The Department of History has consistently demonstrated a vibrant research culture through the organisation of lectures, workshops, seminars, commemorative events, and conferences that reflect both disciplinary depth and interdisciplinary engagement. Over the years, the Department has created an active academic platform bringing together eminent scholars from national and international institutions to foster dialogue, critical inquiry, and collaborative scholarship.
The Department initiated significant academic engagement with the Commemorative Event on Gandhi Jayanti (19 October 2019), delivered by Prof. Raj Sekar Basu, Professor of History, University of Calcutta. This event foregrounded Gandhian philosophy within contemporary historiographical debates, encouraging reflections on nationalism, ethics, and political thought.
Subsequently, on 1 July 2021, a workshop on “Music and Politics in Modern Punjab” was conducted by Dr. Radha Kapuria, Assistant Professor, Durham University. This programme explored the intersections of culture, performance, and political movements, expanding students’ understanding of how cultural expressions shape and reflect historical transformations.
The Department further strengthened medieval and early historical studies through the lecture “The Dynamics of Mutual Understanding in Medieval India” (26 February 2022) by Prof. Amit Dey, University of Calcutta. The lecture examined socio-religious interactions and plural traditions in medieval India, promoting nuanced perspectives beyond conventional conflict-based narratives. On 8 May 2022, Prof. Sachidanand Sinha of Jawaharlal Nehru University delivered a special lecture on “Understanding Public Health in India,” highlighting the historical dimensions of health policies and epidemiological transitions—an especially relevant theme in the post-pandemic context.
Art historical inquiry was enriched by Dr. Charlotte Gorant (Columbia University; AIIS Research Fellow at Indian Museum, Kolkata), who delivered a special lecture on 11 July 2022 titled “Nagas in Early Buddhist Art: Fluidity and Framing Presence.” The lecture introduced methodological approaches combining art history, religious studies, and material culture.
In 2023, methodological training and critical historiography remained central. On 22 February 2023, Prof. Hitendra Kumar Patel (Rabindra Bharati University), in collaboration with the Department of History, Munger University, conducted a workshop on “Sources and Methods for Writing India’s Past.” This programme equipped students and young researchers with essential tools for archival research and source criticism. The Department also observed Ambedkar Jayanti (13 April 2023) with a commemorative lecture by Prof. Mahua Sarkar (Jadavpur University), encouraging critical engagement with caste, democracy, and social justice.
The year 2024 marked an expansion in scale and thematic diversity. A One-Day Workshop on Methods and Methodology in Historical Studies (18–19 March 2024) reinforced research design and historiographical frameworks. The ICHR-sponsored seminar “Forgotten Heroes: Exploring the Lives and Legacies of Bengal’s Lesser Known Revolutionaries” (18–19 March 2024) revived regional nationalist histories through archival insights. The workshop “Where Archaeology Meets Modern Science: Understanding Past, Constructing Histories, Using Material Remains” (29 August 2024) bridged archaeology and scientific analysis, while the One-Day Seminar on “Interpreting Popular Culture in Colonial India” (October 2024) examined colonial modernity through print, performance, and popular narratives.
The Department culminated its 2024 activities with the Young Scholars’ Conference on “21st Century India: Challenges and Prospects” (30–31 October 2024), offering an inclusive platform for emerging researchers to present interdisciplinary work. Continuing its commitment to collaborative scholarship, the Department organised a major academic event on 30 May 2025 at Adamas University, in collaboration with the Netaji Institute for Asian Studies, Kolkata, further strengthening institutional partnerships.
Collectively, these initiatives reflect the Department’s sustained commitment to academic excellence, interdisciplinary dialogue, methodological rigor, and socially relevant historical research.