REPORT OF THE TWO DAY NATIONAL SEMINAR ON ENVIRONMENTAL LITERATURE CONDUCTED BY GIEWEC AT CMS COLLEGE, KOTTAYAM ON 5TH AND 6TH DECEMBER 2015

Report of the National Level Two day Literary Festival of GIEWEC in Collaboration with the Department of English, CMS College, Kottayam, Kerala on 5^th and 6^th December 2015

Dr. K. V. Dominic

Guild of Indian English Writers, Editors and Critics (GIEWEC) in collaboration with Department of English, CMS College, Kottayam, Kerala conducted a two day national level literary festival at CMS College on 5^th and 6^th December 2015. The topic for the festival was "Environmental Literature and Beyond."

At 11 am on 4^th December 2015, a Press Conference was organized by GIEWEC at the Press Club of Kottayam. Led by Dr. K. V. Dominic, Secretary-cum-chief organizer of the festival, Dr. Joji John Panicker, Joint Secretary-cum-chairman of the organizing committee, Fr. Varghese Paul, Life Member of GIEWEC and Dr. Jacob Eapen Kunnath, HoD in-charge of the Department of English, CMS College, participated in the press conference. Detailed information of the festival was published in the leading Malayalam Newspapers on 5^th December.

In the inaugural session at 10 am on 5^th December, Prof. T. V. Reddy, President of the GIEWEC was the Chairperson. Dr. Joji John Panicker, Assistant Professor of English, CMS College welcomed the guests and audience. Dr. Jacob Eapen Kunnath delivered a short vehement speech on Eco Literature. Dr. Roy Sam Daniel, Principal of CMS College inaugurated the literary festival by lighting the lamp. He talked on the importance of preserving clean environment.  Prof. T. V. Reddy lectured on the hazardous effects we have been experiencing of the destruction of nature and environment. Dr. K. V. Dominic expressed deep gratitude to Dr. Joji John Panicker for organizing the festival. He also thanked the Faculty and students of the Department of English as well as the college management for collaborating with the GIEWEC for the festival. He made a special grateful mention of the great selfless services Shri. Sudarshan Kcherry, Founder Member of GIEWEC as well as Publisher of Authorspress, New Delhi has been rendering to the GIEWEC members by publishing more than a hundred of their books. Shri. Sudarshan Kcherry in his very brief address spoke of the necessity of flowing with the system. Dr. Jaydeep Sarangi, Vice President of GIEWEC spoke on the great attempts done in the field of Eco Literature in the country, particularly in the North Eastern States.

In the book launching ceremony that followed twenty eight new books and journals of the participants were launched. The authors include Dr. K. V. Dominic (Thodupuzha) – 6, Dr. Jaydeep Sarangi (Kolkata) – 4, Dr. T. V. Reddy (Tirupati) – 2, Dr. Ratan Bhattacharjee (Kolkata) – 2, Dr. Shruti Das (Berhampur) – 2, Fr. Varghese Paul, SJ (Ahmedabad) – 2, Profs. P. Gopichand & P. Nagasuseela (Guntur) – 2, Ms. K. Pankajam (Chennai) – 2,  Dr. Janatha Ratheesh (Nagercoil) – 2, Dr. Ketaki Datta (Kolkata) -1, PCK Prem (Himachal Pradesh) – 1, Ms. Annie George (Kottayam) – 1, Dr. Santosh Alex (Kochi) – 1.

Dr. S. Kumaran, Treasurer of GIEWEC delivered the vote of thanks at the end of the session.

In the paper presentation session that followed Dr. Shruti Das, HoD and Associate Professor of English, Berhampur University chaired. After the lunch there was a poetry reading session chaired by Prof. T. V. Reddy. Twenty poets read their poems on the theme “Nature and Environment.” The second session of the paper presentation was chaired by Dr. Ketaki Datta, Associate Professor of English, Bidhannagar Govt. College, Salt Lake City, Kolkata.

GIEWEC’s Executive Committee and General Body Meeting were conducted at 5.30 pm.

On 6^th December, Sunday, the second day of the festival there were two paper presentation sessions and one poetry reading session. The paper presentation sessions were chaired by Prof. Sibasis Jana, Assistant Professor in English, Panskura Banamali College, Panskura, Purba Medinipur, West Bengal, and Dr. S. Kumaran, Assistant Professor, PG & Research Dept. of English, Thiruvalluvar Govt. Arts College, Rasipuram, Tamil Nadu. The poetry reading session was chaired by Profs. P. Gopichand and P. Nagasuseela, Associate Professors of English, JKC College, Guntur, Andhra Pradesh.

In the valedictory session at 3.30 pm Dr. Ketaki Datta welcomed the chief guests and audience. On the Dias were Dr. Roy Sam Daniel, Principal, Dr. T. V. Reddy, Dr. K. V. Dominic and Dr. Joji John Panicker. After brief addresses by the dignitaries participation certificates were distributed. The festival ended with Dr. Joji John Panicker’s vote of thanks followed by the National Anthem.

Overall, the festival was a grand success. The credit goes to the Chairman of the Organising Committee, Dr. Joji John Panicker who took the initiative several months before and got GIEWEC’s proposal sanctioned by the college management. He worked really hard for several days and nights and could very well coordinate his colleagues and PG and UG students for the great outcome. GIEWEC’s bouquet of gratitude to him!