English
The Department of English was established in 1952, the year of the inception of the college. It started offering M.A. in English Language and Literature in 1966, and B.A. in English Language and Literature in 1967. The Department was recognized as a Research Department in 1985. Comparative Literature Research and Study Centre (CLRSC) started functioning in 1998. A Certificate Course in Communicative English was being offered in the department since 1995. In 2006, the UGC sanctioned two Add- On Courses: ‘ Communicative English ‘ and ‘Visual Communication’.
The Department offers the following programmes:
- B. A. English Language & Literature Model I
- M. A. English
- Ph. D. in English
English Literary Association
The English Literary Association comprises of the teachers and students of the Postgraduate Department of English. The Association aims at the overall development of the students, fostering brotherhood, promoting a healthy competitive spirit and engaging in charitable activities. The formal inauguration of the English Literary Association was held on 15th July, 2019. Ms Jovitta Thomas, Sr Advisor of UN to the Deputy Minister of Municipalities, Afghanistan inaugurated the English Literary Association 2019-20.
‘Aksharakoottam’
This year a new programme called ‘Aksharakoottam’ – a series of varied events, was introduced to nurture the various latent talents of the students. The first event in this series was ‘A tribute to Girish Karnad’ held on 25th June, 2019.
A few scenes from the play Hayavadana were staged in the college quadrangle, and many of his other works were introduced to students. The second programme of the Aksharakoottam series was a patriotic programme under the caption ‘Let my Country Awake’ held on 29th August, 2019. The next programme was a ‘Group Discussion on Citizenship Amendment Act’ held on 18th December, 2019. Prof. Vishnu Namboodiri K M, HOD of History, Mar Thoma College, Tiruvallawas the moderator of the discussion. Several inter-house competitions were organized for the students in September and October, 2019.
The students of the department visited Gilgal Aswasa Bhavan, Eraviperoor on 20th December, 2019, and conducted a short Christmas programme for the inmates. An Inter-collegiate Literary and cultural fest ‘Muses 2020’ was held on 16th January, 2020 and 167 participants from colleges across the state participated in the seven competitions. ‘Odyssey’ – the annual intercollegiate quiz and debate competition was conducted on 17th January, 2020. Mar Ivanios College, Thiruvananthapuram won the first prize. The drama club of the department ‘Prism’ was inaugurated on 29th February, 2020 and two shows of the play ‘Boiled Beans on Toast’ was staged.
Research
In 1985, the Department of English was elevated to the status of a research department by Mahatma Gandhi University. The CLRSC (Comparative Literature Research and Studies Centre) established in 1998, functioning under the Department of English as a separate Research Centre, has been instrumental in channelizing the research endeavours of students, teachers and scholars.
Facilities
- Computerized Language Lab, offering 15 positions.
- Seminar and Reading Room (CLRSC) for Research Scholars and Staff with a Reference Section containing more than 500 books, dissertations and back issues of journals.
- Audio-Visual Facilities for Training in Communicative Skills.
- Internet browsing facility for Students and Staff.
Faculty
Achievements
JRF/NET/SET – Qualified students
| No | Name of the Student | NET/JRF/SET | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | ANN MARY RAJU | NET | 2012 |
| 2. | SAM JOHNSON | NET | 2012 |
| 3. | GREESHMA. P.S | SET | 2012 |
| 4. | JIJO VARGHESE | SET | 2012 |
| 5. | JISHA MOL.M.S | SET | 2012 |
| 6. | PREETHAELSA MATHEW | SET | 2012 |
| 7. | RAJEESHA RAVEENDRAN | SET | 2012 |
| 8. | ASWATHY RAJ | NET | 2013 |
| 9. | ALPHONSA JAMES | SET | 2013 |
| 10. | ASHER K.MATHEW | SET | 2013 |
| 11. | DHANYASREE. P | SET | 2013 |
| 12. | GAYATHRI. S | SET | 2013 |
| 13. | JAYASRUTHY M. VARGHESE | SET | 2013 |
| 14. | MERIN MARY THOMAS | SET | 2013 |
| 15. | NEENA MARIAM VARGHESE | SET | 2013 |
| 16. | SARAMMA JOHN | SET | 2013 |
| 17. | SHEMA PRAKASH | SET | 2013 |
| 18. | TINU JOSEPH | SET | 2013 |
| 19. | SHAMBHU. R | JRF/ NET | 2014 |
| 20. | DHANYASREE. P | NET | 2014 |
| 21. | JIJO VARGHESE | NET | 2014 |
| 22. | REEBA SARA KOSHY | NET | 2014 |
| 23. | ANJU PRADEEP | SET | 2014 |
| 24. | MARIAM SUSAN ALEX | SET | 2014 |
| 25. | MEENU. M | SET | 2014 |
| 26. | ASWATHY MAHESWARAN | JRF/ NET | 2015 |
| 27. | ANJU P. VARGHESE | SET | 2015 |
| 28. | ARUN KRISHNA. P | SET | 2015 |
| 29. | ASWATHY MAHESWARAN | SET | 2015 |
| 30. | INDU. C | SET | 2015 |
| 31. | TINTU JOSE | SET | 2015 |
THE MAHATMA GANDHI UNIVERSITY YOUTH FESTIVAL
The students of the Dept of English came out with flying colours in many competitive events at SAPARYA the MAHATMA GANDHI UNIVERSITY YOUTH FESTIVAL conducted from 10-3-2016 to 14-3-2016 at Thodupuzha.
Ashish Santosham of First B.A. English won the first prize in Western Wind instrument.
The team led by Athul Ambadi of Second B.A.English won the third prize with A grade in Kolkali competition.
The Department of English proudly salutes our alumnus Sidhartha Siva the National Award winning Malayalam film director, writer and actor. He won his first National Award at the 60th National Film Awards, he won the Indira Gandhi Award for Best First Film of a Director for his film 101 Chodyangal (2012). The film also won the Silver Crow Pheasant Award for Best Feature Film (Audience Prize) at the 18th International Film Festival of Kerala. 101 Chodyangal also won the best feature film award at Noida international film festival. Siva also won the Mohan Raghavan Award for Best Director, 2013. 101 Chodyangal was also selected in Indian Panorama section at INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL OF INDIA 2013. In 2014, his film Zahir was screened at 19th Busan International Film Festival[ His film Ain won the best feature film in Malayalam at 62nd National Film Awards. Ain also won prestigious PADMARAJAN PURASKARAM for Best film and Best script. Ain bagged KERALA STATE FILM AWARD for Best Story in 2014.
Former Faculty
| Name | Contact Number |
|---|---|
| Prof. C. C. Joseph | (Late) |
| Prof. Mariam Alexander | (Late) |
| Prof. Thomas. P.P | 0469-2664978 M0b-9446812248 |
| Prof. Thomas P. Varghese | (Late) |
| Prof. C.T. Titus | 0469-2602969 |
| Prof. Dharmishta R. Chacko | (Late) |
| Prof. Lazar Mathew | 0469-2601945 |
| Prof. V. A. Chacko | 9048133919 |
| Prof .O. A. Ninan | 0469-2664552 Mob-9447029046 |
| Prof. Babu Zachariah | 9446938493 |
| Prof. A.T. Samuel | 0469-2601822 Mob-9048646972 |
| Dr. C. S. Philipose | Mob-0447029046 |
| Dr. A.P. John | 0469-2600825 Mob-9447180825 |
| Prof. Abraham Mathew | Mob-9495438589 |
| Prof. Thomas George | 0469-2660825 Mob-9400560861 |
| Prof. Leelamma Joseph | 0469-2600492 |
| Prof. V .J. Thomas | |
| Prof. Babu G. Varghese | 0469-2601035 Mob-9447160555 |
| Prof. Susamma George | 0469-2701307 Mob-9847701443 |
| Prof. Thomas T. Varghese | 0469-2782821 Mob-9349832270 |
| Prof. Mariamma Mathew | 0468-2261574 Mob-9847346326 |
| Dr. Abraham Karickam | 0474-2454087 Mob-9446593013 |
| Prof. Jessy Thomas | 0469-2630021 |
| Prof. Anna Jacob | (Late) |
| Prof. N.M. Mathew | 0469-2702480 Mob-9847341179 |
| Prof. Pushpalatha Kurien | 0469-2603376 Mob-9895726104 |
| Prof. Aleyamma Philip | 0469—2604803 Mob-9526877593 |
| Dr. Shiela Elizabeth Abraham | Mob-9447026749 |
| Dr. Annie Varghese | 0469-2601715 Mob-9349505170 |
| Prof. Bejoy Varghese | 0479-2360399 Mob-9445193139 |
| Dr. Elizabeth J. Thomas | 0469-2701836 Mob-9947283740 |
| Dr. Leena B. Cherian | 0469-2631311 |
| Dr. G. Koshy | 0469-2634906 |
| Dr. Annie Susan Mathew | 0469-2634906 |
Gallery
Activities
National Seminars
| Year | Topic | Resource Persons | Sponsoring Agency |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012-13 | Cultural Studies: Towards a New Critical Paradigm. January 16th and 17th- 2012 | Dr.Sharmila Sreekumar, Department of Humanities IIT Mumbai Dr. B. Hariharan,Associate Professor, Institute of English. Thiruvananthapuram Dr. M.V. Narayanan. Professor, University of Calicut | UGC |
| 2013-14 | The Politics of Popular Culture: Current Trends in Mass Media & Popular Fiction. September 11th and 12th -2013 | Dr.Satish Poduval, Head of the Department of Cultural Studies. English and Foreign Language University. Hyderabad. Dr. B.Hariharan, Associate Professor, Institute of English. Thiruvananthapuram. Dr.Nandini Chandra, Assistant Professor, University of Delhi | UGC |
| 2014-15 | On the Margins of Many Cultures: Narrating Diaspora Consciousness. January 21st and 22nd 2015 | Ms.Silvie Bantle German writer and Film Director. Dr.Joseph Koippally, Associate Professor, Department of Comparative Literature, Central University of Kerala. Benyamin the author of Aadu Jivitam. Dr. K. Ganesh ,Head of the Department of English, Madras Christian College, Chennai | UGC |
| 2015-16 | Negotiating Marginalities: Gender, Class and Race in Women’s Writing. January 28th and 29th 2016 | Rev.Oommen Philip. Secretary Mar Thoma Church V.Geetha, feminist historian and Translator Dr. Saji Mathew-Prof.School of Letters M.G.University Kottayam Dr.Suneetha Rani- Professor University of Hyderabad Centre for Women’s Studies Dr.Shahida Murtaza-Head of the Department of Women Education, Maulana Azad National Urdu University, Hyderabad | UGC |
Inter-Collegiate Competitions
| Inter-collegiate Quiz competition | 4-3-2015 | Fatima Mata National College Kollam. N.S.S. College Pandalam, S .B. College Changanacherry won the first prize, second prize, and third prize respectively.Quiz Master — Prof. Sheeba K.Jacob |
| Santosh –Memorial elocution competition | 4-3-2015 | St.Thomas College, Pala, S .B. College Changanacherry, N.S.S. College Pandalam won the first prize, second prize, and third prize respectively.Judges — Dr.Mohan Varghese and Dr. Christo |
PUBLICATIONS
| Title of the Book | Name of the Authors | |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Cultural Studies: Towards a New Critical Paradigm | Dr. G. Koshy and Dr. Ashley Susan Philip.(ed) |
| 2. | Popular Culture: Current Trends in Literature and Mass Media | Dr. Renjith Joseph and Prof . Rahul. N (ed) |
| 3. | On the Margins of Many Cultures: Narrating Diaspora Consciousness | Prof. Remi Cherian George and Prof. Sushmita Ann Varghese (ed) |
| 4. | Negotiating Marginalities: Gender, Class and Race in Women’s Writing. | Dr.Annie Susan Mathew and Prof.Susan Thomas (ed) |
Publications by faculty prescribed as textbooks by Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam
- M.Y.Abraham and Dr. Leena B. Cheriyan authored the book An Introduction to Indian Aesthetics . A Mahatma Gandhi University Publication, Kottayam. 2009
- G.Koshy authored an article Translation an Introduction in Regional Literatures in Translation. Ed. Dr. K. Sujatha. A Mahatma Gandhi University Publication, Kottayam. 2011
- C. A. Varghese edited the book Spring Rhythms: Poetic Selections. A Mahatma Gandhi University Publication, Kottayam. 2011
- C. A. Varghese translated the work Can is the Word of Power for Poetic Collection, A Mahatma Gandhi University Publication, Kottayam. 2011
