Media Release

Mangaluru, Sep 21: The department of English, St Aloysius College (Autonomous) on September 20 organized a one-day national symposium on 'Mythic Worlds, Modern Words: Order, Divergence and Subversion' at the Robert Sequeira Hall of the college.

Associate professor, St Joseph’s College of Arts and Science, Bengaluru, Prof Ettienne Rassendren, was the chief guest. The principal, Fr Dr Praveen Martis, SJ, presided over the programme. Controller of examinations, Dr Alwyn D’Sa, HOD of the department of English, Dr Ratan Tilak Mohunta, convenor of the programme, Manual Souza were on the dais.

After unveiling the theme of the symposium, Dr Etienne Rassendran took up a technical session on 'Spaces and Nationalities: Myths and their Implications'. He spoke of Australian aboriginal myths, which are indigenous to their culture. He gave a picture of Dreamline stories of Australian origin and how geographical spaces define myths.

Around 30 research scholars presented papers during the symposium.

Rowena compered the programme. Dr Ratan Tilak Mohunta welcomed the gathering and introduced the chief guest. Manual Souza proposed the vote of thanks.

About the symposium

Throughout history, myths have fascinated people. Ancient myths survived through time, nurtured mainly by oral tradition and the explanatory power it gained through its organic links with sacred rituals. They have always been in circulation throughout history and evoked the interest of anthropologists. Mythic narratives made a significant impact on all religions of the world; however, some religions distanced themselves from myths to protect the 'sacredness' of their myths.

Many disciplines including, history, sociology, cultural anthropology, ethnography and tribal studies took great interest in studying myths. However, if we look at the renewed interest in myths as one of the cultural contradictions of modernity, then it can as well be seen as a subtle method of subversion.