In conversation with Pranjal Saini
And all that’s best of dark and bright
G. G. Byron
Meet in her aspect and her eyes;
An unusually quiet, shy girl with a lanky frame, but eyes reflecting myriad dreams and a million thoughts! That’s what I recall of Pranjal, as a first-year student whom I met as a volunteer for Xavier’s Literature Festival – INKA back in 2022. I was truly intrigued by her, because her eyes reflected a flame that was so contrasting to her entire demeanour.
Little did I know back then that this petite mademoiselle will go on to become the President of the Literati Cell and be at the helm of INKA again with me and be the Pride of the Department in its true sense. Even though I taught their class only in the final year of their graduation, I was in touch with the brightest of the class because of department activities, and Pranjal stood out almost every time; something did vibe differently there ~ and now I know what it is. It is the vibe of being a literature student who not only reads but also feels what is being read, who dreams of a far far away land of books and letters where dreams turn into reality, not because of a fairy godmother, but because of sheer hard work and love for literature. From being the reticent girl who would hardly speak, to being the one bursting with ideas and speaking without catching her breath, I have seen Pranjal bloom into a dynamic, driven, enthusiastic, determined and committed young girl and it is truly heartening. Her transformation into a vibrant butterfly makes me fall in love with the magic of life and literature, what studying literature can do for a willing heart, an open soul and a fertile mind.
It is my proud privilege to introduce our Pride of the Department and the well-deserving President of the Literati Cell for the session 24-25, Ms Pranjal Saini to our readers!
– Dr. Atiqa Kelsy
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Interviewer: Congratulations on being named Pride of the Department. To start, how would you describe our English Department at SXCJ in three words?
Pranjal: Thank you! I think the English Department has to be one of the finest at SXCJ. I have always been all praise for it, but if I were to choose three words to describe our department, I’d say it’s super engaging, supportive, and proactive.
Interviewer: How has studying English influenced your outlook on life?
Pranjal: Studying literature has constantly reminded me to drink life to the lees. It has made me more articulate, trained me to soften my judgments and question the narratives because not everything should be taken at face value. From what I have learnt, literature not only opens your mind but expands your capacity for empathy, for human complexities because every flicker of emotion is valid , universal and worth acknowledging.
Interviewer: What’s one memorable moment here that shaped your love for literature?
Pranjal: It’s difficult to pick one particular moment, but I do remember being in class and having various activities correlating with the texts or having good discussions with the teachers in class and thinking to myself that it’s good I chose to study this because imagine missing out on this.
Interviewer: Is there a book or poem you wish everyone in our department would read? Why that one?
Pranjal: I think the two books I always recommend are The Book Thief by Markus Zusak and On Earth We Are Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong, primarily because I have always been drawn to narratives depicting the psyche of the common masses during and post-war. And these two books have some of the most unique writing styles I have observed, subtly depicting the
(contd.) effects of war and how literature, the stories and the words sometimes are able to give people enough hope to continue sustaining themselves despite the odds. Hence, I feel everyone should give them a try.
Interviewer: What skills do you think an English major gains that are most useful beyond campus?
Pranjal: As an English major, critical thinking, research and communication skills are the biggest profit in the skill set, which comes in handy in the majority of fields. Aside from that, English majors are adaptive and more aware of different sectors and cultures, giving them an edge in navigating diverse workspaces easily. I believe majoring in English does not just prepare you to read Shakespeare (as is so stereotypically believed), it prepares you to read people, systems and if used wisely, the markets and the moments!
Interviewer: Finally, what’s one piece of advice you’d give to incoming English majors?
Pranjal: To the incoming English majors, I would like to say reading a lot is already a given, but explore as much as you can, participate enthusiastically, take leads wherever you can, both in the department and college, because literature goes beyond the texts and there is always so much to learn!
P.S.: interact and seek help from the department teachers whenever you feel stuck, they are the loveliest and the most helpful!
LITERATI SXCJ 