National Seminar on “Relevance of Gandhism in Contemporary Indian Literature”:
 A one day National Seminar was organised by the Department of Languages on 22 Feb’19. The Seminar which was presided over by the Vice Chancellor Fr Thomas Mathew had Prof G Ramakrishna, Gandhian, critic and ideologue as the Chief Guest. The ceremony was mastered by Prof.Kavitha.  Dr. Mallika Krishnaswami welcomed the gathering by highlighting the importance of the Seminar, stating that this is the 150 year birthday of Mahatma.  Vice Chancellor Father Thomas C Mathew was felicitated on the same occasion by Dr. Sebastian K A.  Prof Shivaprasad, read the poem composed on Father appreciating his services rendered to the institution. A multi lingual student poetry collection “Dhwani” was released by the Chief Guest. Father spoke about the seminar and recalled his experience in the college campus, He also remembered his relationship with the Department of Languages. He also said this concept is new but it is the beginning to achieve progress. Debating in other languages with English is great to achieve localisation to Globalisation. He pointed out Kannada Sangha and its publication.  Through Dr. Narayanaswami K Y who rendered his service for a year which opened a page in the history of Christ for directing a Kannada Drama.  He also mentioned the Kannada drama enacted this year which is a good theme and nurtured the philosophy of universalism in the University. To heighten the higher education Dean Dr. John Joseph Kennedy spoke about the message in the literary works of the Mahatma and his policies.  He also spoke about the Mahatma in the literary context. Though the relevance of Gandhism is there it is still controversial .Today relevance of Gandhism is focussed on different issues which can be debated and discussed. For today’s student Gandhi is just a name but for the older generation he was a movement. In their books he is highlighted as a spiritual hero with no political skill. He always thought he was not a perfect man and never wanted a cult behind him. His policies like Truth, Non-violence, and World peace are always relevant. He also points out that he lit the light of freedom but not unity. Without Unity it will burn the society. In order to flourish in the society Unity is always required. If Humanity needs to progress Gandhi cannot be ignored.
Prof. G Ramakrishna spoke regarding the works about Gandhi in the literary context. He also mentioned about Jalianwala Bagh issue, Lord Mount Batten and the principles of Gandhi in life.   In his view Gandhian principles are still relevant in the life of any person but the younger generation do not take it in the right spirit, rather they make fun of it.   The principles of Gandhi are not only relevant in early days but also in the new generation. His memories of visit privileged revisit and glad about evolution. The great personalities who created history though they are judged will always remain in the mind of the people. the works of S.L.Byrappa’s works. The vote of thanks was given by Dr. Rathi M T
The plenary session had two resource people, Dr. Mythili Rao from Jain University and Dr. Ranganath a retired professor from NMKRV College. Prof. Mythili Rao spoke on “Gandhi and Popular Culture”. Since shortly after he [Gandhi] entered Indian public life on return from South Africa in 1915, Gandhi has permeated Indian literature and the arts; he is to be found everywhere, from office walls to public spaces to collective memory either personal or transmitted. He has been represented to enduring effect by a variety of foreign writers and artists as well, from points of view that serve to illuminate him differently and often with a striking supplementary. Gandhi was like a powerful current of fresh air…like a beam of light that pierced the darkness and removed the scales from our eyes; like a whirlwind that upset many things, but most of all the working of people’s minds”
 Gandhi’s influence on India’s mind has been profound in present age; how long and in what form it will endure, only the future can show. That influence is not limited to those who agree with him or accept him as a National leader; it extends to those also who disagree with him and criticize him. December 1963, Nehru addressed the Rajya Sabha declaring incompetence in the country to make a film on Gandhi:   "The production of a film on the life of Gandhiji was too difficult a proposition for a Government department to take up. The Government was not fit to do this and they had not got competent people to it".
She also quoted, ''People under 30 don't know who Gandhi is,'' said Mr. Antonowsky of the man who has been called the father of modern India. ''We must make grass-roots mid-America aware of who this man was.'' The feature is a story of three police officers in different parts of India, who, well aware of the intelligence that Gandhi's life in under threat, must take key decisions that would eventually either save the Mahatma, or the country. Directed By: Karim Traidia, Pankaj Sehgal
In 2001 an animated television show Clone High is set in a school populated by replicas of historical figures. A Gandhi clone, who is friends with Abraham Lincoln, becomes a hard-drinking partygoer, burdened by the expectations of the Mahatma. The series proved to be controversial back home in India and caused a minor protest in Delhi, which was enough for MTV to cancel it after a hilarious 19 episodes.
Inter-Asian Relations Conference in New Delhi, April 2, 1947, had Gandhi speaking to over 20,000 people.  
Dr. Ranganath  said that Poets in different languages have portrayed Gandhi in the last 80 years.  He highlighted the works on Gandhi in Sanskrit Literature as a sample survey.
Mahakavyas, Khandakavyas, Dramas, Gadyakavyas, Gitikavyas, Dootakavyas, Historical Kavyas, Translations and Stray Verses have been written on Gandhi. He quoted 14 Mahakavyas, six Kanda Kavyas , 7 Dramas, 6 prose works Bharata Rashtriya Puranam : Kasturi Rangacharya of Chennai in 3 Volumes highlights the Freedom Movement. In the second and third volumes, the role of Gandhi is highlighted.  
After the lunch break the paper presenters were separated into three venues - Hindi, Kannada, English and Tamil.  The ceremony came to an end with the valedictory function. The ceremony was mastered by Dr. Shivaprasad Y S, with the Registrar, Dr Anil Pinto as the Chief Guest.  As the Program Coordinator, Prof. George Joseph gave a briefing of the entire proceedings and the Registrar distributed the certificates to the participants and paper presenters.  The vote of thanks was rendered by Dr. Nagalakshmi.S
- Dr Nagalakshmi S.