The Department of English, Fazl Ali College (FAC), Mokokchung, organised Lit Colloquium V, the fifth instalment of its academic talk series, featuring a panel discussion titled “From Chromosomes to Choice: Understanding Gender Today.” The programme was held at 12 pm in the conference hall as part of the department’s observance of International Women’s Day.
The session was chaired by Imkongtula, a sixth-semester student of the Department of English, who introduced the background of the Lit Colloquium series and the theme of the discussion. The panel was moderated by Maonginla, Assistant Professor in the Department of English.
Panelists included Dr. Watimongla Pongener, Associate Professor (Retd.) and former Head of the Department of English, FAC; S. Imkongtiba Longkumer, Assistant Professor in the Department of Zoology, FAC; and Akangtemsu Yaden, Youth Director of MTBA Youth Ministry.
Speaking from a literary perspective, Dr. Pongener discussed the evolving representation of gender in literature. Drawing on the works of Virginia Woolf and Simone de Beauvoir, she highlighted how contemporary literary discourse increasingly challenges traditional gender roles and explores gender as shaped by social, cultural and personal contexts, while also recognising diverse identities, including LGBTQ+ voices.
Longkumer presented a scientific perspective, explaining the biological foundations of sex and the role of chromosomes in determining biological characteristics, while emphasising the importance of scientific clarity in discussions on gender.
Offering a theological perspective, Yaden referred to biblical teachings and stressed that human identity is rooted in divine creation, while calling for responses to contemporary debates marked by truth, humility and compassion.
The programme concluded with an interactive question-and-answer session involving students and faculty members.