6, Greek Church Row, Kolkata - 700026
Affiliated to the University of Calcutta
AISHE CODE : C11920
Estd. 19th July, 1945
The Department of History, Women’s Christian College, was established in 1947, two years after the inception of the college in 1945. It was initially entrusted with the responsibility of preparing students for the B.A. Pass Course Examination under the University of Calcutta, to which the college is affiliated. The department was at first manned by Sm Sudhira Nag, later helped by two other faculty members. In the year 1981, with sanction from the Government of West Bengal, and approval from the University of Calcutta, the History Department opened its Honours Course in addition to the General course as already offered. Conforming to the ideals of the parent institution, the Department of History, from the very beginning, has been making dedicated efforts to promote women’s education.
Smt Jyotsna Biswas was the Head of the Department in 1981 and with her vision, dedication and courage, the department was in able hands. Smt Sathi Roy was the other faculty member. Dr. Jhuma Sanyal (nee Chakraborty) and Dr. Joyshree Roy (nee Ghosh) joined the department in 1981 and 1982 respectively in the two new posts that were subsequently sanctioned. Under the able guidance of Smt Jyotsna Biswas, the faculty was determined to achieve a brighter future for its students and at the same time attain academic excellence. After the superannuation of Smt Jyotsna Biswas and Smt Sathi Roy, Dr. Chandrima Mondal and Dr. Nabanita Mitra have joined the department further adding to its strength. Later, with the superannuation of Dr. Jhuma Sanyal in 2014 and Dr. Joyshree Roy in November 2016, Smt Pramiti Chatterjee (in 2015) and Dr. Anwesha Roy (in 2017) had joined the department in substantive posts. With the resignation of Smt Pramiti Chatterjee in August 2022, Shri Soumya Ghosh has joined as Assistant Professor w.e.f October 2023. Dr. Chandrima Mondal, Associate Professor and senior most member of the department has retired in November 2023.
In the year 2007, Women’s Christian College was assessed and accredited by NAAC for the first time. Since then, the department has made honest efforts to implement the recommendations of the NAAC team within the infrastructure of its parent institution in the subsequent NAAC cycles both in 2014 and in 2019 respectively.
Celebrating World Heritage Week through a Seminar on Heritage Tourism and Heritage Walk
The Department of History organised a Seminar on Heritage Tourism: Theory and Practice, Employability and Opportunities on 20th November, 2024, where the key resource person was Shri Gautam Mukhopadhyay, Faculty Member, Dept of History, and Head, Dept of Tourism and Travel, Ramakrishna Mission Vidyamandira, (Autonomous College) Belur Math, Howrah. The engrossing seminar that was attended by our own students both present and past as well as students of Sanskrit College and Belur Vidyamandira, proved immensely beneficial, as it threw open before them myriad possibilities of eking out a lucrative future and meaningful career in the heritage tourism industry.
The seminar was followed by a Heritage Tour Programme along Cornwallis Street (presently Bidhan Sarani) on 22nd November 2024, with 20 students of the department both present and recent pass-outs along with four faculty members. The tour itinerary comprised Swami Vivekananda's ancestral house, Christ Church, Bethune College, Scottish Church College, Heduah, Goho Kalibari, Lakshmi Narayan Shau and Sons, Nati Binodini's house and Star Theatre. As an enchanting raconteur, Shri Mukhopadhyay, transported the audience to a long lost bygone era with effortless ease, thus giving them a taste of the socio-historical quintessence of North Kolkata proper that needed to be cherished and preserved.
An Academic Linkage has been forged between the Dept of History, Women's Christian College with the Dept of History, Shri Shikshayatan College, on 1st April, 2023
Follow Up Activities:
Sl No | Title | Result View |
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No of Students | Year | |||
7 | 2018-2019
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Name of student who enrolled for higher education | Program graduated from | Year of graduation | Name of institution joined | Name of program admitted to |
Jayati Roy | B.A. in History Hons | 2019 | University of Calcutta | M.A. in Modern History |
Priti Khan | B.A. in History Hons | 2019 | University of Calcutta | M.A. in Archaeology |
Mahuya Mondal | B.A. in History Hons | 2019 | Rabindra Bharati University (Distance) | M.A. in Indian History |
Payel Dutta | B.A. in History Hons | 2019 | Rabindra Bharati University (Distance) | M.A. in Indian History |
Beauty Mistry | B.A. in History Hons | 2019 | Rabindra Bharati University (Distance) | M.A. in Indian History |
Bipasha Saha | B.A. in History Hons | 2019 | WBUTTEPA | B.Ed in History |
Monisha Das | B.A. in History Hons | 2019 | Rabindra Bharati University (Distance) | M.A. in Indian History |
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12 | 2019-20 | |||
Sushneta Bose | B.A. in History Hons | 2020 | University of Calcutta | M.A. in Modern History |
Pinki Gazi | B.A. in History Hons | 2020 | University of Calcutta | M.A. in Islamic History & Culture |
Avipsa Saha | B.A. in History Hons | 2020 | University of Calcutta | M.A. in Islamic History & Culture |
Nishita Bhadra | B.A. in History Hons | 2020 | NSOU(Distance) | M.A. in Indian History |
Anusuya Adhikary | B.A. in History Hons | 2020 | University of Calcutta | M.A. in Islamic History & Culture |
Koyel Chakraborty | B.A. in History Hons | 2020 | Women's College Calcutta | M.A. in Modern History |
Anusree Majhi | B.A. in History Hons | 2020 | University of Calcutta | M.A. in Islamic History & Culture |
Paulami Pal | B.A. in History Hons | 2020 | Vidyasagar Institute of B. Ed Training | B.Ed in History |
Priyanka Maity | B.A. in History Hons | 2020 | NSOU(Distance) | M.A. in Indian History |
Arunita Saha | B.A. in History Hons | 2020 | NSOU(Distance) | M.A. in Indian History |
Rakhi Sardar | B.A. in History Hons | 2020 | NSOU(Distance) | M.A. in Indian History |
Sayani Chakraborty | B.A. in History Hons | 2020 | NSOU(Distance) | M.A. in Indian History |
7 | 2020-2021 | |||
Tanushree Das | B.A. in History Hons | 2021 | University of Calcutta | M.A. in Ancient Indian History & Culture |
Piyali Das | B.A. in History Hons | 2021 | NSOU(Distance) | M.A. in Indian History |
Sathi Dey | B.A. in History Hons | 2021 | NSOU(Distance) | M.A. in Indian History |
Snehya Bhattacharya | B.A. in History Hons | 2021 | Vivekananda College (CU) | M.A. in Modern History |
Marium Khatun | B.A. in History Hons | 2021 | Vivekananda College (CU) | M.A. in Modern History |
Snigdha Das | B.A. in History Hons | 2021 | Vivekananda College (CU) | M.A. in Modern History |
Prerana Mondal | B.A. in History Hons | 2021 | Vivekananda College (CU) | M.A. in Modern History |
2021-2022 | ||||
Ankita Pramanick | B.A. in History Hons | 2022 | ||
Sweta Paul | B.A. in History Hons | 2021 | ||
2022 | University of Calcutta | M.A. in Islamic History & Culture | ||
2022 | University of Calcutta | M.A. in Islamic History & Culture | ||
2022 | University of Calcutta | M.A. in Indian History | ||
2022 | University of Calcutta | M.A. in Islamic History & Culture | ||
2022 | NSOU(Distance) | M.A. in History | ||
2022 | Sanjiban Institution of Nursing, Howrah | Nursing Course | ||
2022 | Rabindra Bharati University | M.A. in History | ||
2022 | University of Calcutta | M.A. in History | ||
2022 | Vivekananda College (CU) | M.A. in History | ||
Paromita Banik | B.A. in History Hons | |||
Famia Azka | B.A. in History Hons | |||
Soma Sardar | B.A. in History Hons | |||
Arpita Das | B.A. in History Hons | |||
Suparna Das | B.A. in History Hons | |||
Ankita Chakraborty | B.A. in History Hons | |||
Sayani Naskar | B.A. in History Hons | |||
Megha Chakraborty | B.A. in History Hons | 2022 | ||
14 | 2022-23 | |||
Dipanwita Brajabasi | B.A. in History Hons | 2023 | ||
Madhumita Jana | B.A. in History Hons | 2023 | ||
Diya Das | B.A. in History Hons | 2023 | ||
Mouli Bose | B.A. in History Hons | 2023 | ||
Pushpa Paul | B.A. in History Hons | 2023 | ||
Shilpi Bera | B.A. in History Hons | 2023 | ||
Suparba Bhowmick | B.A. in History Hons | 2023 | ||
Sonia Saha | B.A. in History Hons | 2023 | ||
Piyali Biswas | B.A. in History Hons | 2023 | ||
Ishani Chakraborty | B.A. in History Hons | 2023 | ||
Dipika Dutta | B.A. in History Hons | 2023 | ||
Lisa Naskar | B.A. in History Hons | 2023 | ||
Sreeparna Nag | B.A. in History Hons | 2023 | ||
Sangita Barman | B.A. in History Hons | 2023 | ||
Sl No | Title | Notice View |
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The students of the Department of History have carried out two Micro Research Projects that have been undertaken under the supervision of the faculty members of the department and which have been fully financed by the College. The Research Projects titled Eshona (on Neighbourhood Studies) and Pracya (on Indian Knowledge Systems) have helped students obtain an overarching socio-historical perspective of their immediate environs even while they have been encouraged to explore and appreciate their regional cultural heritage, in keeping with the Vision and Mission of the College. The Research Projects, which are perfectly in sync with the IKS theme of NEP 2020 have further been enriched by the insightful forewords by the College Principal, Dr. Ajanta Paul.
INTER - COLLEGE MULTIDISCIPLINARY STUDENTS' PAPER PRESENTATION CUM SEMINAR ON THE CENTENARY OF THE TERMINATION OF WORLD WAR I
On 17th of August, 2018, the Department of History, Women’s Christian College, organized a one-day Inter-college, Multidisciplinary Students’ Paper Presentation cum Seminar to commemorate the occasion of the centenary of the termination of the Great War. The seminar saw students participating from 12 colleges and universities across Calcutta and even beyond. The participants who shared their diverse takes on the subject included those belonging to Lady Brabourne College, St. Xaviers College (Raghavpur), Loreto College, Scottish Church College, RKM Narendrapur, Shri Shikshayatan College, Bhowanipore Education Society, Bijoy Krishna Girls College (Howrah), Bangabasi Morning College, Diamond Harbour Women’s University, Muralidhar Girls College and the host college as well. In fact, Famia Azka of our own department spoke on ‘Women and World War I.’ The key speaker for the occasion was Prof. Sabyasachi Dasgupta, Assistant Professor, Viswa Bharati, Santiniketan, who spoke at length of the discriminatory recruitment policies in the colonial army since the Great Revolt and after, placing special emphasis on the Indian contingent that had been forced to fight on behalf of the Allies in the Middle East. The seminar ended with a lively question-answer session.
FACULTY EXCHANGE PROGRAMME - 1
As part of the Faculty Exchange Programme of the Department of History, Women’s Christian College, Prof. Debasish Chowdhury, Assistant Professor of Bangabasi Morning College, spoke on ‘The History of Mesopotamia,’ on 24th August, 2018. Being an integral part of the new CC2 syllabus of CBCS, the lecture proved to be immensely beneficial to our First Year students. Through his presentation Prof. Chowdhury gave fascinating insights into this exotic civilization, by way of harping on the anthropological, sociological and mythological diversity of ancient Mesopotamia proper. The lecture was well attended as students and faculty of the department along with a few of those of others thronged the auditorium to listen to the speaker. The lecture was a reciprocal one as Nabanita Mitra, Assistant Professor, Department of History, Women’s Christian College, had already delivered a lecture on ‘Ancient Indian Historiography,’ at Bangabasi Morning College on 13th August, 2018.
FACULTY EXCHANGE PROGRAMME (ONLINE) - 2
The Dept of History, Women’s Christian College organised an Online Faculty Exchange Programme with the Department of History, Sammilani Mahavidyalaya in June 2021. While Sm Kasturi Kar, Assistant Professor, Sammilani Mahavidyalaya took classes on Nationalism and the Social Classes (Module IV of CC13) on 23rd and 24th June, 2021, Dr. Nabanita Mitra, Assistant Professor, Women’s Christian College took classes on Interpreting 18th century debate (Module V of CC11 of CBCS) on 22nd and 25th June, 2021. The joint classes with students belonging to both the institutions proved beneficial as they were both lively and interactive in nature.
EDUCATIONAL EXCURSION - 1
The Department of History, Women’s Christian College had visited the State Archaeological Museum, Behala and Gurusaday Museum, Joka on 14 th November, 2019, as a part of their Museum Visit Programme. A total of 60 students of Semesters 2, 4 and 6 along with three faculty members of the aforesaid department took part in the exercise, which was both fruitful and enriching for them all. The day being Children’s Day, the students seemed enthusiastic right from the very beginning. They got to see the different nuances of archaeological history unfolding before their eyes as they entered the State Archaeological Museum, - things that they normally would have studied through their texts and reference books alone. They were guided through galleries and halls containing relics from the past, studying the details of the artefacts displayed even while jotting down copious notes wherever necessary. The visit to Gurusaday Museum was likewise edifying as it contained a vast array of the personal collections and memorabilia of Gurusaday Dutta, (civil servant, folklorist, and writer, besides being the founder of the Bratachari Movement in the 1930s),. ranging from Nakshikantha to different forms of folk and tribal art besides other heirlooms donated by his family. In all, the Museum Visit Programme was both informative and enjoyable.
EDUCATIONAL EXCURSION - 2
The Department of History, Women’s Christian College had visited St. John’s Church, Victoria Memorial Museum and Alipore Jail Museum on 2 nd December, 2022 as a part of their Museum Visit Programme. A total of 49 students of Semesters 2, 4 and 6, belonging to the said department as well as a few students belonging to History General accompanied by four faculty members had undertaken the programme. Like as with other heritage tours, students and faculty got a taste of the old world charm of colonial Calcutta, evident through the architectural grandeur of the marble edifices, the beautiful Company paintings, history galleries displaying British regalia, et al. The visit to the newly-constructed Alipore Jail Museum however left an altogether different impact. Seeped as it were in the nationalist history of the heroic freedom fighters of Bengal, it left the students emotional visualising the sacrifices that the former had had to make by undergoing a series of draconian and bestial punitive torture that had been inflicted on them. All said, the visit to the three important museums dotting the city was a fruitful and educative exercise for students and teachers alike as they not only got to know and learn about their past from up close but which also enabled them to see history come alive right before them.
VALUE ADDED COURSE ON WOMEN'S STUDIES
The Dept of History conducted an extremely fruitful 32 hours Value Added Course on Women's Studies from 12th April to 4th May, 2023. The course curriculum designed by the departmental faculty members covered a diverse range of themes centering around the literary, intellectual, artistic, historical and sociological contribution of women in India down the ages. The resource persons, mostly comprising in-house faculty members of the college as well as a few scholars of repute from without, mesmerised the audience with their interesting takes on a diverse range of topics related to Indian women. The section on students' paper presentation also saw thought-provoking and well-researched papers from our Semester 6 students as well.
FACULTY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME ON IKS
Our College IQAC in collaboration with the Dept of History organised a 5 Day Faculty Development Programme on Indian Knowledge Systems from 10th to 14th June 2023, wherein in-house faculty members from the departments of Economics, Sanskrit, Political Science, and Bengali captivated the audience comprising faculty members with their diverse and interesting takes on a gamut of subjects ranging from ancient Indian economic systems, popular participation in forest management, Tagore's musical philosophy, Hindi Bhasha and Sahitya, and history of Bengal's masks.
STUDENT RESEARCH PROJECT ON NEIGHBOURHOOD STUDIES (ESHONA)
Our departmental students conducted a painstaking Research Project on their Neighbourhood. Titled as Eshona or Quest, they sought to explore the immediate vicinity of their educational institution by donning the lens of debutante historians. The sites they researched into comprised the Kalighat Temple, the Greek Orthodox Church, the Kalighat Tram Depot, the Tagore Research Institute and Jogesh Mime Academy - all at a stone's throw from their college, exuding an old world charm of their own, which our students rightly felt that needed to be cherished, preserved and celebrated.
STUDENT RESEARCH PROJECT ON INDIAN KNOWLEDGE SYSTEMS i.e. IKS (PRACHYA)
Students of our department also undertook the Research Project Prachya to acknowledge their adherence to Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS) which remains as a cornerstone of NEP 2020. Amongst the wide plethora of subjects that IKS encompasses, our students have sought to engage with a few genres of regional Indian art. In fact, their laborious research on Pala paintings, Kalighat Paintings and Bengal School of Art speaks volumes of their penchant for different forms of regional artistic expressions and their academic quest to form their own perspectives on the same.
RECRUITMENT DRIVE IN COLLABORATION WITH KOTAK LIFE INSURANCE
The Career Counselling & Placement Cell as well as the Dept of History organised an Orientation Programme to recruit Graduate Trainees from amongst our B.A./B.Sc 2021 passouts on 8th October, 2021 in collaboration with Kotak Life Insurance. There was a presentation by Kotak Life via Zoom followed by a behavioural and cognitive test, that was undertaken by 35-odd students, out of whom 7 were shortlisted for the next HR round.
DEPARTMENTAL ACTIVITIES PRIOR TO JULY 2018
FUTURE ROAD MAP
The Department of History has tried to nurture the values ingrained by the founders of Women’s Christian College. Open to new ideas and developments, the History Department of this college, endeavors to overcome difficulties and create a dream for the students of this department beyond mundane classroom teaching. Progress of women’s education consequently leading to empowerment of women is the prime motto of the faculty members. In order to attain this goal, the department plans to make class room teaching more meaningful in the coming years. Participation of students in departmental seminars, inter-college seminars, peer teaching programmes and group discussions help them overcome their initial limitations and prepare them for the outside world. Students of this department are encouraged to pursue higher studies. They are also familiarized with the prospects of future jobs. For this purpose placement drives with multinational companies like Kotak Life Insurance have been arranged and the department has plans to organize such drives on a regular basis, involving the participation of experts, who can guide the students in the right direction. The department also plans to facilitate student placements by collaborating with MoU institutions. A laptop with internet facility for specific use of the department has been provided by the college. Creating a permanent fund for the financially backward students, to aid their higher studies even after they leave their parent institution is seriously intended. The introduction of some short-term self-financed history-allied subjects like heritage tourism may benefit the students of this department and at the same time can earn revenue for this college. The faculty members while taking part in all the activities of the college and meeting out all the responsibilities entrusted by Calcutta University, to which the college is affiliated, try to achieve optimal benefits for its students both at present and even in future. The department tries to impart to its students holistic education which seeks to give them a voice of their own so that they can make a place for themselves in the society at large.