Fr. Lijo Kalambadan SDB Successfully Defends Doctoral Thesis

Rev. Fr. Lijo Kalambadan SDB successfully defended his doctoral thesis in a public viva-voce examination conducted by the Department of English, Karpagam Academy of Higher Education (Deemed to be University), Coimbatore on 16 July 2026.

His thesis, “Symbiotic Presentation of Theoretical and Practical Premises of Ecocriticism in the Select Poems of Sugathakumari,” examines the ecological vision in the poetry of Sugathakumari through the lens of ecocriticism, highlighting its relevance to contemporary environmental concerns. The research was carried out under the guidance of Dr. D. Lourdu Mary, Assistant Professor, Department of English, Karpagam Academy of Higher Education.

The public viva-voce was evaluated by Dr. S. Karthik Kumar, Professor and Head of the Department of English, Annamalai University, Chidambaram, who served as the external examiner. Following the presentation and scholarly interaction, the thesis was accepted, marking the successful completion of Fr. Lijo’s doctoral programme.

In his evaluation, Dr. Karthik Kumar described the thesis as “of international standard” and awarded it an “Excellent” grade. He commended the originality, academic rigour, and contemporary relevance of the research, noting that it makes a substantial contribution to the growing field of ecocritical studies by interpreting Sugathakumari’s poetry in the context of present-day ecological challenges.

Concluding his assessment, the examiner quoted Percy Bysshe Shelley’s celebrated line, “If Winter comes, can Spring be far behind?” He observed that the study conveys a powerful message of hope and ecological renewal, demonstrating how literary scholarship can foster greater environmental awareness and inspire responsible stewardship of nature.

The public viva-voce was attended by Salesian confreres from the Bengaluru and Tiruchy Provinces, along with friends and well-wishers, making the occasion both memorable and meaningful.