Department of History : Morigaon College

Introduction

" History is an unending dialogue between the past and Present" ---- E.H.Carr.

As you drive through the busy and noisy Nagaon-Morigaon road from Morigaon Town, a huge blue and white gate welcomes you to  Morigaon College. As you enter the campus, beautiful, age old Bakul trees, lead to the academic bastions of Morigaon College. The Department of History invites you, through the Northeastern side of the Old Arts Block ( infront of the Science Building); a department that has a long history to narrate.

History

The Department of History was established in the year 1964. The major course was introduced in the year 1998. Late. Nitya Nanda Nath and Late. Hem Chandra Rajkhowa were the founder faculty members of the Department. After the demise of Nitya Nanda Nath, Dr. Deben Chandra Kalita joined the department in the year 1986. Dr. Kalita has many number of articles published in national journals and has written 13 books which have proved benificial for the U.G. level students till date. After the retirement of Hema Ch. Rajkhowa, Dr. Himangsu Sarmah joined the Department in 2006. Dr. Sarmah also published many articles in seminar proceedings and UGC Care listed journals. He had published a book " Toponymy of Nagaon District" which was also his PhD thesis. Following the retirement of Dr. Deben Ch. Kalita, Deepak Kalita joined the Department in the year 2020. After the sudden and unfortunate demise of Dr. Himangsu Sarmah, Suman Das has joined the Department in the year 2021.The current faculty members of the department are Deepak Kalita(HoD), Suman Das, Raj Ballav Nath and Bidisha Barthakur.

Aim

The Department of History right from its inception has been aiming to promote quality education among the students. The aim of the department is : " Endeavour towards the knowledge of the past and build a sustainable future"

Motto

The Motto of the Department is "Shraddavan Lobhate Jnanam" derived from a sloka of the Bhagavat Gita which means that only patience, perseverance and interest in learning will yield true knowledge.

Vision

Our vision is to give quality education and to develop critical thinking that will support each and every student in their future endeavours.

Mision

The mission of the Department is to familiarize the students with various historical developments from earliest time to the socio-economic, cultural and socio-political aspects in different time and space. It also aims at cultivating intellectual curiosity in young minds for research activities in future.

Objective

1. To develop well-rounded, confident and responsible individuals by helping them to achieve their full potential in whatever line they choose.

2. To encourage the students for higher education and contribute in the field of historical research.

3. To initiate career-oriented guidance that yield job opportunities in divergent fields.

Courses Offered

1. B.A. Honours in History.

2. Certificate Course in Sattriya Mask.

3. Certificate Course on Borgeet.

4. Certificate Course on Research Methodology.

Resources of the Department

1. General Class Room: 03

2. ICT Classroom: 01

3. Library(Number of Books): 186

4. Major Equipment: One Desktop with Printer

Strength

The Strengths of the Department of History, Morigaon College includes:

  1. Experienced Faculty:
    Qualified teachers with expertise and teaching experience.

  2. Comprehensive Curriculum:
    Well-structured courses covering regional, national, and global history.

  3. Focus on Research and Scholarly Activities:
    Active participation in seminars, workshops, and collaborative endeavours. 

  4. Student-Centric Approach:
    Personalized guidance, mentoring, and academic support.

  5. Field Trips and Experiential Learning:
    Visits to historical sites and museums to connect theory with real-world contexts.

  6. Library and Learning Resources:
    Access to a collection of books, journals, and digital resources fro

Weakness

1. Insufficient number of sanctioned posts of faculty members

2. Lack of adequate number of classrooms.

3. Lack of sufficient infrastructural facility.

Opportunities

1. The students are well aware of their cultural heritage in the field of art, music, dance, literature etc which can be channelised through proper guidance and training. 

2. The innate potentials of students in the field of extra curricular activities may help them to explore the outside world.

 

Challenges

1. Most of the students come from economically weaker backgrounds and this becomes a major hindrance in their higher studies.

2. A few students prefer getting a job for stable economic income over completing their graduation.

 

Activities of the Department

1. One webinar organised by the Department on 14th July, 2021. The Resource person of the Event was Dr. Biman Hazarika, Principal, Dhing College, Assam.

2. A monthly Lecture Series was organised for a period of 10 months by the Department on memory of its former HoD, Lt Dr. Himangsu Sarmah. The inaugural session had its speaker, Prof. Meeta Deka, former HoD, department of History, Gauhati University.

3. On 20th of June 2022, the Department organised Bishnu Rabha Divas as "Remembering the Xainik Shilpi". The Speaker of the event was Dr. Achyut Kumar Das, HoD,Department of Pol. Science, Morigaon College.

4. On 27th of September, the Department organised World Tourism Day. Dr. Ajit Konwar, Assistant Professor Department of English, Morigaon College was the Speaker of the Event.

5. On 22nd November 2022, in Collaboration with the District Administration of Morigaon, Assam,&

Awards of the Department

1. Awarding students and felicitating them for outstanding results.

2. Alpana Sukai, Batch: 2017-20, was felicitated for securing First Class First position under Gauhati University.

Publication of the Department

1. The Lalung: Profile of Tribe: An enthology of the Tiwas published by the Department.

2. The Department has a wall magazine named "ANURANAN" which is released every year.

Achievements of the Department

1. Students  of the Department secured 1st prize in the Cultural Procession organised by Students Union Body in the year 2018. 

2. Students secured 3rd Prize in Jeng Bihu Competition, organised by Alumni Association in the year 2022.

3. Students of the Department secured 3rd Prize in the Departmental Wall Magazine Competition in the year 2023. 

4. Student of 5th Semester, Abinash Konwar, secured 2nd prize in Essay Writing Competition, organised on 8th March, 2022.

5.  Student of 6th Semester, Abinash Konwar, secured 3rd prize in Essay Writing Competition, on World Science Day, organised on 28 February, 2023. 

6. The students of the Department got the 1st prize in the Cultural Rally, during the College Week of 2024.

6 The girls team of the Department of History won the 2nd prize in the Kabaddi Competition of the College week of 2024.

Future Plan of the Department

1. To organise a National Seminar.

3. Documentation of Oral History of Morigaon District.

4. To release a department e-magazine. 

5. To publish an academic journal.

Best Practices

1. The Department organised student-centric monthly lecture programs under the banner of "Dr. Himangsu Sarmah Memorial Lecture Series" by inviting resource person from different esteemed institutions across North East India.

2. The Department has a Book Bank functioned and funded by the Alumni Association of the Department and is also contributed by the retired faculty members of the Department.