The Department of Communication organized a symposium and a heartfelt farewell and felicitation ceremony on 14 November in honour of Prof. Usha Raman, who has recently superannuated. The event, titled “Perspectives on Contemporary Research and Pedagogies in Communication and Media Studies: A Symposium in Honour of Prof. Usha Raman,” was a testimony to the years of devoted service she had put into the Department, the larger academic fraternity and the discipline of Media and Communication.
The program began with a warm inaugural address by Prof. Sathya Prakash, the Head of the Department, who highlighted Prof. Raman’s considerable achievements and invaluable contributions to the Department’s research and academic environment.
Prof. Vinod Pavarala gave the introduction to the symposium. The panel discussions featured speakers from national and international institutes, some of whom participated online.
The first session was on ‘Health Communication’. It was chaired by Ms Seema Kumar, a Communication for Development (C4D) Specialist at UNICEF, Hyderabad. The first panellist for this session was Dr. Pradeep Krishnatray from ICFAI University, Hyderabad, who spoke on health-related stigma. Dr. Ravindra Kumar Vemula of English & Foreign Languages University, Shillong talked about the importance of preparedness as discourse and the theoretical perspectives on health communication for future pandemic adaptability. Communication Consultant Dr. M. Ravikanth’s presentation was titled ‘How to talk to an Elephant: Communicating Health through the Language of Design’. Tejah Balantrapu, Associate Director (Science, Health Data and Story Telling) at L.V. Prasad Eye Institute demonstrated how communicating health and science can be an evidence-based practice.
The second panel discussion was on ‘Digital Culture Studies’. The session was chaired by Prof. P. Thirumal of the Department of Communication, University of Hyderabad. The presentation by Dr. Nimmi Rangaswamy of IIIT Hyderabad (online) was titled ‘An Anthropologist in the House of AI: Stories of Culture Code and Human Imagination’. Dr. Pradip Thomas of University of Queensland, Australia spoke in the online mode about data centres and digital futures in India. Prof. T.T. Sreekumar of the English & Foreign Languages University, Hyderabad, discussed the trajectory of technology from machines to minds, highlighting a Marxist reading of Artificial Intelligence. Dr. Aditya Deshbandhu of the University of Exeter, UK spoke in the online mode about situating practices of digital leisure and play in global south societies. Dr. Deshbandhu is an alumnus of the Department of Communication, University of Hyderabad and had done his Ph.D under Prof. Usha Raman’s guidance.
The third panel discussion, titled ‘Feminist Media Studies’, was chaired by Prof. Kanchan K. Malik of the Department of Communication, University of Hyderabad. The first speaker was Prof. Radhika Gajjala of Bowling Green State University. She spoke in the online mode about responding to the changing terrain of mediation through a feminist lens. Prof. Radhika Parameswaran of Indiana University, Bloomington (also in online mode) discussed advancing feminist media studies, focusing on gender, labor, and digital culture. Dr. Deepthi Krishna Thota of Mahindra University, Hyderabad spoke about rethinking masculinity studies in cinema. Dr. Sumana Kasturi who is an Independent Researcher made a presentation on “Village Babys: Digital storytelling as Feminist Media Praxis”.
The high point of the event was the felicitation ceremony, chaired by Prof. Vasuki Belavadi of the Department of Communication, University of Hyderabad.
Tributes poured in from several attendees, both in person and in the online format. Colleagues and former and current students shared their fond memories and accounts, commending Prof. Raman’s commitment, mentorship and inspiring nature. HoD Prof. Sathya Prakash called her “Wonder Woman,” while praising her ability to take on the multiple roles of researcher, teacher, and mentor with élan.
Prof. Vasuki Belavadi said Prof. Usha Raman’s quiet and calm intervention would often make troublesome and anger-inducing situations more manageable. Prof. Pavarala spoke eloquently about Prof. Raman’s readiness to lend a patient ear to all who come to her. He said, “The quality of her listening with full attention is rare.” Prof. Kanchan K. Malik recited an Urdu couplet in Prof. Raman’s honour, exhorting her to never forget her colleagues after retirement. Assistant Professor Anjali Lal Gupta said, “Everyone feels absolutely free to be themselves with Dr Raman.” Prof. Thirumal praised and thanked Prof. Raman for her “non-coercive cohesive presence” in the Department. Dr. Janardhan Rao Cheeli of the Department of Communication commended Prof. Raman’s ability to maintain her cool at all times.
Dr. Nookaraju Bendukurthi, who is Assistant Professor at the Department of Convergent Journalism, Central University of Kashmir, had done his PhD under Prof. Raman’s supervision. In a video message, he said, “Usha Ma’am along with Vinod Sir helped me find my footing [at the University of Hyderabad]. They didn’t just give me knowledge. They gave me a place to belong.”
In another video message, Dr. Elfriede Fursich said, “What do you say about someone who is retiring but only from one job because she still has about 17 others? Usha, where do I even begin? When people say ‘a life well lived’, they should just point to you.” Dr. Fursich is Associate Professor of Communication and Media Studies at the University of Pittsburgh.
Attendees at the event highly praised the generosity of Prof. Raman’s spirit, and her calm demeanour in all kinds of difficult circumstances.
Prof. Usha Raman in her farewell speech thanked everyone for the outpouring of tributes and commendations that was showered on her at the event. She also read out a Mary Oliver poem. The event concluded with a vote of thanks by Assistant Professor Anjali Lal Gupta. University professors, staff and students presented Prof. Usha Raman with bouquets and mementos and personally conveyed their best wishes for her future endevours.