About the DepartmentThe Department of Sociology was started in the year 1986 in the premises of Muralidhar Girls’ College, Kolkata, West Bengal. This was a historic event for the Department. This was also the time of evolution of Indian society and nascent development of sociology in India which has been impacted upon by the colonial rule to a large extent. The department started off with a general course at the initial level. In 1986, Dr. Uttara Maity joined as a Part-time faculty of the department in the college. In 1988, she was appointed in the first full time post of Assistant Professor. Since then, she has acted as the Head of the Department of Sociology. With her single-handed effort she has introduced many books and has improved the amenities available in the department. Along with other Part-time teachers and guest-lecturers appointed occasionally, she has had run the department for a span of 26 years. Her teaching experience is currently more than 28 years. In 2005, after the first NAAC gradation received by Muralidhar Girls’ College, the Department could successfully initiate the introduction of Honours course. Since then the department has been running successfully. The General library and the Seminar library are equipped with books received from SAAC and UGC fund. There is regular maintenance of record of portions of syllabus taught by the teachers. Students get involved in several extra-curricular activities like making wall-magazines, dancing, singing, painting, reciting and others. Students engage in doing research projects on topics varying from Women education, women empowerment to drug addiction, ‘selfie’ addiction, mid-day meal scheme, gender discrimination and many others. Successful students have passed out and joined in universities like Jadavpur University (JU), Calcutta University (CU), West Bengal State University (WBSU), Rabindra Bharati University (RBU), Indira Gandhi Open University (IGNOU), Indian Institute of Social Welfare and Business Management (IISWBM) for completion of their Post-graduation in various fields. At the moment we have 4 faculty members and all of them are equally well-equipped with theoretical knowledge and practical experience of doing sociology in contemporary period. In the Department we lay emphasis on individual care for the students. All the faculty members are equally bent upon giving good class notes and helpful class lectures which cover up major part of their syllabus in class teaching itself. Even during the pandemic we have tried to upgrade our teaching skills by using several technological implements like through YouTube videos, PDF papers and books, personal videos and others. Moreover, it is always kept in mind that the welfare of the student in the Department is of prime importance to all the faculty members. We are also proud to inform that most of our students have scored 70 and above percentage in the last three to four years in their final examination. Students under the CBCS (2018-2023) in Sociology Honours and General courses are equally doing well with very high percentage of marks every semester. From 2023, students under the CFF in Sociology Honours and General courses start their new journey. In 2013, the Department got equipped with laptop, printer and camera as important ICT tools for teaching and learning process. Since, 2010 many seminars, workshops and talks have been organized by the department for the students. In 2014, second full-time post was filled by Miss Atrayee Saha, who joined as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Sociology, Muralidhar Girls’ College on 25th April 2014. Her teaching experience is more than 9 years. Now, she is on lien. In 2015, Aditi Ghosh appointed as Guest lecturer. In 2020, she was appointed as SACT. In 2018, Anusuya Moitra was appointed as Guest lecturer. In 2020, she was appointed as SACT. In 2015, first State-level UGC Sponsored seminar has been organized in collaboration with the Department of Psychology and Department of Journalism and Mass-Communication and Asutosh College (as the collaborating college) in Muralidhar Girls’ College, Kolkata on the topic ‘Panopticon Media: From a Sociological and Psychological Perspective’. Students have participated in intra-college extempore, quiz, debate and recitation competition. Students have participated in District-level Youth Parliament competition organized in the college premises and also in Asutosh College, Kolkata, West Bengal. In 2015, 2 students from the Department presented their research papers in 41st Indian Sociological Society (ISS) conference held in Varanasi in Research Committee (RC) on ‘Sociology of Everyday Life’. One student from passed out in 2016 is selected as part of a survey work organized by Bureau of Applied Economics and Research Studies, West Bengal, Kolkata. Abstracts of research papers of 3 students have been selected for paper presentation in National Young Sociologist Competition 2016, to be organized by Christ University, Bangalore. A special video lecture by Dr. Scott Romaniuk, Post Doctoral Fellow, China Institute, University of Alberta, Canada was organized on 23rd December 2021. The lecture discussed the various issues of ‘International Security and its place in the study of Politics in Contemporary Society’. An International Webinar for Students on ‘Youth, Sustainability and Environment’ was organized on 4th June 2022. The eminent speakers of the webinar were, Mr. Kelly Ojow, Founding Chief executive officer at the society for refugees and youth in Africa. Dr. Balongo Caleb Vincent, Lecturer at Department of Environmental and Developmental Studies &Lecturer, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology. Dr. Ardhendu Sekhar Chattopadhyay, Design Consultant at Self-employed Trainer’s training at Consultant Eco Farming and Technical Adviser at Development Research Communication and Services Centre. A Micro-Teaching and Group Discussion On ‘Gender Stereotypes’ was organized on 10th October 2023. Students from Semester 5 prepared a poster on the said topic, and presented a lecture to 3rd and 1st Semester Students. Faculties also participated as audience in the discussion. There are ample opportunities after studying Sociology honours at the Undergraduate level. A student studying Sociology honours can opt for doing Masters in Sociology from reputed Universities, can opt for doing Journalism and Mass Communication, can opt for getting into several jobs which require social science and technical skills, can work with NGOs for internship projects or project assistants, can opt for taking up Sociology as an optional subject in UPSC and other State Civil Services Examinations and many others. A student can also opt for doing Public Relations Management courses, Human Resources Management courses, Masters in Education, Masters in Social Work, Masters in Population Studies for further career progression. In the Department we focus on doing hardcore original research work. With this training the students can opt for going to any NGO or research-based institute for doing research-based project works and can also apply for doing higher studies after pursuing Masters. In this way, the subject is very flexible and is one of the most important subjects in Social Science group which gives a window to many openings after Graduation is completed with good score. The Department hopes to excel more in future. Faculty
Dr. Atrayee SahaDesignation: Assistant Professor & HOD |
