One Team, One Dream - Chawngthanmawia

There will have to be a new normal
One where we look after each other
One where we, as humans
do not contribute
to our very own extinction.

With caring, soft touch, it was not to be
But human hands often are cruel.
Capable of being cruel to other people
we have been the cruelest to
the things we consider lesser
We would even poison the rivers
that we drink from.

In the past we did not care
Now when human life gets threatened
we care,
Hands that have done this much harm
cannot be simply washed.

While humans don’t even stand as one
we slowly found out
that the environment we contaminated
was a part of us
We were one
We could never be separated.

We are on a ship
we have caused damage to.
If humans, we do not act as one.
One team, with the same goal -
to survive,
We will not survive nature,
we will not survive ourselves.

Note: This is Chawngthanmawia's second prize winning poem at the MIELS (Mizoram English Literary Society) Poetry Writing competition on the 6th September 2022. Now in his 5th semester English Core, he has been writing and winning poetry competitions since his 1st semester with us. We are understandably proud of him.  At this particular event, he also won the second prize in the Short Story Writing competition.

Rights Over What Is Right - Moses Rampuia

In the late 18th century, a small portion of the human race witnessed, and even a smaller one took part in, the French Revolution. The movement which seemed to be only an outlash against the evil and corrupt monarchy of the time, paved the way for a much broader change in the timeline of humanity. The French Revolution and an array of prior and subsequent movements brought the rights of the common citizen to the forefront, accompanied by vast complications and challenges. According to the United Nations, "Human rights are rights inherent to all human beings, regardless of race, sex, nationality, ethnicity, language, religion, or any other status. Human rights include the right to life and liberty, freedom of opinion and expression, the right to work and education, and many more...."

All through the ages, our species has been witnessing oppression, subjugation and discrimination on the basis of ethnicity, sex, religion, etc. Countless souls have paid the ultimate price to uphold the rights of their fellow human beings. People are being murdered for their diet in the "largest democracy," a nation which has a history of mercilessly bombing its own cities and terrorizing its own citizens to subdue a movement which erupted due to its own negligence. We live in a world in which a girl child if denied the right to life , the right to education, freedom of expression and countless other virtues which many take for granted elsewhere where an individual of a particular sex can completely ruin the life of an individual of the opposite sex by means of a single false accusation. The same world is witnessing a new form of misogyny in sports, wherein "certain athletes" are towering over "certain athletes" because they have different sets of chromosomes and different average muscle and bone density and primarily because they have the "right" to do so. The present (western) culture claims to accept everyone yet belittles the freedom of opinion of those which deviate from the mainstream and "cancels" them with "pride."

Slowly but steadily, we humans beings are progressing and suffice to say that there hasn't been a better time than today for the common citizen in the history of the planet. The moral human values are still present today and many people are actively indulging in acts of unconditional love and kindness even though they might not be documented or publicized. Nevertheless, the progress made so far is not yet sufficiently widespread and not at all equally-spread and we still have a long way to go.

It is the moral duty of every human being to support and ensure that nobody is denied of the right he/she deserves and to not abuse any of those rights. However, in today's postmodern world, each of us must often ask ourselves whether we value our rights over what is right.

Moses Rampuia, Class Representative of the 6th semester, placed third in the writing competition with this thoughtful essay. 

We've Lost - Lalramdina Renthlei

 

Humanity, something we humans have ironically lost.

Harmony, something we only hear of in a song

Justice, a mere word thrown around by the unjust.

Horrors, the sight of which we've grown to adjust.

 

It hurts to see the fight for equality, justice and the like.

It's sad that we celebrate freedom, and boast our rights,

When these are things we shouldn't need to fight for.

Where in tarnation did we ever follow a path so wrong?

Respect: a status that you acquire only with a title.

Power, greeded upon by those who need no more of it

Religion, a symbolic way of saying 'l am your enemy'.

Racism, you look a certain way and they expect hostility.

Will all this end? Highly unlikely

But will those with a vision stop working? NO

Will their effort ever bear fruit? Also unlikely

Will humans ever regain their humanity? NO!

 

This is where we are in history,

Neat isn't it?

Stuck in a place

Where students write about

Rights and values.

Lalramdina Renthlei, 4th semester, placed second in the writing competition with this poem that comes off sounding rather resigned and cynical. We hope one more year of intense literature study won't turn him into an out and out nihilist.

Ramdina took home Rs. 1500/- and a certificate.

Rainbow or 50 Shades of Grey - Steven Hauhnar

Rainbow or 50 shades of grey
is how our tinted glasses should glance their way
Put you in my shoes, close your eyes,
See things I've seen through mine,
Children of God using out of context lines
off his book to make others feel confined.
Preach of his words that we are loved,
you and I, except for the part where 
people draw the imaginary line.

"Reborn" believers hating on gays at an all time high
Preachers on a pulpit putting themselves on a pedestal -
Pointing out who's worthy and who's deserving of scorching.
Isn't it the same book you're reading off that says
"Pray for your enemy"?
This holy book is not a comic book
or an anime manga where we decide what's canon.
So Lord, strike me dead -
if he deems my poetry as inhumane
and a case of blasphemy,
But years of passivity only breeds
future hostility or felling for
the future of society.

Not speaking your mind and acting
like everything's fine only adds to the fallacy.
How can we celebrate independence day when
people are oppressed and can't express freely?
Not discrediting what the movement 
has done for you and me;
But this isn't back in the days
and we're far from getting back in our ways.
Days are colder, people get enough weight
on their shoulders.
Rainbow or 50 shades of grey
as a society we must learn to
adapt for the better like Cassius Clay
Take a moment to ponder about
the roads we take.

When more people come out of
their closet and time for discussion
on those topics arise
Only to denounce and treat them
like grade C citizens
You'd be surprised what some people of this group
had done for mankind.
We live at a time where world mental health
is at an all time decline;
The victim doesn't become the victimizer,
the abused doesn't become the abuser,
He just carries out the complex:
Complex of not belonging, feeling
alien and offset.

Humanitarianism treads more than the
line of girl and guy -
So if I was gay and born with a soft voice
Would you discriminate me 
and guise it saying you're carrying out God's voice?
If I was born with different preferences
Would I be subject to your prejudices?
Be another victim of society
who could've led a normal life,
If only my differences were brushed side
and I was treated right.
I don't wanna vine off too many branches,
not asking for gay parades
Nor rainbow-themed stores, of course:
that's just a fraud for million dollar
Companies to sell more.

So human rights, Truman's life
I'm a sucker for love
and would be a pain in the arse
If you're prevented from such.
And while my heart still pumps a pulse
Isn't it my birthright to decide
Who's the love of my life?

Steven Ramthanmawia, 6th semester, who also enjoys rapping, has chosen to focus on gay rights in this rap-inflected poem which won the first prize in the Poetry/Prose Writing Competition 2022. He took home Rs. 2000/- and a certificate. Congratulations, Steven!

Writing Competition on Human Rights & Values

Following on the Prose/Poetry writing competition organised by the department early lasy year, ie February 2021, a new annual writing competition on Human Rights and Values was organised by the Department on the 29th March 2022, at the college conference hall. Thirteen student competitors participated and gave presentations/readings of their essays/poems on the theme.

The programme was chaired by Mrs. Elizabeth L. Hmar and C. Zirsangliana.  The Principal, Mrs. Hmingpuii Poonte, gave away the prizes and participation certificates. Students from the 6th and 4th sem English Core attended the programme.

The winners were
First: Steven Ramthanmawia, 6th sem, for his poem "Rainbow or 50 Shades of Grey"
Second: Lalramdina Renthlei, 4th sem, for his poem "We've Lost"
Third: Moses Rampuia, 6th sem, for his essay "Rights Over What is Right?"

Some of the entries will be uploaded on the blog later. Always such a pleasure to have our students rise to challenges such as these.

 

GAC Alumni Reconnect : English Dept.

The Department organised an English Department Alumni Reconnect programme on the 22nd April 2022 over the Zoom platform. Five recent graduates of the department were invited to speak to the 6th semester English Core students who will soon graduate and move out into the real world, and also to the 4th semester English Core students who will shortly take on the responsibility of being the senior-most class. 

The speakers were -
(i) HR Lalramnghaki - Class of 2016 (MA, LLB, LLM, now pursuing Ph.D. in Law at Christ University, Bangalore)
(ii) Lalhruaizela - Class of 2017 (Business development manager and entrepreneur)
(iii) Esther Vanlalnunpuii Sailo - Class of 2018 (MA English, model, film actor)
(iv) Tommy Remchhunga - Class of 2018 (MA English, creative writer, JRF scholar)
(v) Vanlalfaka Hnamte - Class of 2019 (MA English, film actor)

Starting at 8 pm, the session was hosted by Mrs. Elizabeth L. Hmar, Associate Professor. Each speaker was given a short introduction by different teachers. The speakers spoke on varying issues, offering practical advice on career and further studies options and opportunities including studying abroad, the hazards of juggling studies with part-time businesses and too much involvement in church and social activities, the importance of having a good grasp of the English language, life lessons such as dealing with lack of self-esteem, the need for self-love and taking risks, getting extra teaching certificates to get an advantage when seeking employment, the necessity of a solid value system and how only hard work and dedication can lead to success.

At its peak, there were 68 participants. The session ended with a vote of thanks by Mrs. Rohmingmawii, Associate Professor. The Zoom recording has been uploaded on the college YouTube page, and a Google feedback form has also been initiated. 

This was the first time such a programme with our alumni was organised, following on the advice of the AAA assessors last October. It was delightful to meet our old students once again, albeit online, and to realise how much they have matured within just a few years despite their initial apprehension at addressing the younger students. They have clearly chalked out their own futures and are so keen to share their experiences and know-how with their younger counterparts following in their footsteps in the department.  We definitely plan to have more alumni meets of this kind in future.