A Book-Review Competition for Undergraduate Level Students was organized by Department of Library, Govt. Degree College, Pampore in collaboration with Department of English under the aegis of IQAC on the eve of Librarian’s Day. The event was held on August 12th, 2020. The event was organized under the patronship of Principal GDC Pampore, Prof. (Dr.) Seema Naz and Mr. Talat Parvez Rohella, Commissioner Secretary to Govt. Higher Education Department, J&K was chief patron of the event.
The Book-Review Competition was organized with the objective of developing students’ critical and analytical abilities. To encourage them to read literature and analyze literary texts has been the motive behind organizing this event. The Department of Library along with the Department of English have always had the aim of developing the love for reading among students and by getting an excellent response from students across the valley and internationally, we feel that our efforts have materialized to some extent.
The Department of English chose and selected a list of five books to be reviewed by the students, keeping in view the popularity of various literary texts among undergraduate students. For undergraduate students, Wuthering Heights holds a prominent place as students find a kindred soul in Heathcliffe. Equally important place is occupied by Pride and Prejudice as it has all the themes to attract our young readership. Animal Farm, Jane Eyre, The Guide and Midnight’s Children strike a deeper chord with our young readers at various undergraduate levels. Thus selecting these books for the competition was well-thought.
List of Books Selected for the Book Review Competition:
- Animal Farm by George Orwell
- Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
- Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
- Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
- Midnight’s Children by Salman Rushdie
- The Guide by R K Narayan
A total of 18 responses were received from various colleges across the valley. Some responses from the reputed international universities were also received. All the participating students had tried their best to analyze the above enlisted texts critically. Various important themes and techniques of the selected novels were discussed and elaborated with many textual references. The organizing committee and the faculty from the Department of English evaluated all the entries minutely to gauge the independent critical abilities possessed by students. After due deliberations, the best five entries were selected from across the country and international platforms.
Following is the list of best five entries received:
1st Best Entry:
Shahid Rashid, 4th Semester, B A Honors, GDC Boys Khanabal
Book Reviewed: Wuthering Heights
2nd Best Entry:
Usman Saidu, 400 Level, Umaru Musa Yar’adua University, Katsina, Nigeria
Book Reviewed: Animal Farm
3rd Best Entry:
Mir Mashood, 2nd Semester, GDC Pampore
Book Reviewed: Animal Farm
4th Best Entry:
Aabid Hameed Lone, Bsc 4th Semester, GDC Pampore
Book Reviewed: Animal Farm
5th Best Entry:
Aksana Ali Shah, 6th Semester, GDC Pampore
Book Reviewed: Midnight’s Children
Submitted By
Ms. Aaliya Bashir
Asst. Prof. Department of English
Coordinator
Mr. Ashiq Hussain Wafaye
Librarian
Organizing Committee
Ms. Aaliya Bashir, Asst. Prof. English
Mr. Altaf Ahmad Ganaie, Lecturer, English
Mr. Rafiq Ahmad Mir, Lecturer, English