History 

Established in 1917 the department is one of the oldest departments of the college.  Distinguished historians such as Professors Nishith Ranjan Ray and Kuruvilla Zakaria taught in this department. The department is currently run by four fulltime teachers dedicated to the study of history both within and outside the college. 

Vision and Mission of the Department

The Department strongly believe and encourage in interactive learning procedure to ignite curiosity in the subject. We believe classroom teaching should be supplemented by direct field experience like visit to museums and places of historical interest. We are committed towards inculcating values in students that will help them to become responsible citizens.

Current Activities

The Department has its own staff room in the First floor of the Jani Ali Block. The departmental library has around 500 books. The students enjoy regular borrowing facilities. The department encourages interactive sessions and uses PPTs as and when required. Each of the four-faculty member has their own mentoring groups under their supervision for all the semesters. Remedial classes are regularly arranged for students in need of special attention. Talk by eminent historians, Students’ seminar and Museum visits, heritage walls, knowing the neighbourhood are organised at regular intervals. The department was the Zonal Centre of Calcutta University for 15 consecutive years.

                           Program and  Course 

The History Honours syllabus under the 1+1+1 syllabus consists of eight papers to be covered in three academic years. The last batch of students under the 1+1+1 system passed out in the year 2020. Under the old syllabus, the Honours curriculum is divided in two parts – Indian history and History of the World. Papers on History of India cover period from Pre–history to Nehruvian era (1964). The span of the syllabus of the Eurocentric World history is from the fall of Feudal Society (Rise of early Modern Europe) to the end of Cold War. It also includes the history of Far East countries.

Under the  CBCS from the year 2018 the Three years B.A. Honours in History will comprise 6 Semesters. The curriculum will consist of 14 Core Courses (CC), 4 Discipline Specific Elective (DSC ) Courses, 2 Ability Enhancement Compulsory Courses (AECC), 2 Skill Enhancement Courses (SEC). Each Course of 100 marks. Attendance : 10 marks per paper, Internal Assessment : 10 marks per paper. The syllabus is framed to redefine the curriculum keeping pace with the new research in the field.

Under the newly introduced NEP from the year 2023 the Four year B.A in History will comprise  8 semesters. The curriculum will consist of 22 Discipline specific core Elective courses (H/CC) courses each carrying 4 credits, 8 Minor courses each carrying 4 credits, 3 Interdisciplinary courses (IDC) each carrying 3 credits, 4 Ability Enhancement Compulsory Courses,( AEC) each carrying 2 credits, 3 Skill Enhancement Courses(SEC), each carrying 4 credits, 4 Common Value Added Courses (CVAC), each carrying 2 credits. There will 1 Summer Internship of 3 credits and Dissertation /Research work in the 7 semester carrying 4 credits and 8 credits in the final (8th) semester. The course intends to provide a deep and extensive understanding of Indian as well as world history since the time of the hunterer gatherers to the days of global warming and the changing complex political scenario of the world politics of the 20th century.