Maharaja Ganga Singh University

Jaisalmer Road, Bikaner

Department of English

Academic Session 2014-15

About the Department

The Department of English was established in 2011 and became operational in June 2011 with the recruitment of One Professor and Three Assistant Professors. The Department conducts academic, research and extension programmes in the field of language, literature and translation. The Department constantly strives to integrate teaching/learning with research and training. Realizing the changed post independence perspective that English be an agency to project our culture, the Department has organized workshops and executed projects to bring to the forefront the rich literary and cultural heritage of the State. The Department adopts learner centre approach in its programmes. The Department offers M.A., M.Phil., and Ph.D. programmes.

Vision

Work towards creating a scholarship and through it a society based on humanistic models projecting Indian values and cultural heritage to the outside world.

Mission

Train students in the study of literature by acquainting them with established classics as well as significant new works in the English language, and familiarize them with various critical tools and precepts from early times to the present age.

At a glance.

The Curricular

Socrates used to say "Practice death daily not in a morbid way, but in order to put the problems of life in perspective." The story of Ariadne, the mythological princess who helped Theseus escape the maze only to then be abandoned by him; but then she marries Dionysus. The Greek philosopher Diogenes, who, when asked why he kept begging from statues, replied " I am practising disappointment. The year not unlike the previous years, is a story of ups and downs. We, however, remembered these statements and myths and they kept us inspired throughout. Definitely, there were doubters; which is another indicator of how we shouldn't let the apex doubters stop us from following our vision. Especially, the stake holders who tend to internalize criticism. This is how we learnt from criticism, but never allowed naysayers and negative voices derail us.

We, at the department, resolved to face the grim problems. Rejecting the naysayers' kismet we decided to go ahead with our mission. The failed war on the formation of new syllabi won plaudits from the critics. Both the Undergraduate and the Master's Courses were revised, updated and upgraded so as to ensure a connect between the class room and the real world.

The task envisioned the empowerment of learners; the whole process passed through three stages Identifying the learners' needs, choosing the appropriate text/linguistic items and presentation before the Academic Council. Thus Maharaja Ganga Singh University Department of English became the leading Department to boast of introducing and executing the Consumer oriented (or what David Nunan calls Client-Centred courses) Courses.

Semesterization was introduced amidst all doubts and apprehensions. To cater to a 'noble goal', the 'avatar' (incarnation) of Semester was descended. Although not fully equipped, the Department decided to implement the system. It goes without saying that the University should frame regulations for the proper execution of the Scheme.

The initiatives of organizing a Workshop on Translation and another one on Research Methodology could not be approved. As a consequence, the major activities aiming at the skills development and contributing towards Make-in India Programme could not take place. Late approval for a National Seminar dissuaded the Department for its conduction which otherwise would have certainly enhanced the academic excellence.

Co-Curricular

Literary Forum

The Literary Forum organizes literary, dramatic, creative and other cultural events in the department at regular intervals. The forum conducts Classroom Seminars at weekends under the supervision and guidance of the Head of the department and the convener. Every year Literary Forum organizes Literary Quiz, Poetry Recital Sessions and a number of other activities. Under the aegis of Forum, the following activities/programmes were conducted:-

*National Youth Day Celebrated

National Youth day was celebrated with gaiety and enthusiasm on the occasion of 152 birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda. Paying obeisance before the picture of Swami Vivekananda, Prof. S.K. Agrawal Head, Department of English said, youth should integrate and work for the welfare of the country. India has a global demographic edge as youth constitutes a large proportion of the countrys human resource: He called upon the students to make the best of the chance.

*Learning by Doing An Educational Trip

(Students and Faculty Members ready for Educational Trip) (Students and Faculty Members entering the Deshnok Temple )

A visit to several places of historical and cultural importance located in the vicinity was organized on 15 Dec, 2014. The Students and the Faculty Members visited Veshnao Mata Temple and Deshnok Temple, where they learnt about the rituals performed in the villages. They also realized their significance. During the trip, students collected the material for Report Writing and submitted excellent reports on Environment, Ecology & History of Governance of the region, and Issues for a better tomorrow.

* Abhinandan- 2015

( The M.A Semester-I Students ready to welcome their seniors )Abhinandan (Freshers party) was hosted by the students of M.A. (Final) to accord a warm welcome to the student of M.A. Semester-I. The seniors welcomed the juniors by applying Tilaks on their foreheads. The party started with lightening of the lamp by the Head, Prof. S.K. Agrawal and thereafter, a number of colourful events such as, Group dance, Solo Song, and Skit were performed. The programme ended with a huge Thank You presented by the convener Dr. Seema Sharma.

* Teachers Day Celebrated

Teachers Day was celebrated on 5 September with great enthusiasm and vigour. It was a surprise for the whole faculty. Many games were organized for the teachers. Students paid gratitude and respect to their teachers. They welcomed their teachers with flowers and offered them mementos as a token of love and admiration. It was a memorable and beloved ones.

(Students felicitating the Faculty Members )

*Classroom Seminars

(Teachers and Students during the Presentation Session )Seminars are one way of explicitly promoting dispositions associated with civil discourse and thoughtful interaction around the topics of shared interest. They support Common Core standards related to the close reading of texts, as well as the skills of Speaking and Listening. The Department regularly organizes Classroom Seminars which provides an in-depth training in the skills. They also provide an interface between the textbook culture and the outside world. Through these Seminars, the students learn to appreciate, and develop a sense of literary

criticism.

* Chaitra Pratipada Celebrated

The New Year was celebrated in a distinct and distinguished way by applying Tilaks on the foreheads of guests and offering them Gud Dhani in traditional way. The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Chandrakala Padia in her Presidential address stressed the need to celebrate the Indian New Year by imparting a message to imbibe the traditional values such as harmony, peace, strong family ties, deference to elders, and respect for the environment, artistic expression and peaceful co-existence. The Chief-Guest Bikaners Mayor Shri Narayan Chopra appreciated the initiative taken by the Department. Speaking on the occasion the Head & Dean, Faculty of Arts Prof. S.K. Agrawal pointed out that every country has suffered from moral crisis and the crisis of the Ideology of Progress. Celebration of such festivals provide a cultural base to our programmes of progress country wide and help develop our won Ideology of Development in the long run. The programme was convened by Dr. Seema Sharma. Besides the teaching and non-teaching faculty, several scholars, historian and cultural activists of Bikaner were also present.

* Clean Campus Campaign

(Students during the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan) Swachh Bharat Abhiyan (Clean India Campaign) was observed in Maharaja Ganga Singh University of Bikaner. The Dean (Arts) Prof. S.K Agrawal, the faculty members and the students of the University actively participated in this campaign. The Abhiyaan started with a thorough cleaning of various University laboratories and the University premises. Several trolleys of garbage and waste material were disposed-off.

* Green Campaign -Breathing New Life Into The Campus

(Students planting the sapling )Started as a Mission to turn the arid campus into a lush-green area, the students and the Faculty Members launched Green Campaign. Speaking on the occasion, the Dean Prof. S.K. Agrawal emphasized the need not only to plant the trees but also to grow them. On the occasion, all the Facutly Members and every student planted a sapling and took a pledge for their rearing.

* Hanging Parindas for Birds

(Students and Faculty Members taking oath for safeguarding the flora and fauna )Bikaner is an arid city, more so in the summer months, when water becomes synonymous with survival of living beings. To develop empathy for birds and nature among the students, Parindas were hung on various trees and corners of the University Campus. These Parindas are filled with water everyday by the students. Such a move shall exercise a check on the most unfortunate death of birds due to the non-availability

of water for birds.

* Adieu 2014

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