students showed great enthusiasm in their participation in this Collaborative venture and were excited to gain more knowledge regarding various subjects over the series of lectures. The session was anchored by Ms. Githika and vote of thanks by Ms . Yadhu

Expert Lecture on Immigrant Writing: Literary Scape and Research Scope
Date: 25 February 2023
On the 25th of February 2023, the Department of English organized an expert lecture on 'Immigrant Writing: Literary Scape and Research Scope', for students of M.A English Literature, III BA English Literature, III BA JP English, and III BA JPS English. The subject expert for the session was Dr. M. Anjum khan, Assistant Professor, Department of English, Avinashilingam Institute for Home science and Higher Education for Women, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. Her lecture introduced the students to the field of immigrant literature and focused on the future of immigrant writing. The problems faced by the immigrants and the difference between the immigrants and migrants were explained. The scope of immigrant studies, books related to immigrant writings, scholarships, courses, and universities available for immigrant studies were listed by Dr. Anjum Khan. This program was well coordinated by Dr. Preetha M., Assistant Professor, Department of English, and Dr. Giftsy Dorcas E., Assistant Professor, Department of English.

Career Prospects for English Majors
Date: 18 November 2022
The Department of English organized an expert session on "Career Prospects for English Majors" in association with the Centre for Employability and Corporate Relations (CECR) to inform English significant students of what their future opportunities may be and ways that would enable them to successfully secure jobs through the placement process in addition to helping them advance in their careers. Prof. Bijin Philip focused on educating the students about the process and how students can eventually succeed in their careers.

The session mainly focused on providing suggestions and guidance regarding how students can make the right choice when it comes to choosing a career path, tips on resume building, preparing for the interview process, and all the small but essential requirements that need to be met.

The session ended with various exciting questions by the students, brilliantly answered by Prof. Bijin Philip, leaving no room for doubts.

Expert Lecture on Art of Film Editing
Date: 23/09/2022
An expert lecture titled “Art of Film Editing” was organized by the Department of English on 23rd September 2022, under the guidance of Dr. Arsha Subbi and Dr. Giftsy Dorcas E. The resource person for the day was Prof. Aby Agustine, Assistant Professor, Department of Media Studies, Kristu Jayanti College (Autonomous), Bengaluru.

The whole lecture was an interactive one with all the audio and visual support. Prof. Aby primarily focused on different techniques commonly used in the field of editing. He explained the advantages and recent trends of the same with examples. Important terms used in the field of film editing were also discussed. Students actively participated in the lecture by asking questions and responding to the questions asked by the resource person. The lecture came to a close with an interactive session.

Expert Lecture on Film Grammar
Date: 06/09/2022
On 6th September, 2022 the department of English organized an expert lecture on film grammar. The resource person for the session was Mr Aby Agustine, Assistant Professor, Department of Media Studies, Kristu Jayanti College. The curriculum of BA English Honours Programme and MA English Literature has integrated film studies course. This expert lecture on film grammar helped students understand the nuances of film language, mis-en-scene, and other technical aspects. The session dealt in-depth with frames, angles, shots, sequencing and montage. This will help students in better film analysis.

Guest Lecture on Decluttering the Discourse of Truth
Date: 7/04/2022
The Department of English, Kristu Jayanti College (Autonomous), Bengaluru, organised a Guest Lecture on 'Decluttering the Discourse of Truth' as a learning enrichment activity on April 07, 2022. The resource person of the programme was Mr. J. S Anantha Krishnan, writer, translator, painter, and research scholar. He is the recipient of the Prime Minister's YUVA Mentoring Young Authors Project Award and scholarship. His lecture provided an insight into the various approaches to unravelling truth emanated through discourses. He spoke about the portrayal and reflection of truth by analysing discourses down the ages and also marvelled at the capabilities of the diverse art forms such as painting in propagating truth. His speech also instigated an inquisitiveness among the participants to observe and wisely make decisions on utilizing social media platforms as it serves as a vital medium in society. After the lecture, a discussion was initiated wherein the students shared their pertinent queries and observations.

International Lecture Series on 'From Postcolonialism to Decoloniality: Exploring Diatopical Hermeneutics'
Date: 08 October 2021

The Department of English, Kristu Jayanti College, Autonomous, Bengaluru, organised an International Lecture Series on 'From Postcolonialism to Decoloniality: Exploring Diatopical Hermeneutics' on 08 October 2021.Fr. Dr. Augustine George, Principal, Kristu Jayanti College gave the introductory remark to the lecture. Prof. Mashrur Shahid Hossain, Professor, Jahangirnagar University, Dhaka, Bangladesh, deliberated on the trajectory from postcolonialism to decoloniality and elaborated the notion of transnational or transcultural reading of diatopical hermeneutics.

Expert lecture on “Society, Theatre and Classroom
Department of English UG organised an Expert lecture on the title “Society, Theatre and Classroom: A virtual interactive session with Mahesh Dattani” on 18th August 2021. The resource person was Mahesh Dattani, celebrated playwright, director, actor, writer, and the first playwright in English to be conferred the Sahitya Akademi Award. The virtual platform brought together research scholars, students and faculties from different corners of India. 1600 participants registered for the Expert lecture.

The session began with a silent prayer. Dr Lillykutty Abraham introduced the guest of the day. Mahesh Dattani started the session by explaining the various aspects of theatre and acting. He passionately spoke about the theatre experience, characters and inspirations of his writings and performance. He appreciated the participants for their responses and interest on theatre art and writings. There were 300 + questions from the participants, the questions were clubbed and answered by the resource person. The session helped the participants to understand the author’s concept of characters and the aspects of theatre in a simpler manner. The session ended on a very successful and transformational note.

Dr Lillykutty Abraham, the chief coordinator of the event was the moderator of the session. Prof. Sumathi N proposed the vote of thanks.

Overall, the session was a pleasant experience of learning the aspects of theatre, writing and performance.

Society, Theatre and Classroom: Mahesh Dattani in Conversation with Jayantians
Date: 17th March 2021
Time: 10.15 am – 11.15am
Topic: “Society, Theatre and Classroom: Mahesh Dattani in Conversation with Jayantians”
Name and Details of the Resource Person: Mahesh Dattani
Celebrated playwright, director, actor, writer, and the first playwright in English to be conferred the Sahitya Akademi Award. His play Final Solutions is taught in the 6th semester of BA English combination classes.
Number of Participants: 450

The session began with a silent prayer. Mr. Jerrin Jose, the coordinator, English department, UG welcomed the resource person and the participants. Dr. Lillykutty Abraham introduced the guest of the day.

Mahesh Dattani invited the students to interact with him. The participants were eager and enthusiastic to meet such a famous personality. There were many questions and he responded tracing his experiences with socio political issues. He described how he was passionately dedicated to the social issuesrelated caste, gender, belief systems, religion and minorities. Dattani appreciated the youth especially the students of our college for engaging in creative exchange of ideas. He left a lasting impression by his spontaneous and encouraging responses as well as his simple personality.

Dr. Lillykutty Abraham, the chief coordinator of the event was the moderator of the session. Ms. Anna Felix, VI BA JPENG A proposed the vote of thanks. Atira Premsingh,VI BA JPsEng was the MC of the session.

Overall, the session was a pleasant experience of learning by interacting with a famous author and playwright.

Shakespeare on Stage, Shakespeare on Page
An expert lecture on Shakespearean drama titled “Shakespeare on stage, Shakespeare on Page” was organized by the Department of English on the 11thDecember 2020 at 3.30pm. The event began with prayer and a brief introduction about the resource person, Prof. Josy Joseph (Associate Professor, SB College, Changanassery). The lecture contained detailed discussion on Shakespeare’s performance script, characters and the influence of his plays. The innovation in Shakespeare’s plots through linguistic vitality, poetic drama and cognitive power despite the lack of originality in his plays was discussed along with a general idea on the structure and outline of theatre during the Elizabethan Era. Through the lecture, students were made aware of the limitations of the time period including lighting, lack of female involvement and the entertainment aspects of the play. Several scenes were read out and analyzed to commemorate characters, actors and the background of the plays through pictures and paintings. The event concluded with a brief interactive session and vote of thanks.

Online Expert Lecture on Literary Popular Culture
The Department of English organized an online Expert Lecture on Literary Popular Culture for all the BA students on 28 the November 2020, from 11:00 am to 12:30 pm. The resource person was Dr. Girish D. Pawar, Assistant Professor in the Department of English of the University of Hyderabad. His lecture was entitled “Is There a Text in ‘Popular’ Culture?” 384 students participated in the event. Dr. Girish Pawar began his lecture with an introduction to the study of popular culture and how it emerged by questioning the dominance of “high culture” in the academia. He spoke about different types of popular culture and how they were discussed and analyzed. He described how it is difficult to define or explain “popular culture” because of the reason that it is not confined only to a particular set of characteristics. He went on to argue that the characteristic features of different popular cultural productions are very vibrant and vivid from one type to the other, even when they may share similarities. He illustrated this by explaining how each book in the famous Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling, through detailed analysis, can be said to belong to different genres. The lecture was followed by a Question & Answer session during which the students interacted enthusiastically with the resource person.

Expert lecture on “Macrocosm to Microcosm: An Exploration of Micro Narratives
Date: 29th September
Time: 3.00-4.30
Topic: “Macrocosm to Microcosm: An Exploration of Micro Narratives”
Name and Details of the Resource Person:
Dr.Kavita Shastri Associate Professor and Head, Department of English and Media Studies, Vijaya College, Jayanagar, Bengaluru. Number of Participants: 137

The Lecture began with a silent prayer. Dr. Lillykutty Abraham, one of the coordinators of the Expert Lecture, welcomed the resource person and the participants. Prof. Akhila Variyar introduced the speaker of the day.

The lecture traced a brief history of micro narratives and explored its present scope, with examples and illustrations from literature, cave painting, twitter feeds and social media post. The speaker highlighted the relevance of micro narratives, as they are tools for self-expression of the manifold voices from all walks of society. She applauded the social media platforms for providing the space for such creative expressions.

Prof. Jimin S Mathew, the co-coordinator, chaired the Q & A session. The participants interacted enthusiastically and their doubts were clarified. The session augmented the understanding on the topic and ended with suggestions for further explorations.

Prof. Jerrin Jose, Coordinator of English Department, proposed the vote of thanks. Overall the session was a pleasant experience of learning by interacting with people seated in different parts of the world.

Trajectory of Missing Narratives in History
Date: 24/01/2017
Name and Details of the Resource Person: Ms. Pushpa Achanta, Writer, Journalist, Blogger and Trainer and author of “Ripples; The Right to Water and Sanitation for Whom?”

The Department of English organized a Guest Lecture by Ms. Pushpa Achanta, a writer, journalist, blogger and trainer with more than 7 years of experience in creating awareness and authoring articles on human rights, achievements and challenges of gender minorities, marginalized women, Dalits, unorganized workers, children, indigenous people and urban and rural poor. faculty coordinators from the Department of English (P.G.) Ms. Susan Sanny and Ms. Sharmin K. Thampi, and faculty coordinators from the Department of English (U.G.), Prof. Stephen and Dr. Amitha Santiago, were present for the lecture.

Ms. Pushpa Achanta started out with an introduction to the topic “Missing Narratives in History”. She talked about areas in literature that are not part mainstream literature and literary studies. She gave references to unique individuals like Ada Augusta who were responsible for Charles Babbage’s contribution to the development of the computer. Instances like the absence of representation of minorities, in terms of religion, caste and gender, where only one set of community gains prominence, while the rest remains ignored, were discussed and debated. The interactive session constituted a discussion on the reasons behind why there has always been an ignorance or gap in mainstream literature and literary studies regarding the representation of certain themes, realities, people and communities. Ms. Achanta concluded her lecture by stating that the essence of writing, expressions and sharing of stories constitute not just as an outlet but also help and expose to the readers real-life catastrophes that individuals, especially those belonging to peripheral communities, go through every day.

Drama - Then and Now
Date: 23/09/2015
Name and Details of the Resource Person: Shri. Manoj Mathew Joseph, Eminent personality in the field of literature and media relation.

On the 23rd of September, the students of MA English Literature and MA Journalism, were graced by the presence of Mr. Manoj Matthew Joseph, an eminent personality in the fields of literature and media relations.

He delivered a lecture titled “Drama – Then and Now”, through which he tried to cover the changes and evolution of drama or theatre from the early period to the current scenario, and relating various examples from literature and media. The major areas of focus were: Milieu, Theme and Setting and the changes from then to now.

Guest Lecture Inside Tracks - Whispers of The Wild: Unveiling Ecocriticism in Literature
Date: 13 September 2024
The 3rd edition of the inside Tracks: Expert Series on Research commenced with this session on 13th September 2024. In this engaging session, the speaker introduced ecocriticism, beginning with its definition and exploring its historical context and key concepts. The discussion covered how nature functions as a character in literature, while also highlighting how cultural perspectives influence environmental narratives. Using literary examples, the speaker illustrated how writers tackle ecological themes, emphasizing the link between activism and ecocriticism. The session also addressed key challenges in the field, such as anthropocentrism and representing non-human entities. Concluding the talk, the speaker reflected on the future directions of ecocriticism, focusing on stewardship and its role in addressing global environmental issues.

The Inside Tracks: Session 11 on Unveiling Participatory Research Horizon in Childhood Studies
Date: 12 March 2024
The Department of English organised The Inside Tracks Session 11 on March 12th, 2024 with Dr. Rini Reba Matthew engaging the audience in a discussion on "Unveiling Participatory Research Horizon in Childhood Studies." She commenced by exploring the fundamental concept of research, underscoring the need for courage and continuous writing to reach a profound level in this endeavour. Dr. Rini posed thought-provoking questions to the audience, such as "Why do you want to do research?" and underscored the importance of securing a fellowship before embarking on a research journey. Notably, she drew attention to the representation of media in childhood studies, citing Shashi Tharoor’s Oxford Union speech about the absence of colonial history in British narratives. The session delved into the practical aspects of research, with Dr. Rini shedding light on the challenges inherent in Participatory Research, encompassing both quantitative and qualitative analysis. To address these hurdles, she offered a practical tip – advocating for training in statistical analysis to enhance research capabilities. In conclusion, Dr. Rini shared valuable information about fellowships and grants for research, highlighting opportunities provided by the government of India. This comprehensive session provided attendees with insights into the complexities of childhood studies and equipped them with practical advice for navigating the research landscape.

The Inside Tracks: Session 10 on Why Ethnomusicology Matters?
Date: 18 January 2024
On January 18th, 2024, Dr. Barnashree Khashnobis, Assistant Professor at Kristu Jayanti College (Autonomous), Bengaluru, delivered a thoughtful presentation on the study of music and why ethnomusicology matters as part of Session 10 of The Inside Tracks. The key focus of her presentation was introducing the term, it’s origin, evolution and the need for music to study cultural evolution of a nation, tribe, and ethnic group. Dr.Barnashree Kashnobis emphasized the critical role of folk songs to study evolution since they tell about the tradition, events or socio political scenario that happened during the composition of such folklores. Dr. Barnashree provided a brief introduction to the ragas, Bhairava and notes of music from ancient time and how it is evolving with time. She highlighted how the evolution of musical instruments also represents the cultural evolution giving example of her own stories and her fondness and connection to music and literature. Music is important to express and even to pass down information, traditions, identity or cultural phenomenon. A notable aspect of Dr. Barnashree’s presentation was her interest and knowledge in the field of musicology, her depth knowledge of the notes and how she emphasized that study of music is important towards creation, towards performance, organization and towards cognition. Music semantically creates meaning and that becomes a discourse beneficial for all kinds of interdisciplinary studies.

Further delving into ethnomusicology, Dr. Barnashree discussed the how’s and why’s of studying ethnomusicology and her research proves that as culture changes with time, music also evolves with culture and that becomes cultural anthropology. She included many historical examples of musical evolution like Mira Bhai’s work of music, jazz, rocks and ongoing evolution like the k-pop. It was a session where Dr Barnashree gave out many ideas for research fields to students to discover and to focus on ethnomusicology, how music attains meaning. Dr. Barnashree explained how the concern lies in the problems of the artist, in how it creates the work of art, the function of art and so forth.

The Inside Tracks: Session 9 on Advanced Research Methodology
Date: 22 September 2023
The Department of English, organised The Inside Tracks: Session 9 on Advanced Research Methodology on the of 22nd September 2023. The session was held in A1 Conference Hall, Admin block, at 2.30 p.m., with the I and II MA English Literature students as audience. Dr. M. Preetha, Assistant Professor, Department of English, Kristu Jayanti College (Autonomous), Bengaluru was the resource person for the session. The session enlightened the students on the various advanced technologies that can be used as part of academic research. In the session, hands-on training was given on using Zotero software for research. The interactive session also provided information on some reliable sources for research.

The Inside Tracks Session-7 - An Introduction to the Spatial Realm of Literature
Date: 08 March 2023
The Department of English organised Session- 7 of The Inside Tracks on 08th March 2023, for the students of MA English Literature. The session was on the topic An Introduction to the Spatial Realm of Literature by Ms. Minu A., Assistant Professor, and Department of English. The session introduced the students to the key concepts of the Spatial Realm of literature. The salient points covered in the session were the history of spatial theory, a brief note on the spatial turn and spatial triad, an overview of spatial theory, and a discussion of the central ideas proposed by the important theorists. The session was made interesting with online literary trivia on some of the prominent places represented in literary texts. Overall, this session proved to be a fruitful learning experience for the students.

The Inside Tracks - Session-6 Cultural Memory
Date: 15 February 2023
The Department of English organised Session-6 of The Inside Tracks on 15th February 2023 for the students of MA English. Dr. Sreedevi Santhosh, Assistant Professor, Department of English delivered a talk on Cultural Memory. The session threw light on the significance of the colonial dictums that have shaped the course of English studies. Further, discussions revolved around the co-relationship between culture and memory studies. The session concluded with a discussion on regional memory.

Digital Humanities - Session-5
Date: 10 February 2023
The Department of English organised Session- 5 of The Inside Tracks on 10th February 2023. The session was an instructive session on Digital Humanities by Ms. V. Iswarya, Assistant Professor, Department of English. The students of MA English Literature were enlightened on the importance of humanities digital humanities in the present scholarly scenario. Students were introduced through demos to many digital platforms like DH projects, JSTORE text analyzer, Google Ngram, and a few others. The program provided an understanding of the intersection of digital technology with humanities scholarship and how the digital landscape is transforming the way we do research.

Inside Tracks – Session 2 - Experiential Learning in the Language Classrooms
Date: 21/09/2022
On the 21st September 2022, the Department of English held the second edition of a novel best practice called the “Inside Tracks” titled ‘Experiential Learning in English Classrooms’ for the students of MA English Literature. This edition aims to provide an understanding of various methods of English language teaching but more specifically, Experiential learning from within the classrooms.

Dr. Masilamani C. began his lecture on the various facets of experiential learning in the English classroom. He started with the example of Isaac Newton’s conceptualization of gravity from experience to reflection to concept formation which in turn forms the final output. He explains the significance of the process in learning as this plays a pivotal role in long term memorization of the concept. He then elucidated the different psychological approaches in learning such as Behaviorism which is learning based on stimulus and response, Cognitivism which is learning through internal processing of information, and Constructivism which relies on experience to construct our knowledge on the subject. An interactive session ensued his pragmatic session where the audience asked the speaker questions and clarifications.

The Inside Tracks– Embracing Inquisitiveness
Date: 14/09/2022
On the 14th of September 2022, the Department of English kickstarted a novel best practice “The Inside Tracks”– an ‘Expert Lecture series on Research’ for the students of MA English Literature. This series aims to foster the students’ interest in the field of research and guide them through their research endeavours.

This enlightening session was attended by the PG students and Faculty members of the Department of English. Dr. J. Nelson Michael, Director, Centre for Research, was the resource person for the event. Dr. Lyola Thomas, Coordinator, Department of English (PG) addressed on the significance of the title “The Inside Tracks” and explained that this series would help the students cut across boundaries and gain an advantageous position in the field of research. Following Dr. Lyola’s address, Dr. J. Nelson Michael started the session on ‘Embracing Inquisitiveness’. He began by praising the Department of English for taking such a wonderful initiative to empower the students to enhance their research abilities. With the help of captivating images, he explained how a student should approach the field of research. He emphasized on adhering to eight values in order to be a good researcher– Refresh your mind, Embrace difference, Sensibility, Ethics, Ardor, Redefinition of your personality, Complementing personality and Happiness. The much interactive session was followed by a series of questions from the inquisitive audience. After the question-answer session, Dr. Lyola presented a memento to Dr. Nelson as a token of appreciation.

Expert Series on Employment Enhancement
Date: 23 September 2024
The Department of English, Kristu Jayanti College, Autonomous, Bengaluru, conducted ENVISION: Expert Series on Employment Enhancement for the MA English students on 23rd September, 2024. The esteemed resource person, for the session was Dr. Saket Ranjan Praveer, Professor, School of Management Studies. Dr. Praveer humorously reflected on his teaching journey, sharing insights from a diverse career that spanned major companies like McDowell and Intel. He emphasised the global nature of career exploration, asking students about their aspirations and engaging them in discussion. Debunking the myth that humanities graduates struggle in corporate roles, he cited successful figures like Carly Fiorina and Howard Schultz, showcasing how humanities skills—critical thinking, empathy, and adaptability—are increasingly valued by employers, especially in the AI era. He highlighted the essential role of communication in business, linking language skills to negotiation and global trade success. Addressing the rise of soft skills in recruitment, he urged students to embrace empirical studies over theoretical concepts, encouraging them to collect data and conduct research. He also referenced T.S. Eliot, encouraging students to draw inspiration from literary figures while navigating their careers. Dr. Praveer concluded by emphasising the importance of integrating AI with human-centered thinking.

Expert series on Employment Enhancement
Date: 16/09/2022
An expert lecture titled “Envison: Expert series on Employment Enhancement” was organized by the Department of English on 16th September 2022 for BA English Hons nd MA English students under the guidance of Fr. Joshy Mathew, Dr Giftsy Dorcas E, Prof. Arsha Subbi and other faculties of various departments.

The resource person for the day was Dr. Gopakumar AV, Dean, Faculty of Humanities. Dr. Gopakumar presently works as Dean Faculty of Humanties, Kristu Jayanti College and also heads the Journalism Department. He has around twenty years of teaching experience spanning Kristu Jayanti College, Manipal Unversity and Sikkim Manipal University. He got into the media world as a magazine correspondent and later as magazine editor of an International Health magazine ‘Inetrnaturalhealth’. Through ‘Indriyum’, a web solution company based in Kerala, he got into new media and there he worked as content editor. His doctoral research is in film studies and he had published numerous research articles in national and international journals about films, new media and advertising.

The whole lecture was an interactive one with all the relevant details and insights on the film industry. Dr. Gopakumar primarily focused on preparing the students for creating awareness and opportunity in the film industry. Sir explained how good visualizing skills come into writing through his example of the movie ‘Chaarulatha’. Furthermore, he explained how a job of a filmmaker is to execute what is there and how they visualize it.

The lecture came to a close with an interactive session. The session had more than 100 participants.

Digi Tech Studio Session: IV Capturing the Essentials : A Creative Discussion On Photography
Date: 11 Septembe 2024
On 11th of September 2024, the Department of English, Kristu Jayayanti College, Autonomous, Bengaluru, organised Session: IV of Digi Tech Studio. Dr. Jithin Joseph, Assistant Professor at Kristu Jayanti College Autonomous, Bengaluru, delivered an engaging presentation on the topic “Capturing the Essentials: A Creative Discussion on Photography”. The session's main goal was to clarify tactics on many aspects of photography. In addition to highlighting the importance of what a photo is, Dr. Joseph made connections between photography and literature. He made comparisons between photography and language. He compared it to a literary work of art, using Robert Browning's "My Last Duchess" as an example. Additionally, he showed a number of images that illustrated and clarified various photographic viewpoints. He also discussed ways to preserve the movement in detail, as well as humanity’s desire to keep time frozen as a movement. In addition, he discussed the development of photography as well as several types of cameras, including polaroid, digital, rolling film, plate, and camera obscura. He described the structures of cameras, aperture, and shutter speed, with a focus on the many kinds of cameras. His discussion effectively highlighted the importance of understanding exposure and balancing the aperture. Finally, he covered some important ground regarding mobile photography, including how the aperture functions in a mobile camera, the rationale behind the usage of various cameras in mobile devices, and a comparison with digital cameras. His discussion of the STAR technique, which emphasises maintaining attention on resolution while also highlighting the possibility of taking quality photographs if one learns about angles and resolution, brought the talk to a close. A wealth of academic knowledge about photography was covered in the session, along with helpful advice on how to take photos that are impactful.

DigiTech Studio Session-3 on Genius Arcade Education through Games Capability Enhancement Programme
Date: 04 March 2024
The Department of English, Kristu Jayanti College organised the Capability Enhancement programme: DigiTech Studio Session 3 Genius Arcade: Education through Games on 04th March 2024 for the II semester MA English Literature students in P1 Conference Hall, PG Block. The resource person for the session was Dr. SJ Michael. Dr Lyola Thomas, Programme Coordinator (PG), extended her greetings to the gathering and emphasised the unique qualities of Dr Michael. The Genius Arcade designed by Dr Michael, is an innovative educational platform designed to engage students in learning through interactive and immersive gaming experiences. By leveraging the power of gamification, the session aimed to make learning enjoyable, effective, and accessible to students of all ages. All the activities were done in pairs based on a random selection of roll numbers of students kept in a box. The game consisted of three rounds. The first round consisted of Connecting Pictures to find out the literary personality. The second round involved was Concept Round which included dumbsharads. A concept was given to one student who had to act it out while another student tried to find the concept. The last round included photographs that were half hidden and the students needed to discover the identity of the hidden person. The students participated with enthusiasm and were fully involved in each round. The Genius Arcade offered a dynamic and effective approach to education, harnessing the power of gaming to inspire curiosity, foster critical thinking, and promote lifelong learning. Through this session, students were able to enhance not only their academic skills but also develop essential 21st-century competencies such as problem-solving, collaboration, and digital literacy.

Digitech Studio Inaugural Session- AI Tools in Digital Marketing
Date: 17 October 2023
The Department of English initiated the Digi Tech Studio, a capability enhancement program series tailored for MA English students. The inaugural session focused on AI tools in digital marketing, featuring Ms. Riya Merin, an esteemed alumna (M.A English, 2019-2021) and current content writer at Gargash Insurance Services, Dubai. Ms. Merin shared insights into the realm of digital marketing, encompassing platforms such as Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, and online shopping sites to connect with consumers. Her presentation covered the five key facets of digital marketing: search engine optimization, social media marketing, email marketing, content marketing, and mobile marketing. Ms. Merin also delved into the objectives of social media, emphasizing goals like enhancing brand awareness, fostering engagement, and community building. The session provided MA English students with valuable knowledge and practical insights into the evolving landscape of digital marketing.

DigiTech Studio Session II
Date: 04 October 2023
The second session of DigiTech Studio was held on November 4th 2023 at P1 Conference Hall. DigiTech Studio is a flagship Capability Enhancement Programme series by the Department of English, aiming to imbue in students the relevant technical skills that will make them stand out amongst peers. Digital tools are an essential aspect of the modern professional landscape. By acquiring skills in such tools at an education level, students have the opportunity to hone in their capabilities and become well rounded professionals.

The session began at 11:00 a.m. welcoming the Chief Guest and Resource Person for the day Ms. Andriya Vilayil Biju, Executive Associate Ernst and Young, Alumnus Kristu Jayanti College. Ms. Biju led an engaging and informative session on "The Mythical Art of the Digital Realm", orienting students with the one stop designing resource - Canva. She provided insight into the core aspects of designing, such as aesthetics, conceptual understanding and the ability to encapsulate the essence within a design. She also emphasized on the importance of individuality in design, and provided advice on how to optimize on the customisable nature of Canva. She further explained that the most crucial step in the design process is to follow one's intuition and stick to it, while considering and weighing outside input. She also answered questions posed by the students regarding the usage of watermarked and copyrighted materials.

WRITER’S ALCOVE: Conversation with Student Freelance Journalist
Date: 23 August 2024
The Department of English organised a skill development program titled Writers’ Alcove for students of III semester MA English Literature, I semester MA English Literature, and V semester BA English Literature on 23rd August 2024. The event took place from 1:40 PM to 2:30 PM at the A2 Auditorium, Admin Block, Kristu Jayanti College, Autonomous, Bengaluru.

The session featured Ms. Merin Susan John, a III semester MA English Literature student from the Department of English, Kristu Jayanti College, Bengaluru, as the resource person. Conducted in the format of an informal interview, the session was hosted by Ms. Ankita Chakra, who initiated the discussion with various questions directed at Ms. Merin.

Ms. Merin shared insights from her experience as a freelance journalist, discussing both the advantages and challenges of the field. She elaborated on how she manages to balance her academic responsibilities with her professional work and provided motivational advice for aspiring journalists, emphasizing the importance of intuition and perseverance. Additionally, Ms. Merin showcased her contributions to several prominent platforms and presented samples of her portfolio and resume. The session was highly engaging and informative, with active audience participation that facilitated a better understanding of the freelance journalism profession.

Valedictory Ceremony of Meliora 2024 Intra-Collegiate Literary Fest
Date: 17 April 2024
The Valedictory Ceremony of Meliora 2024 , the Writers' Association's Intra-Collegiate Literary Fest, held on April 17, 2024, marked the crescendo of a month-long celebration of literature. It served as a vibrant showcase of the abundant talent and boundless creativity possessed by the participating writers. The event was graced by the esteemed presence of Fr. Joshy Mathew, Head of the Department of English , the Director of HR Department and the Director of Library and Information Centres, whose insightful remarks and rich experiences in the literary domain added an extra layer of inspiration to the proceedings. His presence resonated deeply with the audience, enhancing the significance of the occasion. Highlighting the fest's diversity, winners across all four captivating events – Inkspiration, Rhyme Rendezvous, Rhythm Riot, and The Great Meme Off – were celebrated and applauded for their exceptional contributions. Each competition brought forth a unique flair and showcased the multifaceted nature of literature, from the evocative power of words to the rhythmic resonance of poetry, and even the contemporary fusion of humour and creativity in meme-making. The ceremony not only served as a platform to honour the achievers but also fostered a sense of camaraderie among writers, encouraging them to continue exploring and expanding the boundaries of their literary prowess. Overall, the Valedictory Ceremony of Meliora was a fitting conclusion to a month filled with literary fervour and left a lasting impression on all who attended.

MELIORA 2024 : Intra collegiate Literary Fest
Date: 14 March 2024
MELIORA 2024, the Intra collegiate Literary Fest hosted by the Writers Association in collaboration with the Department of English from11th March 2024 to 14th March2024, showcased diverse talents across various departments. The event featured four main contests: INKSPIRATION (short story writing), RHYTHM RIOT (performance poetry), THE GREAT MEME OFF (meme creation), and RHYME RENDEZVOUS (poetry writing). Students exhibited remarkable creativity and passion, crafting engaging narratives, delivering powerful spoken word performances, and producing humorous and thought-provoking memes and poems. A panel of judges assessed entries based on creativity, originality, and presentation. The fest fostered a vibrant atmosphere of literary appreciation and camaraderie, leaving a lasting impact on participants and audience alike. MELIORA 2024 celebrated the art of storytelling and poetic expression, inspiring future generations to embrace their creative potential in the realm of literature.

Writers’ Alcove - Conversation with Student Authors
Date: 04 March 2024
The Skill Development Programme Writers’ Alcove: Conversation with Student Authors was organised by the English Department of Kristu Jayanti College (Autonomous), Bengaluru, on March 4, 2024. The session was conducted by Ms. Ankita Chakra, II sem MA English Literature and took place in the P1 Auditorium of the PG Block. The programme focused on having conversations with upcoming student authors. The student authors for the session were Ms. Anju Theresa Anil (II sem MA English Literature), author of Unraveling the Uncharted: A Poetic Odyssey and Mr. C. Madan Mohan (II sem BA English Literature), author of Dawn of Reminiscences. Ms. Anju talked about her experience moving from the US to India in 2016. She spoke beautifully about how, “everyone is a masterpiece in their own right” and gave an overview of the subjects she covered in her book, which included humour, grief, love, and the diaspora. Then, displaying her lyrical talent, Ms. Anju captivated the audience with a reading of her moving poem “Doris”. Mr. Madan was praised for his open poetry style, which dealt with topics of passion, love, life, and desire. Inspired by literary greats like Sylvia Plath, Pablo Neruda, and Shakespeare, he highlighted the mutually beneficial relationship between poetry and life. The session concluded on a high note, leaving the audience inspired by the profound insights shared by the young authors.

Discourse on: Elemental Ecocriticism
Date: 07 November 2023
The Department of English organised a Discourse on Elemental Ecocriticism at part of Skill Development Activity for the I & III semester MA English Language and Literature students on 7 November 2023. The Program began at 11:00am at A1 Audi, Admin Block. The resource person for the session was Dr. Ruth Magdalene, Department of English, Kristu Jayanti College. The speaker commenced the session with an overview of Elemental Ecocriticism and she explained about North East Indian English Poetry. The resource person indicated the need to explore, Nature Writing Evolution towards Ecocriticism. The session elaborated on the Three Major Elements which were Water, Air, Earth. The macro- and micro-level injustices inflicted upon the elements of nature were systematically elaborated by the speaker with pertinent examples from North East poetry. The intricate relationship between nature and human existence was vividly explained by Dr. Ruth.