Society
Academics
ELLA
English Language and Literary Association
Department of English
Annual Report 2023-24
The academic session 2023-24 started under the leadership of Dr. Kusum Devi (Associate Professor) in the Department of English, SLC (E).
Dr. Kusum Devi has steered progress of the department from time to time. Through one such initiative in 2019-20, she had proposed to give a name to the English Society in the college and ultimately ELLA – English Language and Literary Association came into existence.
Since its inception, ELLA has organised several interesting events and activities which continues till today. Through ELLA’s student centric activities, students get an opportunity to hone their language skills as well as analytical thoughts. This year too, the Department of English under the aegis ELLA organized several events such as Debate competition, Essay writing competition, Career Counselling session followed by Student’s Fest which gave students a platform to showcase their creativity, talent, spontaneity and communication skills.
On 06 November 2023, the Department had organized 02 different programs:
- Intra College Debate Competition.
- Intra College Essay Writing competition.
The topic of the Intra College Debate Competition was ‘Artificial Intelligence: A threat to human existence’.
The topic was selected after seeing the relevance of Artificial intelligence in today’s time. AI is inescapable and it’s transforming the way we think and live but it also has its negatives like data privacy, job loss, increased regulation etc. A large number of students participated in the competition and expressed their opinions and views which made the session enriching and thought provoking. The competition was a grand success as the faculty members as well as the students participated with full enthusiasm. After careful review of the performance, following students were awarded with trophies and certificates:
First Prize—Vaishnavi Mishra (BAP V Sem)
Second Prize—- Nitya Das (BAP V Sem) and Yuvraj Singh (B.Com Prog.)
Third—-Prolayaditya Roy (B.Com Prog. III Sem)
Consolation—Shiva Tiwari (BAP V Sem) and Ayush Singhal (BAP III Sem)
The second competition was Intra-College Essay Writing Competition which was organised in the college in room no 102. The competition was conducted under the aegis of ELLA – English Language and Literary Association, Department of English, Shyamlal College Evening.
The participants expressed their ideas on the given topic – “G20 Multilateral Institution for the 21st Century”.
A total of 17 students participated in this competition with great enthusiasm. The essays submitted by participating students were thought provoking and intriguing. The students were informed in advance about the rules of the competition. After keen observation by three judges, 04 students were awarded Trophies. The details of winning students are as follows –
1st Prize- Bhavya Mishra, BAP (V Sem)
2nd Prize- Devansh Devagya, BCP (lll Sem)
3rd Prize- Astha Sing, BAP (V Sem)
Shreesh Pandey, BA Pol Sc, lllSem Consolation Prize – Shivam Bind, BAP 1Sem
Career Counselling Session and Students’ Fest
On March 12th, 2024, the English Department’s literary society, ELLA (English Language and Literary Association), organized a highly successful Career Counselling Session and Students’ Fest. The event aimed to provide valuable insights into career opportunities for English language students while also showcasing the diverse talents of our student body.
The event commenced with a warm welcome extended to the principal, esteemed teachers, and students. The Principal of the college, Dr. Hemant Kukreti delivered an inspiring address, emphasizing importance of choosing a career path aligned with one’s interests and skills.
Dr. Hemant Kukreti, our principal, shared invaluable wisdom regarding pursuit of passion in our lives. The audience was enthralled by listening to experiences of his early years which also brought us closer to his journey as a student. We also came to know that through perseverance, hard work and unwavering dedication he has received many awards and accolades for writing several books, articles etc and is now an acclaimed poet as well. His anecdotes resonated deeply, underscoring the significance of remaining steadfast in one’s pursuits, fuelled by genuine passion and commitment. The Principal’s message served as a poignant reminder that true fulfillment often stems from the pursuit of passions, even if recognition may not be immediate.
Following this, faculty members shared valuable insights on how English language students can navigate the professional world and make informed career choices. Their speeches were enlightening and provided students with information on various career paths available to them.
Dr. Kusum Devi, Associate Professor, mentioned that the students should always ask some pertinent questions from themselves while choosing a particular career path. She said that its very important to know in which direction one has to move? What we would like to do in our lives is an individual pursuit and there should be an honest answer to it. The more honest we are to ourselves; clearer our goal will be. She also emphasised on the meaningfulness of the goal because chasing something unrealistic contributes nothing, neither to oneself nor to the society.
Dr. Sandeep Kumar Yadav, Associate Professor, said that one should choose a career which is in sync with one’s economic, familial, sociological and cultural background. He enlightened students by saying that goal should be well connected and balanced in reality as well as in practicality so that it can be easily achieved.
Megha Jain, a faculty member, highlighted various career pathways available to them. She emphasized the diverse opportunities within academia, where they can pursue roles in education and research. Additionally, she discussed the avenues of writing and publishing, opening doors for creative expression and literary exploration. Furthermore, she underscored the importance of translation and interpretation, facilitating cross-cultural communication and understanding. Lastly, she highlighted the emerging field of digital content creation, showcasing the evolving landscape of communication in the digital age.
Dr. Sarika Tyagi, a faculty member spoke on the importance of communication with special emphasis on English Language. She mentioned that English Language is of vital importance in one’s professional life as it’s a global and connecting language. She emphasized that alot depends on how one communicates as one’s whole personality gets reflected through it.
Dr. Vatsal Singh, a faculty member guided the students about how to choose correct career option for themselves. The students can establish a match between their abilities and the requirements of a particular field and if few of the requisites match with their abilities, then they can plan to pursue the chosen field. She talked about the value addition and enriching one’s skills from time to time. She also mentioned that in pursuit of a perfect job, one’s mental well-being should also be kept in mind.
Overall, the guidance given by the faculty members provided valuable insight to the students specially when they are contemplating for their future career paths in the realm of English literature and language.
November 06th, 2023: Trophies and certificates were awarded by the respected principal to the winners of Intra-college Debate Competition and Essay Writing Competition.
The second half of the program featured an array of captivating performances in the Students’ Talent Show. Students showcased their talents in singing, poetry recitation, monologue, and instrumental music. The performances were not only entertaining but also reflected the creativity and passion of our vibrant student community. The audience was captivated by the diverse range of talents on display and each performance received enthusiastic applause.
21 students took part in the competition, with the top three performances receiving the First Prize.
Kanishk Singh (B. Com VI Sem), Aditya Pratap Singh (B.A. Prog IV Sem), and Manish (B. Com II Sem) were awarded the first prize in Monologue.
Poetry Recitation, and Music categories, respectively:
Himani (B.A. Hons. Hindi II Sem) and Vrijendra (B.A. Prog. II Sem) secured the second prize in Monologue and Song categories.
Piyush (B. Com IV Sem) and Amardeep (B. Com Hons. II Sem) received the third prize for Instrumental Music and Poetry Recitation.
Additionally, two consolation prizes were awarded to Shivam Bind (B.A. Prog II Sem) and Kanhaiya (B.A. Prog II Sem) for Poetry Recitation.
In conclusion, the Career Counselling Session and Students’ Fest organized by ELLA were resounding success. The event provided valuable guidance to English language students regarding their career choices and offered a platform for students to showcase their talents. It served as a testament to the vibrant and inclusive community spirit within our college.
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who contributed to the success of this event, and we look forward to many more enriching experiences in the near future.