Review on the guest lectures on postcolonial studies

       

    

 

This Blog is the feedback on Guest lecturer Balaji Ranganathan sir who came from Central University of Gujarat and he taught us about postcolonial studies. We had three days sessions from 14th to 16th September 2018, on the  postcolonial paper.

  Postcolonial studies is very difficult to understand but Balaji sir taught each and every unit very wonderful and simple way. His level was very high than us because he is teaching to the P.HD scholars in CUG but he knew our level and try to teach as per our level so, he gave very simple examples so that students understand easily the concept of postcolonial studies. I liked the teaching method of Balaji sir and what were the unique ideas/style/concept I learn from the three days.


In three days session he deals with :-

1) Black skin and white mask

2) Orientalism

3) A Tempest

4) Imaginary Homeland

5) preparation for NET /SET exams

 Knowledge :-

                

 Balaji sir has very good information  about the postcolonial studies. Postcolonial studies very hard, because to teach such a paper one must has the knowledge of the History, Orientalism, religions and geography of regions. Thus, Balaji sir has enough knowledge about different religions, regions, various books, philosophers, theorists etc. . So, we can say that Balaji sir's reading is very vast and he gave various examples from various books and theories to convey the ideas very easily. He has knowledge about the holy books like Ramayana, Mahabharata, Quran, Bible, Geeta, etc and also gave various examples from these books for extra information.
 

Method : -

Method is very important facet in teaching learning process if method is not  interesting than students get bore. So, I liked Balaji sir's method, he made an interaction rather than a lecture, because first he ask students that what you think about the topic and what it is and keep on asking such a questions before the beginning of the topic so students can curious about the topic. So, Balaji sir used various approaches and tools like chalk an talk, videos, pictures etc and his style to begin topic was wonderful, he talked through various history to make interesting subject.

Fluent English:-

 I liked his fluency in English language, pronunciation, vocabulary, tone, voice everything was superb. He also said that it is good that you all are from Gujarati medium and though you selected English in bachelor and also told that if you want to become a master of English language than keep it twenty four hours with you. make your surrounding English thoughts.
 Unique idea/concept :-

  I liked the idea about the Net/Set preparation pattern in which Balaji sir gave a unique pattern that solved 8000 MCQ with proper way. We can not read world's literature thoroughly we have to prepare in this way and it takes long time too. Another, is about the idea of "nation" and "State" in which sir explained that state means the territory of authority like king, queen, government have geographic state, but nation means an imagination. I liked this idea because sir explained it very well that people have their own definition about the nation, person by person it can be change because it is all about the imagination of people which make nation whatever they want, like now a days many countries like America, India imagining nation as Christian nation and Hindu nation. So, nation is an imagination was excellent example and concept which I have learnt from Balaji Sir.


Use of Examples : -

Sir used various interesting examples throughout the sessions but I liked most was the example of desire<>Conflict in 'Imaginary Homeland' in which sir drew a formula about the conflict of desire and said that every human have desire, without desire one can not live. So, here is the formula of desire;

1.  Approach approach conflict (++)
2.  Approach avoidance conflict (+-)
3.  Avoidance avoidance conflict (--)

Understand this formula let me give an example that, one girl is looking for marriage and thinking about the handsome and wealth boy and feel good but she do not like the look of boy so, here we can say that this desire is approach avoidance conflict. And also sir tell about the skin color is not important in live life, skin color based on biological manner of body.