English

Bricolage: The Literary Society

The Department of English engaged in a range of creative ventures designed to help students better understand the praxis of academic and creative theory. By adopting a dynamic, multidisciplinary approach, these initiatives bridged the gap between theoretical inquiry and artistic expression, fostering critical thinking, and intellectual engagement.

The Editorial Board of Staff Advisors and Student Editors launched the first edition of its literary magazine, Alyssum ’24, on May 7,2024 during the Annual Day celebrations. The magazine serves as a platform for literary expression, critical thought, and creative engagement, showcasing the diverse voices of students and faculty.

As part of Piazza, the English Department’s series of pseudo-symposium sessions, faculty and students collaboratively organized yet another engaging discussion on October 17th, 2024, on the evolving nature of the discipline of English. The diverse subjective perspectives enriched the dialogue, fostering a dynamic, interactive space within the classroom and encouraging in-depth literary discourse. In another such event of the Piazza, which took place on February 25th, 2025, a fun session was planned where discussions were held on “Animals in Literature and Life”. Students were delighted to share their personal stories which mirrored the events in some text or the other.

The students of the Department of English organized an enriching excursion to the Delhi Book Fair on February 6th, 2025 under Bricolage. They actively participated in literary discussions on language and attended insightful talks featuring distinguished speakers such as Shashi Tharoor and Prof. Jitendra Narayan Dash. The visit also provided an opportunity to explore the diverse world of publishing, with students engaging with works from renowned publishing houses, including Penguin Random House, HarperCollins, Bloomsbury, Rajkamal Prakashan, and Vani Prakashan.

To explore the discipline through a creative lens, the Department facilitated an engagement with visual interpretations of literary narratives through film screenings and discussions. As part of this initiative, The Color Purple, an adaptation of Alice Walker’s novel, was screened on 7th of February. The screening was followed by an in-depth discussion on narratology, media theory, the reception and interpretation of slave narratives, and their broader socio-cultural and historical dimensions.

In view of the enthusiastic participation and improved interaction from students, the Department organised similar screenings and discussions throughout February. These screenings include Fahrenheit 451 and Margarita with a Straw, each followed by critical discussions on their narrative structures, thematic concerns, and socio-political contexts.

On March 7th, 2025, a seminar was organized as part of our annual academic events, featuring distinguished speakers who shared their insights on a vast spectrum of topics and themes. The sessions were thought-provoking and provided valuable perspectives to students and faculty alike. Following the seminar, on March 8th, 2025, a series of student activities were conducted, fostering engagement, creativity, and collaboration among participants. These activities not only reinforced key learnings from the seminar but also provided an interactive platform for students to showcase their skills and enthusiasm.