Admissions 2024

Department of Languages

Dr. Achamma Alex

Designation : Professor and Head

Qualification : Ph.D

Email-ID : achamma@rajagiri.edu

Achamma Alex is the Professor and Head of the Department of Languages, RCSS. She is a postgraduate in English from St. Berchmanns’ College, Changanacherry, and has completed her M.Phil. and Ph.D. from Institute of English, University of Kerala. She started her teaching career at Mar Thoma College for Women, Perumbavoor in 1987, and subsequently, joined Christian College, Chengannur. She served the institution as the Head of the Postgraduate Department of English and even as its Principal, till her retirement in 2020. She has presented a large number of papers at National as well as International conferences, as a research scholar, faculty and Principal. She has been a member of the Board of Studies of the University of Kerala, and has headed the PG as well as UG Boards of Examinations of the University.

  • M.A. English Language & Literature
  • M.Phil. in English Language & Literature
  • Ph.D. in English

Total teaching experience: UG : 33 yrs ; PG: 20 yrs

  • Professor & Head , Dept. of Languages, Rajagiri College of Social Sciences from May 2023
  • Junior Lecturer- Mar Thoma College for Women, Perumbavoor, January 1987 – August 1987
  •  Lecturer, Asst. Professor, Asso. Professor & Principal at Christian College, Chengannur from January 1988 – March 2020

International Seminars

  • 4th Pacific Asia Network of Canadian Studies (PANCS) Graduate Reserch Seminar at the National Museum of Ethnology in Osaka, Japan on 11-13 September 2009.
  • Vampires: Myths of the Past and Future organised by The Institute of Germanic and Romance Studies, University of London on 2- 4 November 2011.
  • A Paper on “Eastern Provinces of Canada” at the International Workshop on Environmental Concerns: Canada and India organised by UGC Area Study Centre for Canadian Studies, University of Kerala on 21-23 March 2005.
  • A Paper on “Tracing the Roots: The European Immigrants in the Canadian Mosaic” in the International Seminar on Anthropology and Literature: Canada and India on 23-24 January 2006.
  • A Paper “Cyclic Return as Resistances to Transformation: Timothy Findley’s The Piano Man’s Daughter” at the XXll IACS International Conferences on Canadian Studies on Traditions and Transformations: Canada and India hosted by The University of Madras on 27-29 January 2006.
  • “A Long Lingering Look Back: Joy Kogawa’s Obasan” at the International Conference on   Asians Looking Homeward : Text, Performance and Culture: Asian Canadian Diaspora from 2-4 March 2010 organised by University of Kerala.
  • A Paper on “Colleges as Contours that Retain Values and Promote Social Awareness” at the 18 th International Conference of the Association of Indian College Principals held at Sri. Krishna Arts and Science College, Coimbatore on 4-6 February 2017.

 National Seminars

  • “Youth Empowerment: An Intermediate Step towards Community Empowerment” in the Second national Colloquium on Empowerment of Youth organised by Rajiv Gandhi National Institute of Youth Development ( RGNIYD) Sriperumbudur on 10-11 Febrauay 2011.
  • “Social Aberrance as Resistance: Women Characters in Timothy Findley’s The Last of the Crazy People and Headhunter” in the UGC sponsored seminar at Mar Thoma College , Thiruvalla on 23-24 September 2010.
  • “Psychic Inhibition: The Deterring Force in Mastering English Language” in the UGC Sponsored National Workshop on Towards a Student-Centred Pedagogy in English Language from 29 – 31 July 2010
  • Attended a 2-day International Conference 'LILAC '24'--Literature, language, AI & Communication organised by Velammal College of Engineering & Technology (Autonomous), Madurai on 26 & 27 March 2024 and presented a paper titled The Wars: Challenging Violence, Forging Hope
  • 1 Orientation Programme & 3 Refresher Courses
  • Conference of Principals 2014 organized by The Kerala State Higher Education Council on 29 May 2014.
  • 2 days training for Principals on Institutional Quality in Higher Education organised by the Principals’ Council & Kerala State Higher Education Council on 21 -22 April 2015
  • Intensive Course in Modern English Grammar and Composition by University of Kerala on 27 – 30 March 1989.
  • 2 Training Programmes on English Language Teaching organized by The Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Consulate General, Chennai.
  • National Training on Intellectual Property Rights organized by KSCSTE, Patent Office, Chennai & NIIPM on 18 -19 July 2008
  • 5 Days workshop on Restructuring U.G. Programmes on 6-20 march 2009.
  • National Workshop on Leadership in Higher Education Today on 10 -12 September 2010
  • National Conference on Redefining Higher Education in the Expanding Horizon on 18 -19 January 2013.
  • Master Trainers’ Training Programme of ASAP conducted by Higher Education Dept. of Kerala on 17 -20 April 2013
  • Organised the U.G.C sponsored National Seminar, Reconstructing Foundations : Postmodern Perspectives in Writing on 1-2 September 2011.
  • Organised the U.G.C.Sponsored National Seminar. Lusus Naturae: Monster in Film and Fiction on 5-7 September.
  • Chaired a session on Gender Literary Historiography and Counter Currents in Postcoloniality organised by St.Thomas College , Kozhencherry on 27-28 September 2011.
  • Chaired a session in the 18 th International Conference of the Association if Indian College Principals held at Sri. Krishna Arts and Science College, Coimbatore on 4-6 Febrauary 2017.
  • Member of the Editorial Board of OUR MAGAZINE, an inter-denominal Christian magazine for children (RNI 5987/57)  published at Scripture Union & CSSM, Tiruvall
  • Principal of the College from 1 April 2014 to 31 March 2019.
  • Head of the Department of English from 2011 to 2020.
  • Member of the Governing Council of Titus ll Teachers Training College , Thiruvalla.
  • Member of the Governing Council of Mar Thoma College, Thiruvalla.
  • Member of the Higher Education Commission of Mar Thoma Syrian Church
  • Master Trainer for training students in Soft Skills as part of the ASAP of Govt. of Kerala.
  • Member of the Board of Studies (Pass) of the University of Kerala .
  • Member & Chairman of PG & UG Examination Boards of University of Kerala
  • External examiner for Viva – Voce of PG Programmes of Mahatma Gandhi University & University of Kerala
  • Subject Expert for the selection of Guest Faculty for Bishop Moore College, Mavelikkara on 3 february 2014.
  • Member in the selection committee for permanent faculty & Guest faculty at the College Level
  • IQAC member and Convenor of the Criterion: Best Practices at the College Level
  • Former member of Mar Thoma Higher Education.
  • Member of the choir of DSMC (Department of Sacred Music and Communications of The Mar Thoma Syriyan Church)& Alto singer in Church Musical productions

INVITED TALKS

  • Awareness class for Parents and Teachers on in connection with World 
  • Women’s day 2013 organised by B.R.C.Mallappally in March 2013.
  • Power and Madness in Foucault at Devaswom Board Pampa College,
  • Parumala on 21 August 2013
  • Prof. Sebastian Joseph memorial Lecture 2013 – 14 at St. Aloysius College, Edathua on Subversion of Myths and MLA Style of Writing Research papers

BOOKS EDITED

  • Various Cultures Variant Readings Vol.1 & ll, ( New Delhi : Creative Books.2012 )
  • Former member of the Editorial Board of the journal English Activities Update
  • Former member of the Editorial Board of the journal New Vision.

RESEARCH PAPERS IN JOURNALS

  • “Spatial Boundaries in Timothy Findley’s The Wars” in the New Frontier (Published by the University of Kerala) pp: 171-82.
  • “Violating the Violators: Timothy Findley’s The Wars” in English activities Update (Published by Centre for Faculty Resource Development in English. Trivandrum) Vol.1. No.1 (January 2010).
  • “Cyclic Return as Resistance to Transformation: Timothy Findley’s The Piano Man’s Daughter” Littcrit: An Indian Response to Literature. Issue 75. Volume 39, Number 2 (Dec 2013).

RESEARCH PAPERS IN ANTHOLOGIES

  • “Psychic Inhibition: The Deterring Force in Mastering English Language” Towards a Student – Central Pedagogy in English Language Teaching. Ed. Chandini David and Lal C.A. Centre for English Language, Trivandrum .
  • “In Defiance of the Plague of Perfection: Timothy Findley’s The Butterfly Plague.” Studies in Contemporary Canadian Literature. Ed. K. V. Dominic. New Delhi: Sarup, 2010, 217-34.
  • “Sanity of the Insane : Women Characters in Timothy Findley’s The Last of the Crazy People and Headhunter” Revisiting Cultural Studie: Towards a New Critical Culture. March 2012, 87-97.
  • “Wanted on the Voyage” in Volume 1 of Various Cultures Variant Readings. New Delhi: Creative Books. 2012, 28-29.
  • “Social Aberrance as Resistance: Timothy Findley’s The Last of the Crazy People and Headhunter’’ in Volume 1 of Various Cultures Variant Readings. New Delhi: Creative Books, 2012. 81-92.

ARTICLES

  • “Niswartha Sneham” in Vanithabodhini (Published by mar Thoma Suvisesha Sevika Sangham ) Vol.34, No.6, June 2012 pp: 9-12.
  • “Moolyadhishtithamaya Christheeya Shikshanam” in Vanithabodhini (Published by Mar Thoma Suvisesha Sevika Sagham) Vol.40, No.6, June 2018 pp: 17-18.
  • “Veendum oru Thozhilali Dinam Koodi” in Vanithabodhini ( Published by Mar Thoma Suvishesha Sevika Sangham ) Vol.42,No.5, may 202.. pp: 13-14. www.sevikasanghom.com

TRANSLATION WORK

  • Translation of Malayalam articles published in Sabha Tharaka (The Official Journal ofMalankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church of Malabar) into English in www.tharakaonline.org