Page 10 - 01_2021 PULSE@FASS e-Bulletin

FACULTY OPINION PIECE Issue no. 1 | 2021
FACULTY OPINION PIECE
Reviving Indian Studies:

Like old wine in a new bottle

BY DR MOHANA DASS RAMASAMY
DEPARTMENT OF INDIAN STUDIES

When I joined the department as an undergraduate in
1992, I never thought that the department would become
my second home. My connection with the DIS was an
accident that worked out for both the department and me.
Initially, I selected courses from the Malay Studies, History
and Geography Departments, but following the advice
given by a senior lecturer from Indian Studies, I attached
myself with the department. I enjoyed a considerable
period of time incubating among the legends who
nurtured the department in the late 1990s. I was attracted
to the department’s academic endeavors and versatile
Dr. Mohana (second from the right) with fellow colleagues ideas, which shaped my worldview as a young tutor back
then. This opened up a new spectrum of academic
The world has experienced the largest disruption to
lifestyle for me that helped me see the value of the
education in the history of our living time. It has provided
department.
us with shortened teaching time, unpleasant ways of
knowledge delivery, and irregular ways of establishing
But today, with Covid-19, the old way of academic life is
communication, among other things. But despite so the
disturbed, changing the way the department operates,
many negative repercussions of the pandemic, the year
and students’ engagement with the field. The pandemic
2020 must be acknowledged as a milestone year for the
took away our podium and access to students, and
Department of Indian Studies (DIS), a department that
brought with it loneliness. Transitioning to online
could be branded as ‘old wine’ because of its more
platforms halted the DIS’ curriculum review exercise and
traditional academic ways.
the Master’s programme planning, on top of other social
engagements that we often host.
2020 witnessed the signing of two Memorandums of
Agreement associating the department with public fund-
Personally speaking, I miss face-to-face teaching, with my
providers, thereby marking its readiness to play an
students’ lively chatter, which has now disappeared due
effective role as one of the most significant academic
to unstable internet connections. Language and literature
centers emphasizing Indians and Indianness in Malaysia.
courses are aesthetic in nature, designed to be
The development trajectory is an uphill task as it demands
appreciated as a group, and interpersonally, in relishing
extraordinary commitment and proactive action from its
the essences and elegance of literature. DIS often
stakeholders. Soul-searching during this pandemic era,
celebrates this through welcome and farewell
especially by reassessing the academic progress and the
ceremonies, Deepavali celebrations and career days. DIS
strengths of the department, allowed me to accept the
relies on these extra-curricular activities to keep the
fact that there are a few short-term and long-term issues
department alive.
that must be attended to with due attention.
“The 2020 has witnessed signing of two Memorandum of Agreement
associating the department with public fund-providers,... to play an
effective role as one of the significant academic centers emphasizing on

Indians and Indianness in Malaysia.”

10 | Pulse @ FASS