Interviewee: | Dr. Tanya Mander (Assistant Professor of English, RGNUL and Faculty Coordinator of RGNUL Cosmos) |
Interviewer: | Nayoleeka Purty (Co-Founder, RGNUL Cosmos) |
Introduction: Dr. Tanya Mander, Assistant Professor of English, RGNUL, loves to read, write and travel (took her first solo trip to Pondicherry last year) whenever she finds space in chaos of patterned life of routine. She believes immensely in God but not the kind humans have invented and has faith on the power of love and being kind (love can move mountains). Funnily, she has no patience for drama yet she did her Ph.D. on the study of Drama. Her new love interest is ‘memes’ so much so that she wrote a research paper on it. The axis of her worldview is feminism and her biggest flex is that she is loved, respected and feared in equal measure by the same people! Whatever the rest of the world thinks about her doesn’t matter, because her kids choose to describe her as the woman who would die alone because she cannot stop herself from correcting everyone’s grammar.
Q.1) What was your first reaction when the founders of RGNUL Cosmos approached you with the proposal of having a University Magazine? Were you sceptical about the idea or up for it the moment you heard it?
Answer: I have always had faith in the imagination of students, a few years back we had a similar platform Carpe Diem, a university newspaper completely compiled and edited by students. When I meet students with ideas, and visions that are new and vibrant, the teacher in me is always thrilled, there’s no question of scepticism. The universities are petridishes for ideas and experiences to help formulate our students not only their axiom of work and ethics but also offer them new alogrithms of thinking and doing.
Q.2) What do you think makes RGNUL Cosmos a unique initiative and why do you believe in it? What sets it apart from the rest of the committees/centres/cells in RGNUL?
Answer: RGNUL Cosmos is very relevant to the emerging digital landscape, shaping and being shaped by the conversations, debates and discussions happening around, will act not only as a broadcast but also as narrative of student life at RGNUL. The committees are working for their commited areas of activities beyond the curriculum, however, RGNUL Cosmos is providing in the cybernated world a connect beyond stipulated ideas of activities in a law school; I also think that it will thread different generations of students in configurations of humour and nostalgia (that itself would be an exceptional feat).
Q.3) What is the significance of having a space like RGNUL Cosmos in an educational institute? How do you think students will benefit from a forum like this?
Answer: From being understood only as geometrical place, the idea of ‘space’ has travelled a long distance. Digital spaces today offer an unlimited reach, influence and power alongwith equitable network. RGNUL Cosmos will be able to offer new configurations of interconnections; in Foucault’s words ‘the history of present’; a space like Cosmos for an educational institute will provide a digital talking circle, where challenges and opportunities are put forth by students to encourage and motivate each other…. peer learning.
Q.4) The first three posts under the Musings Section are out, what are your thoughts on the pieces and the students who have courageously and truthfully touched upon such sensitive topics?
Answer: Courage, is a small word for experiences put forth by students in the Musings. Most comprehend world in binaries of able and disable, to put it in words how we are all ably disabled and disably able in our everyday life is heartening and reassuring, that most of us our living imperfectly perfect lives, makes us believe in ourselves. Not many would open up to talk about experiences that affect, however subtly, us psychologically and physically but these students did, and they did an amazing job. All three pieces are well rendered. I congratulate Arushi, Xenia Dhar and S. Sadhana
Q.5) How important do you think it is for law students to vocalise their opinions on topics that are generally categorised as “taboo” or “awkward”?
Answer: I think one cannot be a lawyer if one is unable to formulate opinions, arguments on ideas that mostly are tough terrains to negotiate because of the moral, cultural and ethical codes which imperceptibly control us. Human condition and human nature are sum total of contradictions and conflicts, and expoitation and oppression in the name of culture, religion society just makes it worse. For a law student it is important to understand the contours of ideas that are labelled as taboo or awkward. There’s just no escaping from it!
Q.6) Do you think our university is encouraging of students voicing their opinions and taking up new initiatives?
Answer: I do. Post Covid as the corridors are brimming with students again, the university is not only encouraging but is also facilitating the students as they take up new initiatives. The RGNUL Cosmos is the example.
Q.7) As the faculty coordinator what more would you like the students to introduce as part of RGNUL Cosmos in order to make it more engaging for the readers?
Answer: It’s been a very good start. I congratulate the entire team. Sustain the momentum, that’s my only suggestion.
Comments