INAUGURAL LECTURE
Of nooks of knowledge : Why do we need libraries? Purnima Rao in conversation with Professor Jonathan Koshy Varghese
The gathering in G2 on Thursday, 22nd August, 2019, devoted its one hour and fifteen minutes of Special Assembly to ponder upon the fundamental locations of knowledge - libraries - as the English Department conducted its inaugural lecture with Ms. Purnima Rao in conversation with Professor Jonathan Koshy Varghese.
Ms. Purnima Rao is associated with The Community Library Project, which builds and operates free libraries across Delhi NCR, advocating a library movement in India.
Professor Varghese kicked off the session by acknowledging that libraries are highly regulated and orchestrated. They come with their own rituals and discourses on accessibility. Community libraries, on the other hand, are empowering in the way they make knowledge easily attainable for all.
Taking over, Ms. Rao defined libraries as politically charged movements. Libraries matter because they are inherently open spaces where the community gathers and thinks, deliberates and celebrates.
Talking about the Community Library Project, Ms. Rao said that their libraries are different; they insist on being “excellent libraries” mindfully created for the community. It is with the recognition of the task of building the bridge with people who have been historically marginalised and thus not given the opportunities to become readers, that TCLP functions.
Ms. Rao went on to describe the activities that they undertake, emphasizing on the myriad responsibilities of public libraries, like offering spaces for introspection in this world of fake news, and ensuring that members are comfortable and secure in moments of doubt. She stressed upon the need for addressing members pyaar se, with affection, and zero intimidation, even if they lose or accidentally damage books. She said that when given a chance, children do everything in their power to uphold everyone’s trust. The students’ council of TCLP strengthens social justice, and indeed is the future of the project.
TCLP is working hard to establish itself as a centre of cultural activities, questioning why all intellectual discourses need to be held only in places like the India Habitat Centre, inviting public figures like Mr. Akhil Katyal, a poet and an activist, for a poetry recitation session.
While managing this mammoth task of maintaining community libraries,, TCLP is still grappling with raising funds and equipping their libraries for persons with disabilities. Nevertheless, it is a huge step forward in the making of libraries which are socially responsible and intellectually stimulating for the masses, for new members aren’t avid readers to begin with, but never far from becoming voracious consumers of stories. In the words of Ms. Rao, “Don’t let anyone tell you that there are no readers left in India.”
Talking about her personal journey of being associated with the project, Rajni, an intern with TCLP said, “When I first came in, I was part of the students’ council while I gradually realised that books aren’t that bad. Stories by Roald Dahl became my favourite. I now work on circulation and cataloguing of books. As a member here, I can assure you that when you come to our library, you will feel a certain way, such that you would just want to read the books. After that, you will keep coming to the library.”
Rajni’s words ring true, that we would keep coming to libraries, and projects like TCLP work to realise this institution for all, thus empowering the library movement in India.
BY PAKHI PANDE
Virtual Canvas : Feminist Art Practices by South Asian Women Artists on Instagram A talk by Ms. Isha Yadav
On Friday, 30th August, 2019, the English Literary Association, in collaboration with the Women’s Development Cell, invited Ms. Isha Yadav, an artist and researcher affiliated with Ambedkar University, Delhi, for a presentation entitled, “What can Art Do : Feminist Art Practices by South Asian Women Artists on Instagram”.
As students settled in the New Conference Hall, Ms. Yadav began her talk by addressing the distinctive issues faced by South Asian women, such as caste and religion based violence, arranged marriages, body shaming, and reproductive health. She said that there is a whole world of visual art, including crowd-funded art projects on social media, that give way for social activism by women. Launched in 2010, Instagram has given a whole new meaning to expression and aesthetic, replacing the verbal. This, she said, was the reason she chose Instagram for her research.
With the help of ten slides, she demonstrated how Instagram art by women is challenging conventions, expressing sexuality, making visible state oppression, and critiquing ideas of shame and morality. These slides consisted of works by women of various nationalities, sexual identities, professions, and age groups. One visual, for example, consisted of an embroidered image of a vagina, superimposed on a plant so as to give the illusion of the vagina as a flower. She explained how this image brought a conversation about a taboo subject into the public domain and lifted embroidery out of the fashion industry to critique objectification of women’s bodies. Another image of a sex-worker, with a fitting caption, sought to change the discourse on moral censure, and instead, used a liberatory one to discuss safe sex practices. Yet another titled, “The Rebel Detector”, showed the red hands of authority brutally squeezing a woman’s breasts to check if she was a Maoist. This visually arresting image portrayed violence practised over women’s bodies that was legitimised by the State.
These forms of art not only record women’s biographical and psychological experiences, but also provide effective spaces for critique and dissent. Ms. Yadav concluded that these spaces also provide for new forms of solidarity and community across national, regional, and religious identities, thus empowering women. Because these spaces are enabled by our participation, it becomes our duty to make efforts to speak responsibly and create safe communities despite backlash, hate speeches, and trolling.
Report - Meher Nandrajog, 1-A
Photos - Garima Joshi
As students settled in the New Conference Hall, Ms. Yadav began her talk by addressing the distinctive issues faced by South Asian women, such as caste and religion based violence, arranged marriages, body shaming, and reproductive health. She said that there is a whole world of visual art, including crowd-funded art projects on social media, that give way for social activism by women. Launched in 2010, Instagram has given a whole new meaning to expression and aesthetic, replacing the verbal. This, she said, was the reason she chose Instagram for her research.
With the help of ten slides, she demonstrated how Instagram art by women is challenging conventions, expressing sexuality, making visible state oppression, and critiquing ideas of shame and morality. These slides consisted of works by women of various nationalities, sexual identities, professions, and age groups. One visual, for example, consisted of an embroidered image of a vagina, superimposed on a plant so as to give the illusion of the vagina as a flower. She explained how this image brought a conversation about a taboo subject into the public domain and lifted embroidery out of the fashion industry to critique objectification of women’s bodies. Another image of a sex-worker, with a fitting caption, sought to change the discourse on moral censure, and instead, used a liberatory one to discuss safe sex practices. Yet another titled, “The Rebel Detector”, showed the red hands of authority brutally squeezing a woman’s breasts to check if she was a Maoist. This visually arresting image portrayed violence practised over women’s bodies that was legitimised by the State.
These forms of art not only record women’s biographical and psychological experiences, but also provide effective spaces for critique and dissent. Ms. Yadav concluded that these spaces also provide for new forms of solidarity and community across national, regional, and religious identities, thus empowering women. Because these spaces are enabled by our participation, it becomes our duty to make efforts to speak responsibly and create safe communities despite backlash, hate speeches, and trolling.
Report - Meher Nandrajog, 1-A
Photos - Garima Joshi
Toni Morrison: Beloved and much more
On Monday, 2 nd of September, 2019, Tabeer, the Art and Discussion Club of the English department conducted an informal discussion on the works of the contemporary author, Toni Morrison. The event took place at the Aung San Suu Kyi Centre for Peace during lunch.
People voiced many diverse opinions about the aspects of Morrison’s writings.
The discussion started with Slave Narratives, and how they are detached from the ground reality, because they are essentially a “white perspective” looking on the life of slaves. Then Morrison’s writings were established in this context as the narrative of a Black African
American author. On winning the Noble Prize for Literature, Morrison herself said that she does not want to be remembered as anything and anyone else, but a Black African- American author, so that her writings are read for what they are and not for who wrote them.
The discussion mostly focused on Beloved, The Bluest Eye, and her essay “Black Matters”. Through these writings, many themes and their representations were reflected upon. Some of the points that were discussed were Morrison’s use of memory to construct her narrative; the complex, yet humanized characters that she creates, the detached tone when the actual violence happens (because it is from the perspective of the inflictor of violence and not the victim) and her treatment of “White Religion” as a symbol of resistance and rebellion.
It was an interesting discussion which holds true even in today’s context where voicing dissent comes with its own fears.
Report- Astha Semwal, 3A
Photos - Arunima Bhanot
Queer Feminist Poetics and the Humanities: A talk by Professor Brinda Bose
The English Literary Association invited Professor Brinda Bose, affiliated with the Centre for English Studies, JNU, for a talk titled, “The Body as Method: Queer Feminist Poetics and the Humanities” on Thursday, 12th September 2019, in the New Conference Hall.
Professor Bose opened her lecture by saying that the human body, and literary and visual texts are usually regarded as separate entities in critical thinking. However, reading the corporeality of the body and the text in consonance with each other can be deployed as an empowering method in Humanities. Such a methodology would draw attention to the inscription of the female sexual body into the very language and form of a text, thus enabling us to not only “read the erotic in a text but also to read a text erotically”. She drew parallels with the theorisation of such a methodology in Helene Cixous’s idea of écriture féminine.
Professor Bose exemplified this methodology through a close reading of the poetic fragments of Sappho, a Greek poet who lived in the 5th century B.C.E. The word “lesbian” is derived from "Lesbos", the island where Sappho lived. She explained that while Sappho’s poetry can be understood as the earliest example of the writing of the desiring and loving female body into poetry, this lineage has not been adequately traced. She then traced the Sapphic legacy through the creative and critical work of four poets – Anne Carson, Gertrude Stein, Hilda Doolittle, and Jeannette Winterson.
Anne Carson’s translation of Sappho’s poetic fragments as If Not, Winter: Fragments of Sappho (2002) was discussed as an important methodological intervention where Carson draws attention not only to the sensual presence of the body in Sappho’s poetry, but also to the tantalising absences. She fills in the lacunae in Sappho’s fragments with brackets, thus interpreting, re-enacting, and claiming legacy through translation. Hilda Doolittle, a 20th century imagist poet, consciously claimed this legacy through her new genre of “poetic expansion”, in which she would complete Sappho’s fragments into full poems, thus giving voice to female desire and sexuality. Similarly, Gertrude Stein’s poetry of queer sexuality, for example, “Lifting Belly” (1915-17) pays tribute to Sappho. Jeannette Winterson’s creative non-fiction Art and Lies discusses how Sappho’s autobiography is written on the body of later poets.
Thus, Professor Bose traced Sappho’s legacy of queer poetics through contemporary women’s writing.
Report- Meher Nandrajog, 1A
Photos - Surbhi Raj
Chalti Tasveerein: Discussion on the accessibility of cinema and democratisation of art
On the 12th of September, Taabeer - the arts and discussion club of the English department invited Chalti Tasveerein - a collective working towards making cinema accessible, for a discussion on the democratisation of art. Aswathy, Seema, and Kavitha from the collective spoke of the ethos of the group and elaborated upon why it becomes extremely crucial to look at cinema beyond the multiplexes or spaces that only a few have access to; spaces that are exclusionary, and cater to the interests of a select few.
The event started off with a conversation about the project that they undertook in 2018; Chalti Tasveerein screened films across seven North Indian states, for about 45 days. The experiences of screening films aimed at harbouring the interest in collective viewing, and generating discourses that matter, resulted in a truly unique experience for the team that encountered different sets of people from all walks of life.
The discussion was followed by the screening of films; the first film that was screened was an Oscar-winning short film titled "Neighbours".
The film starts off as a slapstick comedy about two neighbours. However, it manages to use stop-motion and whimsical imagery to describe the concepts of boundaries, nationalism and the violence perpetrated during war. Chorus, by Abbas Kiarastomi was another film that was screened; the film emphasises the importance of solidarity, collective action, and strength in unity. The film was received with interesting responses from the audience who could draw various parallels to the socio-political climate of our times. The concepts of the various mediums of art, particularly music, as a form of resistance was highlighted. Two music videos titled "Kodaikanal won't", and Fan Baba Sahib di were shown. The former, a rap video from Kodaikanal used the art form to make a statement against Unilever's mining in the area; the latter, a Punjabi music video was about B.R Ambedkar. Both of these narratives are hidden from the masses, or ignored due to the larger confluence of media, power, and advertising.
The session ended with a conversation with Kavitha and Seema- both volunteers at the collective, as well as members of the Delhi Youth Artists Forum. They spoke of their experiences of screening the films in their locality, and the responses for the same. The session proved to be a truly enriching experience for the audience.
Report- Vidhatri Rao, 2B
Photos- Aanchal Bagaria, 2-B
The event started off with a conversation about the project that they undertook in 2018; Chalti Tasveerein screened films across seven North Indian states, for about 45 days. The experiences of screening films aimed at harbouring the interest in collective viewing, and generating discourses that matter, resulted in a truly unique experience for the team that encountered different sets of people from all walks of life.
The discussion was followed by the screening of films; the first film that was screened was an Oscar-winning short film titled "Neighbours".
The film starts off as a slapstick comedy about two neighbours. However, it manages to use stop-motion and whimsical imagery to describe the concepts of boundaries, nationalism and the violence perpetrated during war. Chorus, by Abbas Kiarastomi was another film that was screened; the film emphasises the importance of solidarity, collective action, and strength in unity. The film was received with interesting responses from the audience who could draw various parallels to the socio-political climate of our times. The concepts of the various mediums of art, particularly music, as a form of resistance was highlighted. Two music videos titled "Kodaikanal won't", and Fan Baba Sahib di were shown. The former, a rap video from Kodaikanal used the art form to make a statement against Unilever's mining in the area; the latter, a Punjabi music video was about B.R Ambedkar. Both of these narratives are hidden from the masses, or ignored due to the larger confluence of media, power, and advertising.
The session ended with a conversation with Kavitha and Seema- both volunteers at the collective, as well as members of the Delhi Youth Artists Forum. They spoke of their experiences of screening the films in their locality, and the responses for the same. The session proved to be a truly enriching experience for the audience.
Report- Vidhatri Rao, 2B
Photos- Aanchal Bagaria, 2-B
Stretching The Imagination : A Theatre Workshop by
Ms. Maya Rao
On Thursday, 26th of September, 2019, Taabeer, the Art and Discussion Club of the English Department and the Elocution Society collaborated for a theatre workshop called “Stretching The Imagination”. It was conducted by Ms. Maya Rao,a Delhi based actor, director, writer and educator who has been awarded the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (2010).
The session began with a simple exercise where the participants were asked to create movement as a group, simply by sensing the presence of others. No words were spoken,there was meaning in the silence. When Ms. Maya spoke, she was not to be looked at ,as in theatre, the source of sound is to be imagined and not viewed . The students were then asked to walk around the room in a way that all spaces were covered. Throughout the workshop, there were moments when participants were asked to freeze and simply focus.
Participants were given the concept of "goodbye" and were asked to create movements with their arm with it. They were then asked to visualise meeting someone close for the last time. How would their movement be? They learnt that taking risks with the body is essential.What movement would they create if they had to visualise getting somewhere? There were absolutely no rules, and certainly no correct way of doing so. One was free to let your intuition guide your body. Ms. Maya also played a music track and asked participants to respond to it while they performed these actions. The idea of “getting there” was also to be expressed separately through different parts of the body one by one,starting with the shoulders, reaching the feet and later the legs.
In the next segment, participants were asked to freeze, close their eyes and simply focus on Ms. Maya's voice."You are you because of the others who exist around you,” she said, “and I want to leave you with this thought.”
The session ended with the round of responses and reactions to the workshop. The students were tired and exhausted, but each one left with a smile on their faces. “I fully experienced every second of this one hour”, a student expressed, while another said, “I'm so grateful that this workshop was organised!”as she hurried off to the next class.
Report- Khushi Rolania, 2B
The session began with a simple exercise where the participants were asked to create movement as a group, simply by sensing the presence of others. No words were spoken,there was meaning in the silence. When Ms. Maya spoke, she was not to be looked at ,as in theatre, the source of sound is to be imagined and not viewed . The students were then asked to walk around the room in a way that all spaces were covered. Throughout the workshop, there were moments when participants were asked to freeze and simply focus.
Participants were given the concept of "goodbye" and were asked to create movements with their arm with it. They were then asked to visualise meeting someone close for the last time. How would their movement be? They learnt that taking risks with the body is essential.What movement would they create if they had to visualise getting somewhere? There were absolutely no rules, and certainly no correct way of doing so. One was free to let your intuition guide your body. Ms. Maya also played a music track and asked participants to respond to it while they performed these actions. The idea of “getting there” was also to be expressed separately through different parts of the body one by one,starting with the shoulders, reaching the feet and later the legs.
In the next segment, participants were asked to freeze, close their eyes and simply focus on Ms. Maya's voice."You are you because of the others who exist around you,” she said, “and I want to leave you with this thought.”
The session ended with the round of responses and reactions to the workshop. The students were tired and exhausted, but each one left with a smile on their faces. “I fully experienced every second of this one hour”, a student expressed, while another said, “I'm so grateful that this workshop was organised!”as she hurried off to the next class.
Report- Khushi Rolania, 2B
A few doodles and some guesswork : Pictionary!
On the 1st of October,2019, the English Literary Association organized an enjoyable game of Pictionary for all members of the English Department. The event was conducted by Astha Bamba and Saadhya Mohan from the Ideation team during the lunch break in G2. It witnessed a good turnout from students of all three years alike.
The event began with a simple explanation of the game. A volunteer would pick up a chit from a bag and try to get answers from the crowd by illustrating it on the board. There was no fixed time limit for this. It didn’t matter how badly(or well) you drew as long as people could guess your book or movie! The first volunteer was Taru Ahluwalia from 2nd year who had to depict the movie -”A Christmas Carol”. The group was enthusiastic and full of people who could think quickly on their feet and took no time to give answers. This was followed by other interesting songs, shows and movies like “Halo”, ”Doctor Who”, ”The Notebook” and many others. Even animated movies and shows like “ The Powerpuff Girls” and Moana were featured on the game. Volunteers came up with interesting and unique ideas to depict their prompts and their cute doodles certainly brought a smile to everyone’s faces. The game ended with the depiction of “ The Game Of Thrones” by C Subashree Shivani from 3rd year.
Report - Khushi Rolania, 2B
Photos - Shilpi Seth, 3B
(Re)memory:Toni Morrison and the ghosts of things past by Professor Karen Gabriel
On Tuesday, 22nd of October, a memorial lecture by Professor Karen Gabriel on Toni Morrison and her works was held in G2 from 4:30 to 5:30 pm, organised by the English Literary Association. Professor Gabriel is the Director, Centre for the Study of Gender,Culture and Social Processes and Associate Professor, Department of English, St. Stephen’s College, Delhi University.
Toni Morrison wrote 11 novels, for both creative and academic purposes.The fact that Morrison reflected on her works provides great insight and understanding into her writings. Professor Gabriel introduced Morrison’s important works as a writer : The Source of Self-Regard:Selected Essays, Speeches and Meditation; The Bluest Eye;Beloved and Jazz. Morrison also edited works like: To Die For The People’ by Huey Newton and Birth of a Nation’hood: Gaze, Script and Spectacle in the O.J. Simpson Case. Dreaming Emmett, her first play, based on the life of Emmett Till was also briefly spoken about. Morrison’s powerful writings enabled Black Literature to be brought into ‘mainstream’ literature and strengthened her association with the Black Arts Movement. She believed that she could help the erasure of history and the collective amnesia of Americans and wrote as a postmodern writer who bore witness to unrecorded history. Professor Gabriel spoke extensively about Beloved and mentioned that Morrison had actually anticipated it to be her least read novel. She covered themes such as memory, inscription on the slaves' body, sentimentality and symbolism.
The lecture was exhaustive and was enjoyed by everyone who attended it. It was an enlightening session on Black Literature and Toni Morrison's esteemed place in the same.
Report- Khushi Rolania, 2B
Photos- Arunima Bhanot, 3A
Toni Morrison wrote 11 novels, for both creative and academic purposes.The fact that Morrison reflected on her works provides great insight and understanding into her writings. Professor Gabriel introduced Morrison’s important works as a writer : The Source of Self-Regard:Selected Essays, Speeches and Meditation; The Bluest Eye;Beloved and Jazz. Morrison also edited works like: To Die For The People’ by Huey Newton and Birth of a Nation’hood: Gaze, Script and Spectacle in the O.J. Simpson Case. Dreaming Emmett, her first play, based on the life of Emmett Till was also briefly spoken about. Morrison’s powerful writings enabled Black Literature to be brought into ‘mainstream’ literature and strengthened her association with the Black Arts Movement. She believed that she could help the erasure of history and the collective amnesia of Americans and wrote as a postmodern writer who bore witness to unrecorded history. Professor Gabriel spoke extensively about Beloved and mentioned that Morrison had actually anticipated it to be her least read novel. She covered themes such as memory, inscription on the slaves' body, sentimentality and symbolism.
The lecture was exhaustive and was enjoyed by everyone who attended it. It was an enlightening session on Black Literature and Toni Morrison's esteemed place in the same.
Report- Khushi Rolania, 2B
Photos- Arunima Bhanot, 3A
A Tribute to V. S. Naipaul
On Friday, 24th October 2019, the English Literary Association organized an event to pay tribute to the literary titan - V.S.Naipaul. The event took place during the special assembly in G2 and was conducted by Dr. Shernaz Cama.
The event commenced with an introduction for Naipaul who was a great novelist, having penned over thirty books, including fiction, nonfiction and several articles. As per Naipaul, "Fiction never lies; it reveals the writer totally." Two of the greatest novels authored by him are A House for Mr. Biswas (1961) and A Bend in the River (1979). His use of brilliant and readable English attracts readers from all ages. "The world is always in movement", is one of the most profound statements by Naipaul. He had traveled extensively and had been to the darkest corners of this ineffable world seeking to show a mirror to mankind. He was a living symbol of synthesis of culture, yet died with a sense of placelessness. His statement "My transient life" makes one wonder what it means to be a citizen of the world when all we want is a small room made of bricks that invokes a sense of belonging.
It was an insightful and introspective talk delivered by Dr. Shernaz Cama. PanMacmillan Books, India donated various books by the legendary V. S. Naipaul to the LSR library and students received bookmarks. It was a well attended session and students surely look forward to more such insightful events.
Report by - Anusha Khan, 1B
Photos by - Muskaan Aamir, 2A
The event commenced with an introduction for Naipaul who was a great novelist, having penned over thirty books, including fiction, nonfiction and several articles. As per Naipaul, "Fiction never lies; it reveals the writer totally." Two of the greatest novels authored by him are A House for Mr. Biswas (1961) and A Bend in the River (1979). His use of brilliant and readable English attracts readers from all ages. "The world is always in movement", is one of the most profound statements by Naipaul. He had traveled extensively and had been to the darkest corners of this ineffable world seeking to show a mirror to mankind. He was a living symbol of synthesis of culture, yet died with a sense of placelessness. His statement "My transient life" makes one wonder what it means to be a citizen of the world when all we want is a small room made of bricks that invokes a sense of belonging.
It was an insightful and introspective talk delivered by Dr. Shernaz Cama. PanMacmillan Books, India donated various books by the legendary V. S. Naipaul to the LSR library and students received bookmarks. It was a well attended session and students surely look forward to more such insightful events.
Report by - Anusha Khan, 1B
Photos by - Muskaan Aamir, 2A
Introduction to Research Methodology
The English Literary Association organised a lecture on “Introduction to Research Methodology”, conducted by Professor Wafa Hamid, in the wake of many students accustoming themselves with academic writing in literature during this time of the year. The lecture was held on Friday, 25th October, 2019 in G2.
The lecture began with professor Arti Minocha giving the students a brief overview about the qualitative and quantitative difference between a class assignment and a research paper. Professor Hamid took it forward from there by talking about how unnerving the task of writing a research paper could seem. She emphasised that there is no “ideal” way and the task happens to be a “huge mess” which is likewise for almost everyone majoring in Literature. Anyhow, research papers are an essential part of the world of academics and it is important to take it up every time one gets a chance in order to get used to the process. Professor Hamid explained, that research could be a genre of its own; it is like an “independent organism” which keeps growing as per the amount of time it is given. It does not just involve reading but far more than that, it needs an area of focus and various concepts dealing with it for it to become research, yet it is like “the Garden of Eden”, one cannot stay in it for long.
Professor Hamid went on to describe the process of condensing an abstract to a topic. She mentioned that a research paper does not always have to be an authentic opinion piece but it could also be an added extension or a new argument to a topic. Firstly, it is important to look up a broad idea, which is also, where the process of research methodology becomes subjective. The methodology varies depending upon the approach to the focused area; the methodology for an author based research would differ from a theme based paper. Therefore, one needs to read up a lot on the vague ideas to start from scratch. It is always better to read primary sources such as books, academic papers, interviews from archives rather than Wikipedia or blogs while getting into the research. On a side note while making points, one should also maintain a list of bibliography or a legal contract if necessary, like in the case of personal interviews, when using authentic sources.
The next helpful step is to establish a strong “What? Why? How?” for the topic, which could be later included in the introduction for the paper. Then, it is the time to discuss the idea with faculty, look up news sources online and other secondary sources. Professor Hamid emphasised that it is normal to only use 10% of the research into the paper. Secondly, one needs to read a lot more for the main content of the paper. This includes concepts which are to largely deal with the theme or the topic one’s paper is based on. Online research, books and many other primary sources may help at this point in the process. It is possible that the student may not find their “flow”, yet. After introducing the relevant concepts, in the next step, one may go onto describe their own perspective or approach, so to say, argument which might be in support or opposition of an opinion to a subject. At this stage, it is vital to spend enough time with the research and writing, bringing it towards a close. Thirdly, the conclusion does not necessarily have to be a resolution to a problem but it can also be a sum up of the paper or even the proof of the introduction. The paper might also end on an interrogative note.
Lastly, Professor Hamid explained that citations are of prime importance in order to maintain authenticity and prevent plagiarism. Everything from titles of books which have to be written in italics, to video links have to be mentioned in citations. When the first draft is completed, there is no harm in taking a sufficient amount of break and then coming back to the paper for a review. Professor Hamid summed up the lecture asking the students to always keep a deadline in mind and urged them to try and have fun with the process.
Report by - Ankita Priya. 2A
Photos by - Muskaan Aamir, 2A
The lecture began with professor Arti Minocha giving the students a brief overview about the qualitative and quantitative difference between a class assignment and a research paper. Professor Hamid took it forward from there by talking about how unnerving the task of writing a research paper could seem. She emphasised that there is no “ideal” way and the task happens to be a “huge mess” which is likewise for almost everyone majoring in Literature. Anyhow, research papers are an essential part of the world of academics and it is important to take it up every time one gets a chance in order to get used to the process. Professor Hamid explained, that research could be a genre of its own; it is like an “independent organism” which keeps growing as per the amount of time it is given. It does not just involve reading but far more than that, it needs an area of focus and various concepts dealing with it for it to become research, yet it is like “the Garden of Eden”, one cannot stay in it for long.
Professor Hamid went on to describe the process of condensing an abstract to a topic. She mentioned that a research paper does not always have to be an authentic opinion piece but it could also be an added extension or a new argument to a topic. Firstly, it is important to look up a broad idea, which is also, where the process of research methodology becomes subjective. The methodology varies depending upon the approach to the focused area; the methodology for an author based research would differ from a theme based paper. Therefore, one needs to read up a lot on the vague ideas to start from scratch. It is always better to read primary sources such as books, academic papers, interviews from archives rather than Wikipedia or blogs while getting into the research. On a side note while making points, one should also maintain a list of bibliography or a legal contract if necessary, like in the case of personal interviews, when using authentic sources.
The next helpful step is to establish a strong “What? Why? How?” for the topic, which could be later included in the introduction for the paper. Then, it is the time to discuss the idea with faculty, look up news sources online and other secondary sources. Professor Hamid emphasised that it is normal to only use 10% of the research into the paper. Secondly, one needs to read a lot more for the main content of the paper. This includes concepts which are to largely deal with the theme or the topic one’s paper is based on. Online research, books and many other primary sources may help at this point in the process. It is possible that the student may not find their “flow”, yet. After introducing the relevant concepts, in the next step, one may go onto describe their own perspective or approach, so to say, argument which might be in support or opposition of an opinion to a subject. At this stage, it is vital to spend enough time with the research and writing, bringing it towards a close. Thirdly, the conclusion does not necessarily have to be a resolution to a problem but it can also be a sum up of the paper or even the proof of the introduction. The paper might also end on an interrogative note.
Lastly, Professor Hamid explained that citations are of prime importance in order to maintain authenticity and prevent plagiarism. Everything from titles of books which have to be written in italics, to video links have to be mentioned in citations. When the first draft is completed, there is no harm in taking a sufficient amount of break and then coming back to the paper for a review. Professor Hamid summed up the lecture asking the students to always keep a deadline in mind and urged them to try and have fun with the process.
Report by - Ankita Priya. 2A
Photos by - Muskaan Aamir, 2A
Uncovering the Aesthetics of Laughter
On 10th January 2020, the English Literary Association conducted a paper presentation by Nishtha Pandey, a doctoral research scholar at the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, IIT Madras. She completed her Bachelors in English from LSR in 2014, followed by M.A at the Department of English, DU.
The paper was centred around the various concepts of laughter as an aesthetic in the literary world as it was evident through the creative title of the paper, “Laughter is no joking matter!” - Towards an Aesthetic of Laughter. The paper mainly focused on subjectively answering the following three questions, “Why Laughter? How Laughter? What laughter?”, as Professor Pandey went on to explain numerous theories and researches dealing with this notion. She emphasised, how terms like humour and comedy which are used synonymously with laughter, are actually completely different concepts. The students were introduced with numerous ancient as well as contemporary theories such as dark humour, absurdity and restoration comedy. Theories from the times of Plato to Bakhtin and so on were spoken about, allowing everyone in the room to contemplate and ponder upon.
This session was an open door to delve into the world of comedy in literature. It was an eye opening talk for all the students of the English Department present there. It not only helped the students in understanding the different notions of laughter but also gave them an experience to learn the skills required for writing a research paper.
Report by - Ankita Priya, 2A
Photos by - Muskaan Aamir, 2A
Of Beaming Brownies, Chips and Chatter : Tea-à-Tête
Jabberwock, the Print Journal and Online Magazine of the Department of English, organised (the annual) ‘Tea-à-Tête’— an informal gathering for the teachers and students of the department— that took place on Thursday, the 6th of February. It took the form of an interactive session with food and games between the students and the faculty for a chance at fun conversations outside of the limiting space of a classroom.
The event opened with a game— ‘Describe the Plot’— in which the teachers had to pick chits containing names of books which they then had to make the students guess by mentioning one key feature of the text. The students were quick in their responses and several works, including Macbeth, Hamlet, and A Christmas Carol were guessed almost instantaneously. This was followed by an informal conversation, an opportunity which the students used to get to know their teachers better. The faculty was asked a wide range of questions about their favourite and least favourite texts, their most memorable students, what alternate professions they would have pursued, and the most imaginative excuses they have received from students over their years of teaching.
Another game played was called ‘Whose Line is it Anyway’ in which the students and teachers had to identify either the text or the author— ranging from Sylvia Plath and Margaret Atwood to Game of Thrones— through a single phrase. This was the made more interesting with the quotes from texts being replaced with signature catch-phrases used by various teachers of the Department who the students had to identify.
The session ended with the teachers sharing stories and experiences of their college days when asked about what kind of students they used to be. This informal interaction was a refreshing change from the formal classroom setup and was appreciated by both teachers and students. Everyone left with stories and smiles on their faces.
Report by : Meher Nandrajog, 1A
Photos by : Surbhi Raj
The event opened with a game— ‘Describe the Plot’— in which the teachers had to pick chits containing names of books which they then had to make the students guess by mentioning one key feature of the text. The students were quick in their responses and several works, including Macbeth, Hamlet, and A Christmas Carol were guessed almost instantaneously. This was followed by an informal conversation, an opportunity which the students used to get to know their teachers better. The faculty was asked a wide range of questions about their favourite and least favourite texts, their most memorable students, what alternate professions they would have pursued, and the most imaginative excuses they have received from students over their years of teaching.
Another game played was called ‘Whose Line is it Anyway’ in which the students and teachers had to identify either the text or the author— ranging from Sylvia Plath and Margaret Atwood to Game of Thrones— through a single phrase. This was the made more interesting with the quotes from texts being replaced with signature catch-phrases used by various teachers of the Department who the students had to identify.
The session ended with the teachers sharing stories and experiences of their college days when asked about what kind of students they used to be. This informal interaction was a refreshing change from the formal classroom setup and was appreciated by both teachers and students. Everyone left with stories and smiles on their faces.
Report by : Meher Nandrajog, 1A
Photos by : Surbhi Raj
Manto and the Time of his Life : Movie Screening of Manto (2018)
On Thursday, 13th February 2020, the Department of English at Lady Shri Ram College organised a screening of the Nandita Das film, Manto. The screening witnessed a turnout of a little over 20 students, and Professor Maya Joshi was also present briefly to join in the cinematic experience.
Starring Nawazuddin Siddiqui in the titular role of Saadat Hassan Manto and Rasika Duggal as his wife, Safia Manto; directed by the perceptive Nandita Das, the 2018 film tells the story of Manto's life in a non-linear narrative fashion, interspersing five of the writer's short-stories as elements within his real life journey on screen. It captures his famous stories such as Toba Tek Singh, set in the time of Partition, illuminating in a bittersweet ironic fashion the blurred lines of sanity and insanity when it comes to artificially (socially and politically) constructed categories (my home and yours, self and other, etc.). Thanda Gosht, a sardonic narration of the gendered atrocities committed during the India-Pakistan Partition, is a spine-chilling thread to bind together the chaos of Manto's own life in the newly independent India.
In an initial scene of the film where Ismat Chugtai (played by Rajshri Deshpande), a feminist contemporary writer and a friend to Manto, is discussing their charges of obscenity with a Manto, he responds : "Agar aap mere afsaano ko bardaasht nahi kar sakte, toh yeh zamaana hii naakaabil-e-bardaasht hai. (If you cannot be tolerant to my tales, then this society itself has turned intolerant in nature.)" In times like the present, these words gain all the more significance.
Students of the Department acknowledge this relevance and acknowledge the same by saying - "Nandita Das does a brilliant job of chronicling the life of Sadat Hasan Manto. It almost feels like the audience is on a journey with him, and his ups and downs as a writer in the polarised world of the time. It's all the more relevant today."
Report by : Anushree Joshi and Vidhatri Roy (2B)
Photod by : Ankita Priya (2A)
Starring Nawazuddin Siddiqui in the titular role of Saadat Hassan Manto and Rasika Duggal as his wife, Safia Manto; directed by the perceptive Nandita Das, the 2018 film tells the story of Manto's life in a non-linear narrative fashion, interspersing five of the writer's short-stories as elements within his real life journey on screen. It captures his famous stories such as Toba Tek Singh, set in the time of Partition, illuminating in a bittersweet ironic fashion the blurred lines of sanity and insanity when it comes to artificially (socially and politically) constructed categories (my home and yours, self and other, etc.). Thanda Gosht, a sardonic narration of the gendered atrocities committed during the India-Pakistan Partition, is a spine-chilling thread to bind together the chaos of Manto's own life in the newly independent India.
In an initial scene of the film where Ismat Chugtai (played by Rajshri Deshpande), a feminist contemporary writer and a friend to Manto, is discussing their charges of obscenity with a Manto, he responds : "Agar aap mere afsaano ko bardaasht nahi kar sakte, toh yeh zamaana hii naakaabil-e-bardaasht hai. (If you cannot be tolerant to my tales, then this society itself has turned intolerant in nature.)" In times like the present, these words gain all the more significance.
Students of the Department acknowledge this relevance and acknowledge the same by saying - "Nandita Das does a brilliant job of chronicling the life of Sadat Hasan Manto. It almost feels like the audience is on a journey with him, and his ups and downs as a writer in the polarised world of the time. It's all the more relevant today."
Report by : Anushree Joshi and Vidhatri Roy (2B)
Photod by : Ankita Priya (2A)