Department Profile

The Department of History started functioning as a full fledged Post Graduate Department in 1989, with two whole-time teachers and 80 students. It has now grown considerably with eight faculty positions: 3 Professors, 2 Associate Professors and 3 Assistant Professors. Department has got prestigious Vidyasagar Chair Professor in 2019. The faculty members of the Department regularly participate in seminars and conferences at the national and international levels and endeavour to contribute to the ever-expanding horizons of the discipline of History. All of them publish articles in reputed journals and edited books. Some of the faculty members also published their books. Some of the faculty members are engaged in research works in the universities of USA and UK under Fulbright Scholarship and Charles Wallace India Trust Research Grant, availed the position of the Visiting Scholar at the School of History, Religions and Philosophies, SOAS, London and received UGC Associateship at the Indian Institute of Advanced Study, Shimla.

The thrust areas of the department are focused on modern history. Two courses, one on Early India and another on Medieval India are also offered. History of South-West Bengal is a mention worthy area of focus in accordance with the contemporary trend of study of Local History. To keep students updated, the syllabus includes courses like Historiography, Contemporary World, Women’s History, Environmental History, History of Science, Technology and Medicine, Agrarian History, Military History, Intellectual History, History of Popular Culture, History of Thoughts etc. Seminars and special lectures are held all round the year to familiarize the students to the wide world of History and to make their study exciting.

‘Vidyasagar University Journal of History’ is a peer-reviewed and UGC - CARE listed journal, which is being published regularly since 2012.

The department provides scope to the students for higher studies. Ph. D. programme was introduced since inception. M. Phil course has been started from 2015. CBCS curriculum in PG level was introduced in 2018.

Students of the Department are sincere, hard-working and receptive. Male-female ratio is more or less equal. Some of our students are first-generation learners. Some of our students are proficient in extra-curricular activities, have distinguished themselves at national and international levels.

Many of the Alumni of this department are absorbed in various academic institutions and in several other government sectors.