An Icon of Korean language, Dr. Vyjayanti Raghavan embarks on new phase of Korean studies

NEW DELHI: Dr. Vyjayanti Raghavan, the two-times Chairperson of Korean Language and Culture at the Centre for Korean Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), has finally bid adieu to over 40 years of teaching career.

Appointed as the first Chairperson of the Centre at the time of its inception, Dr. Raghavan’s 22 year-stint with this great institution ended on February 28 this year.

Having played a major role in setting up the Centre for Korean Studies in JNU Dr. Raghavan’s contribution to promoting Korean language in India would always be remembered. It was in recognition of her efforts in promoting Korean in India that she was awarded by the Prime Minister of the Republic of Korea Mr. Hwang Gyo-ahn in 2015. She has also been awarded in recognition of ‘Services rendered for the Security of the Nation’ by the Andaman & Nicobar Police in 2008.

She was appointed Chairperson of the Centre for the period 2013-15, and 2017-19. An Ad-hoc Lecturer at JNU teaching Korean language from 1981–to 1983, she joined JNU as a regular faculty member in 2000.

Dr. Raghavan served her term working tirelessly firstly, to have the name ‘Korean’ included in the nomenclature of the Centre for Japanese, Korean & North East Asian Studies, and secondly to get an independent ‘Centre for Korean Studies’, and start the M.Phil/Ph.D programme in Korean Language since 2013.

In an interview with Asian Community News Network, Dr. Raghavan said, “Now that I have retired, I would like concentrate on writing more books. Also, should any institution require my assistance I would be happy to work with them.”

Interestingly, Dr. Raghavan’s connection with Korea started a very long time ago, in 1976, and quite accidentally.

Having completed her BA from Chennai she was looking to JNU to pursue her Master’s. A search for a room in New Delhi landed her at JNU to join a pre-degree diploma course in the Korean language.

“The interest was in studying the Chinese economy because my elder brother was learning Chinese language alongside his history course at Delhi University. But by the time I reached Delhi, admissions had closed. I had no place to stay. That’s when I spotted an advertisement in the newspapers for a pre-degree diploma course in Korean which was to be started at JNU soon. The successful candidates were assured of hostel accommodation – and that’s why I applied for that course,” Dr. Raghavan had said in an interview to Korea.Net.

Then, before the end of the course, she had applied for a scholarship given by the Ministry of Education of South Korea to pursue her Master’s course there. Having got it the rest was history. Just a search for a room in the hostel ended up changing her career.

A multifaceted personality, Dr. Raghavan has several publications to her credit, pertaining to all aspects of Korea. She has also contributed articles to journals and newspapers and is also a member of various academic boards.

She has done her Masters in Korean History from Seoul National University, and her Ph.D. in International Relations from JNU. Some of her recent publications are Colonization: A Comparative Study of India and Korea (co-edited); Sino-Indian and Sino-South Korean Relations: Compulsions, Comparisons, and Contrasts (Co-authored); Comparative Security Dynamics in North-East Asia and South Asia (Co-authored), Korean Wave in India: Current Status and Future Prospects, (Co-authored in Korean),  India and Korea through the Ages: Historical, Religious & Cultural Perspectives, Vyjayanti Raghavan (Ed.), and a Text Book of Korean Culture, by Vyjayanti Raghavan, J.M. Kim & Ravikesh.

She is currently working on a book titled ‘Super Power Dynamics in North-East Asia and South Asia: The Xi-Trump Effect’ under a grant from ICWA.

Dr. Raghavan has also translated a couple of books into English language including the textbook of Korean for Indians, Book I by Kwon Young Min et. al. Seoul: Beautiful Korean School, 2009, and  Hanja in Colloquial Korean by Dr. Kim Jong-Min, Manak Publishers, 2007.

She was also Co-President of the Association of Korean Language Educators in India, New Delhi, an External Member of the Board of Studies of BHU, Department of Foreign Language, Faculty of Arts.2019- 2021. She is currently one of the Trustees of the Book Review Literary Trust, New Delhi, and a Member of the Advisory Council of the Global Peace Foundation, headquartered in Maryland, USA.

There are over three dozen research papers presented by Dr. Raghavan on various platforms since 2012. Some of her latest papers include “Super Power Dynamics in South Asia and Northeast Asia: The Xi-Trump Effect” at NZAsia 2019 Biennial Conference at Wellington University, New Zealand 24th -27th November 2019, Presentation at the Webinar on Responses to COVID-19 and Northeast Asia’s Geopolitics” organized by Indian Council of World Affairs, on 21st May 2020, and “ Old Animus, New Approach: An Indian View”, at the 6th World Humanities Forum titled ‘Humanities of Harmony: Striving Towards Co-existence and Mutual Prosperity” November 2020.

ACN