Manglauru: Indian English literature portrays child as national ideal: Dr Anto Thomas at SAC


Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (AM)

Mangaluru, Mar 2: A national seminar on the theme of children's literature 'Approaches and Systems: Understanding the Child and Children's Literature' was inaugurated at St Aloysius College on Friday, March 3.

The seminar was inaugurated in a unique way with children from various schools in and around the city reciting their compositions at Fr Robert Sequiera Hall in LCRI Block of the college.

Addressing the inaugural function, Fr Swebert D’Silva SJ, principal, St Aloysius College said, "This seminar is a special one as it deals with children. Children are being considered worthless in many places. Children and women suffer the most here. Parents are busy in their work and children are being ignored. We should bring up children giving them good knowledge and pieces of literature."

Giving the example of a camera, Fr D'Silva said, "Life is very scattered. We should focus like a camera and achieve the things we want. Opportunities should be grabbed like how a camera takes pictures. We should bring out positives from negatives and keep trying again and again till we succeed. English is a beautiful language. People connected with literature should be creative and innovative. Students should not write the same what others write, but be different. Thanks to the department for arranging the seminar to understand children. Hope everyone makes the best use of it."

Fr Dionysius Vas, rector of the Aloysian Institutions in his presidential address said, "As we grow up, we become very rational. We should always retain the child in us. Children do have lots of doubts and questions. All that they need is a platform to raise their questions and clear their doubts. And today, a platform has been provided to the children. Literature gives voice to children's doubts,
questions and vision. I hope the seminar will help in the in-depth exploration of questions surrounding contemporary children’s literature."

Dr Anto Thomas, associate professor, St Thomas College, Thrissur, who delivered the Fifth Annual SC Frank Endowment Lecture on 'Constructions of Girlhood in Indian English Children’s Literature' revealed that it was a very pleasant experience to be with young children. He said, "More than 50 percent of the Indian English fiction present ideal girls as the protagonists or the  characters. The boys are presented on par with the girls. Only a few books explore boyhood in children's literature. After Independence, the concept of childhood changed, with writers trying to present a different idea of childhood. It is something like the western childhood mating Indian concepts. The construction of child or girlhood in literature is done as the national ideal child. The presentation of childhood in media is culturally homogenised nowadays.

"To have a better construction of childhood, there should be a collaboration between English literature writers and regional writers. There is a lot of difference between global and Indian narratives of girlhood in literature. There is no correct description of childhood anywhere. In India, dominant construction of childhood has been imported through western education. There is a lot of mention of nation-building in Indian literature after post-colonisation," he added.

Dr Thomas in his hour-long presentation explained how childhood is being now studied in India with references from the books of various authors. Playing a clipping of the movie national award film 'Halo', he explained how girlhood was displayed in films and media.

Earlier, Dr A Lourdusamy, chairman of PG Department of English, St Aloysius College welcomed the gathering.

Dr Sunitha Sinha's book 'Feminism in Literature' was released on the occasion by the dignitaries present on the dais. Mementoes were handed over to the guests and dignitaries.

Max and Reshma compered the inaugural programme. Dr Melissa Goveas delivered the vote of thanks.

Author Dr Padma Baliga, former principal of St Aloysius College Fr Dr Leo D'Souza and others were present.

The day-long seminar organised by the Postgraduate Graduate Department of Studies and Research in English witnessed as many as 200 students, writers, critical experts, research scholars, college teachers and young readers from within and outside the state participating in it.

  

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Title: Manglauru: Indian English literature portrays child as national ideal: Dr Anto Thomas at SAC



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