Report of the 5th National Level Two day Literary Festival of GIEWEC in Collaboration with the Department of English, JKC College, Guntur, Andhra Pradesh on 11th and 12th November 2016

Report of the 5^th National Level Two day Literary Festival of GIEWEC in Collaboration with the Department of English, JKC College, Guntur, Andhra Pradesh on 11^th and 12^th November 2016

Dr. K. V. Dominic

Guild of Indian English Writers, Editors and Critics (GIEWEC) in collaboration with Department of English, JKC College, Guntur, Andhra Pradesh conducted its fifth two day national level literary festival at JKC College on 11^h and 12^th November 2016. The topic for the festival was "Multiculturalism, Human Values and Language and Literature."

In the inaugural session at 10.30 am on 11^th November, Prof. T. V. Reddy, President of the GIEWEC was the Chairperson. Prof. P. Gopichand, Associate Professor of English as well as Organizing Secretary welcomed the guests and audience. After the lighting of the lamp Dr K. Basavapunnaiah, President of J. K. C. College, made the inaugural address. It was followed by messages from J. Murali Mohan, Secretary and Correspondent of J. K. C. College, SRK Prasad, Director of PG Courses of J. K. C. College and Dr. I. Nageswararao, Principal of J. K. C. College. They all thanked GIEWEC for the collaboration. They also praised Profs. P. Gopichand and P. Nagasuseela for their meritorious service to the college and to the writers in India and abroad by conducting nine international poetry festivals annually. Prof. T. V. Reddy then made a brief speech on multiculturalism. Dr. K. V. Dominic expressed deep gratitude to the management of J K C College as well as to the organizing secretaries Profs. P. Gopichand and P. Nagasuseela. He also thanked the faculty and students of the Department of English as well as all participants of the festival. The proceedings book of the festival was launched by Dr K. Basavapunnaiah, President of J. K. C. College. Prof. P. Nagasuseela, Associate Professor of English as well as Organizing Secretary delivered the vote of thanks and thus the inaugural session ended at 11.30 am.

In the book launching ceremony that followed nearly twenty new books of the participants were launched. The authors include Dr. T. V. Reddy (Tirupati), Dr. Jaydeep Sarangi (Kolkata), Dr. Ratan Bhattacharjee (Kolkata), Fr. Varghese Paul, SJ (Ahmadabad), Profs. P. Gopichand & P. Nagasuseela (Guntur), Dr. S. Kumaran (Salem),  Dr. Pamela Jeyaraju (Pondicherry), Dr. S. Ayyappa Raja (Chidambaram, T.N.), Dr. Molly Joseph (Kerala), Dr. Ramesh Chandra Mukhopadhyaya (Kolkata), Ms. Reema Das (Assam) and Dr. K. V. Dominic (Kerala).

In the plenary session at 12 noon, Prof. T. V. Reddy, Dr. K. V. Dominic, Dr. Jaydeep Sarangi, Fr. Varghese Paul, Profs. P. Gopichand and P. Nagasuseela, Dr. Ramesh Chandra Mukhopadhyaya presented their papers. After lunch, there was poetry reading session chaired by Prof. T. V. Reddy. Fifteen poets read their poems on various themes.

In the paper presentation sessions that followed Dr. S. Kumaran, Dr. S. Ayyappa Raja, Dr.  Joji John Panicker and Dr. Pamela Jeyaraju chaired as well as presented their papers. More than twenty participants presented their papers. From 9 pm to 10 pm there was a cultural programme of the students of J K C College which entertained the participants.  

GIEWEC’s General Body Meeting was conducted at 10.30 pm. In the election to the executive committee of GIEWEC, the twelve member committee was unanimously elected. The following are the new office bearers and committee members:

President – Prof. T. V. Reddy

Secretary – Dr. K. V. Dominic

Vice President – Dr. Jaydeep Sarangi

Vice President – Prof. P. Gopichand

Joint Secretary – Dr. Joji John Panicker

Treasurer – Dr. S. Kumaran

Members of the Executive Committee

Dr. Poonam Nigam Sahay

Dr. Ketaki Datta

Prof. P. Nagasuseela

Dr. S. Ayyappa Raja

Dr. Pamela Jeyaraju
Prof. Sibasis Jana

      On 12^h November, Saturday, at 9.30 am there was the valedictory function. Prof. P. Nagasuseela welcomed the chief guests and audience. On the Dias were Dr. T. V. Reddy, Dr. K. V. Dominic, and Prof. P. Gopichand. After brief addresses by the dignitaries, merit certificates and certificates of excellence were awarded to the students of JKC College. Cash Prizes of Rs. 5000 were given to the best performers as well as to the entire group. The chairpersons of the paper presentation and poetry reading sessions were honoured with mementos. Shri Sudarshan Kcherry, the founder member of GIEWEC as well as publisher of Authorspress, New Delhi, Dr. Ramesh Chandra Mukhopadhyaya, Dr. K. V. Dominic and Dr. Jaydeep Sarangi were honoured with mementos by the local organizing secretaries.  The festival ended with Prof. P. Gopichand’s vote of thanks.

Overall, the festival was a grand success. The credit goes to the Secretaries of the Organising Committee, Profs. P. Gopichand and P. Nagasuseela who took the initiative several months before and got GIEWEC’s proposal sanctioned by the college management. They worked really hard for several days and nights and could very well coordinate their colleagues and students for the great outcome. GIEWEC’s bouquet of gratitude to them!