Departments : English

Our Vision is to foster well-balanced, dynamic, and holistically empowered individuals.
The Department of English was established in 1962; English has been offered as a first language since then, but from 2020-21, English is being offered as a second language under the National Education Policy. In 2020, the National Education Policy four-year multi-disciplinary Bachelor’s programme with exit options was introduced.

Under the four-year programme proposed in the new N.E.P., students can exit after one year with a certificate, two years with a diploma, and three years with a bachelor’s degree. Finally, after four years, a student should be able to enter a research degree programme.

English is the language of opportunities and the window to the world.

•  The Department has been at the forefront of engaging, involving the outside world, and bringing it inside the classroom. The classroom is a forum for interaction with faculty members who encourage the students to question, analyze, criticize, and contemplate a topic. It aims to help students be empathetic to the world outside the classroom. It encourages the students to differ and deviate from the popular view.

• The fundamental belief is that all students can learn and improve their competence. The faculty can guide a large section of the student community.

• The Department of English takes pride in encouraging its students to move beyond the syllabus. With this in mind, the Department arranges a parallel pedagogic process of talks, lectures, seminars, film shows and interactive sessions with writers and critics.

• The teachers hone communication skills, encourage the habit of reading books, develop a passion for language and literature, and guide young minds to imbibe human values and a sense of social and moral responsibilities.

• Films are screened to create awareness of social issues, gender discrimination and other evils.

• The Film Club and Women Redressal Cell are closely associated with the Department.
   

Faculty profile

• Teachers present papers at national/international seminars and symposia. They regularly contribute research articles to well-known journals.

• There is a good collection of books in the departmental library. The Department has grown significantly over the years and adapted well to the changing times. Faculty acknowledges that good work can have enormous rewards and make teaching and learning more relevant to society.

• Dr G.N. Umesh received the Dr Radhakrishna Shikshana Rathna National Award for excellent teaching and publications in 2014.
   

List of eminent academicians and resource persons who visited the Department:

• Vidya Akshara and K. V. Akshara of “ NINASAM,” Heggodu

• Prof. M Sridhar Murthy, Richmond Fellowship, P.G. College, Bangalore

• Dr Girish Kasaravalli, Renowned Film director

• P.Sheshadri, Renowned Film director

• Prof.Manuchakravarthi, Prof. of English and Film critic

• Shri Gopalkrishna Pai, Kannada writer

• T S Nagabharana, Renowned director

• Dr Krishna Manavalli, Karnataka University. Dharwad

• B S Lingadevaru, Famous film director

• Ashok Kashyap, Cinematographer

• Vaidhyanathan, Convener, Belli Mandala

• Dr Shivalingaswamy, Dept. of Studies in English, Tumkur University

• Dr Ashwin Kumar, Dept. of Studies in English, Tumkur University.

• Vidwan Lakshmeesha Tolpadi, a renowned Scholar

• Dr Sandhya Kaveri, Principal, Ashok Pai Memorial Samsthe, Shimoga.

• Ms V.K. Sanjyothi an Actress and theatre artist.

National Seminar on “Exploring the Concerns of Recent Kannada Cinema”
• Dr Girish Kasaravalli, Renowned Film director
• P.Sheshadri, Renowned Film director
• Prof.Manuchakravarthi, Prof. of English and Film critic
• Shri Gopalkrishna Pai, Kannada writer



National Seminar on “Constructing Womanhood in Kannada and Hindi Films”
• T S Nagabharana, Renowned director
• Dr Krishna Manavalli, Professor of English, writer, translator, Gangothri, Mysore.
• B S Lingadevaru, Famous film director
• Ashok Kashyap, Cinematographer
• Vaidhyanathan, Convener, Belli Mandala


Special Lecture On “ FUN WITH ENGLISH” by Dr. Udayaravi Shastry

He spoke on Fun With English on 17-01-2020. He introduced the students to English through fun games, word games, doublet, and hangman and said that most learning occurs only when the atmosphere is informal, congenial and friendly. Learning should be a pleasant experience in life.

Prof. B.C. Vinutha was invited as a Resource Personat Govt First Grade Science College, Banavara

Lakshmeesha Tolpadi is a scholar, thinker, and author with several books to his credit and videos on YouTube.
Lakshmeesha Tolpadi spoke on social reformer Basavanna, who preached a new way of life where the religious experience is the centre of life regardless of class, caste, gender, tradition or social status. Kannada became the language of expression, and he further said vachana is a promise to society for a better life. Work is worship and practice what you speak, sang the poets. Vachanas are composed of simple words and advocate philosophical and reformist ideas. They advocated social justice and equality. The verses provoked listeners to rethink racism, gender, caste, and class discrimination entrenched in society.




A programme on Eco-friendly Practices





 

Following webinars were organized in the College in association with IQAC, the Department of English, the Career Guidance Cell and the Women Redressal Cell :

• 17-06-2021
  IQAC and Career Guidance Cell organized a webinar on 'Need for Good Communication Skills.' Srimathi S., Prof of English, Sadvidya PU College, Mysore, was the resource Person.
  
  Report:
  Sreemathi said Communication is essential for life. It is vital for a successful career. Clarity, brevity, voice modulation, knowing the audience, listening, knowing when to speak and when to wait, and conveying the message effectively and appropriately are some points discussed in the webinar.

• 18-06-2021
  The English Department and IQAC organized a webinar on Basic English Communication in Daily Simple Experiences.' Anjali Prayag, a Content Strategist, was the resource person.
  
  Report:
  Anjali spoke on rules of good communication, common negative beliefs, tips to speak better English, Mall conversations, telephone conversations, conversations at the ticket counter, etc. She also shared weekly tips like talking to vendors and shopkeepers, reading a story or newspaper, speaking to a child in the neighbourhood in English, and practising in front of the mirror.

• 23-06-2021
  Career & Counselling Cell and IQAC organized a webinar on 'Attributes required for civil servants. ' Kalpana Rao, Independent Director with Capgemini, was the resource person.
  
  Report:
  Kalpana said hard work, commitment, empathy, resilience in approach and integrity were important for civil servants. She further noted that being sensitive to culture and their problems, aspirations, and hopes is essential to connect with them. Being value-driven, engaging people, and being objective is vital. A civil servant should not be careless or complacent, and she quoted Ruskin Bond saying that one should not take away other people's dreams, happiness, song or faith. With freedom comes responsibility, she said.

• 1-12-2020
  IQAC and Career Counselling Cell organized a webinar on 'Interview Skills.'
  Mrs Vijayashree Urs, Director, Online Engineer IDC Pvt Ltd, was the resource person.

• 08-01-2021
  Department of English and IQAC organized a webinar on 'A gendered look at the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on women in India'.
  
  Dr Vidya Maria Joseph, RUSA& NAAC Coordinator, Regional Joint Director's Office, Shivamogga, was the resource person.
  
  Report:
  Vidya spoke on the biggest calamity of the century and the greatest challenge the world faced and is still facing. She said the global economy ended, jobs were laid off, business halted, and colleges and schools were shut down. Suddenly, we were facing enormous health, economic and social challenges. Loss of life played havoc in the lives of people. Many people were at risk of losing their livelihoods: no work, no money, no food, and no healthcare. There was a threat, and there was a risk. People experiencing poverty -the women were victims of every conceivable power and could not feed their babies. Child marriages were on the rise. Domestic violence and sexual harassment became common. Many female students suffered at home. They could not listen to online classes but had to work in the kitchen and on farms. They missed midday meals, and many were married off due to poverty. She said two distinct and dangerous evils lay at the base of this pyramid of suffering and degradation. The first one is plain selfishness, and the second one is arrogance. She concluded that a healthy sense of selfhood and self-purification might be the cure to enrich society and the world. And healing should begin.
   

The following short films were screened:
Short Films and Documentaries:
Films will help students interpret visual texts and appreciate the beauty of the cinematic language that tells some of our most powerful cultural stories. It allows students to develop and enjoy the film as an art and entertainment form. Some films inform and inspire change by engaging audiences and reflecting on society. Some films help foster positive change and unite people in shared responsibility for community well-being. It shapes our beliefs and values. They make us think. Movies share life, stories, or experiences, inspire us to help others, and remind us that love, compassion, and humanness are important and worth fighting. Students examine film and other visual media as a vehicle for ethical, political, social, and cultural values. The following short films/songs/advertisements were screened:

A Chairy Tale, Anala, The Red Balloon, The Two, Inja, Start with the Boys, Lunch Date, Fair, Lovely Advertisement, and Karupputhan Enakku Pidicha colouru.


Folklorist Naadamani Nalkur addresses the audience on modern-day issues through his songs.


Inauguration and opening of Montessori Training Centre in Kalpataru Vidys Samsthe.


Chief guest for the International Women’s Day in PAAC College, Tiptur


Resource person for “Induction program “Topic -Personality Development organized by Kalpataru Institute of Technology, Tiptur.


Resource person for “International Women’s Day” Topic: Gender equality conducted by Government Poly-Technical College, Turvekere.



A special lecture on “Women’s Issues and Gender Discrimination.” in Government First Grade College, Banavara, Arsikere Taluk.


Resource Person for Induction Program Topic- Stereotyping of Men and Women in Movies and Advertisements.


Delivered a lecture on ‘Social Construction’ at kalpataru Central School, Tiptur.


Resource person for “International Women’s Day” conducted by Vedavathi First Grade College, Hirihur.


Resource person for “International Women’s Day” organized by PAAC college.



Guest Speaker on International Women’s Day organized by College of Agriculture, Hassan.



Anti-ragging Cell
Anti-ragging cell includes the Management, Principal and Heads of the Departments. Ragging is not only discouraged but also dealt with sternness. Students being ragged can register their complaint to the cell without disclosing their names and the identity of informants of ragging incidents is fully protected. Effective action is taken by the Principal and the members of the cell.

Full awareness about anti-ragging act is fostered in students by counseling from experienced faculty so that the students have greater awareness about the act which states that students involved in ragging would not only be expelled but also ineligible for admission to any other institution for three years and can be jailed and fined.

No incident of Ragging has been reported in the college till date.

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