“Belletristic: Shoolini Loves Literature,” the literary society of Shoolini University, held a panel discussion today on the topic “All for the Love of Literature” in which several teachers from various educational institutions of higher education exchanged their views on how literature has influenced and shaped their lives.
The session started with Tanya Mander Assistant Prof., Rajiv Gandhi Law University, Patiala, who spoke about how the study of drama has changed her perspective on life. Going beyond literature, drama is a reflection of life. The study of political theatre, in particular, helps us understand our experiences better.
Neena Sharma, Assistant Prof. MCM DAV College, Chandigarh, spoke about how impressed she has been with the works and the philosophy of Ernest Hemingway, especially “The Sun Also Rises” and “The Old Man and the Sea.” Sangeeta Singh, Assistant Prof. from Hamirpur, talked about how the study of feminism made her see the world in a different light. The role of women in a patriarchal set up has largely been ignored but the writings of women have highlighted the importance of women in society.
Kulbhushan Sharma, a college teacher from Himachal, focused on theatre performances which gave him a lot of solace as a student of literature. Deeply in love with theatre, he has enjoyed his career as a teacher, enacting all the great literature that came his way. Renuka Thapliyal, from Govt. College, Panchkula, took the discussion to another direction, bringing in ecocritical approaches to literature. She talked about the connection between literature and ecology, explaining how nature helps to groom us, as Wordsworth has famously taught us. Nidhi Sharma, who teaches in a Delhi college, invoked the theories of Aristotle, particularly his views on catharsis, and appreciated the manner in which great literary texts help to purge us of all that is base in us. Hira Chettri, a poet who teaches in Solan, spoke of his personal journey through literature and the impact it has had on him. Citing some popular texts, he was of the opinion that literature transports a person to a new world altogether and helps to sensitise us to the travails of our fellow men.
Prof. Manju Jaidka HOD School of English Shoolini University informed the panelists that Belletristic meets every Friday and holds discussions that are live streamed over several Facebook pages and have a wide reach. The aim is to bring like-minded people together and discuss aspects of literary texts and movements that go far beyond the printed text, reaching out to lived human experience.
