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About Department of History
The Department of History is among the oldest departments of the college and has played a vital role in shaping historical scholarship for over three and half decades. Under the B.A. Programme, the department has consistently adapted its curriculum to align with University of Delhi reforms, from CBCS to the current NEP structure.
Students are introduced to Ancient Indian History in the first year, Medieval & Modern Indian History and European History in subsequent semesters, and are also exposed to skill enhancement courses and value added courses that develop research, archival, and analytical skills. The department emphasizes experiential learning through academic visits, exhibitions and field trips, such as visits to historical exhibitions, museums, archives and heritage sites.
In the year 2014, on 21st-23rd February, the Department of History had the privilege of hosting an International Conference on the theme “ The Asiatick Society, Indology and Indologists During the Late 18th and 19th Centuries A.D.’’ at the Conference Centre, University of Delhi, with the generous Grants-in-aid by ICPR (Indian Council of Philosophical Research, Under MHRD), Govt. of India and ICHR (Indian Council of Historical Research, Under MHRD), Govt. of India. Foreign scholars from Paris, France, Heidelberg, Germany, Sri Lanka, Italy participated along with about 200 participants from India. About 50 papers were read in all. It was all possible because of the valuable academic and intellectual help rendered by our Principal Dr. S.K.Garg. Dr. Radhav Madhav Bharadwaj was the organising secretary of the conference, Dr. Kulvinder Singh, Dr. Manoj Saxena, Dr. Poonam Kasturi (Dept. of Electronics) and Dr. Mahaveer Genwa of Chemistry Dept, Dr. Anand Saxena, Commerce Dept. and Mr. Sikandar Aggarwal (A.O) and others from the staff.
In the same year on 7th August 2014, the Department organized another one-day International Seminar in collaboration with the Dept. of Business Studies (Dr. Nisha Rana and Ms. Monica Bansal) in which scholars from Paris and the University of Rheims, France participated. The Chief Guest was the Honorable Vice-chancellor Prof. Dinesh Singh and the Guest of Honour was the historian Prof.V.K.Jain. Prof. P.S Filliozat (Paris, France) chaired a session and Dr. Bruno Restiff (Rheims, France), Dr. Manonmani Restiff (Rheims) Prof. Radhika Seshan (University of Pune), Diwakar Singh and Ms. Namita Singh (University of Delhi) read papers. It was well attended by the teachers and students from across the colleges and departments. Around ten papers were part of this conference. Dr. Radhav Madhav Bharadwaj was its convener and Principal Dr. S.K Garg was the Patron.
The Department organized its 3rd International Conference on 12th and 13th October 2018 on the theme “Centers of Educational Excellence and Sites of Knowledge in Early India up to the 13th Century A.D.: History, Dimensions and New Research.” The conference was held in collaboration with the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA). The conference was convened by Dr. Radhav Madhav Bharadwaj, with Dr. Manoj Saxena serving as Co-Convenor and Dr. S. K. Garg as Patron, Dr. Sushma Jatoo was the convenor for IGNCA. Renowned historians Dr. P. S. Pilliozat and Dr. Vasundra Pillioza from Paris chaired a session and delivered insightful lectures. The conference also featured an address by Late Prof. Badyanath, the Vice-Chancellor of Nava Nalanda Mahavihara (Deemed University under the Ministry of Culture).
Adding to the academic engagement, Ria Jain, at that time a student of B.A. Programme at DDUC, presented a research paper. In total, around 45 research papers were presented over the course of this two-day international conference, making it a significant academic gathering that contributed to the exploration of early Indian educational traditions and knowledge systems.
On 3rd & 4th March 2025, the department organised the 4th International Conference on “Prayaga Mahakumbha 2025 and Other Religious Festivals in India: Historicity, Governance, Commerce and Other Aspects” and under the Patronship of Principal Prof. Hem Chand Jain and guidance of Prof. Radhav Madhab Bharadwaj was convenor of the conference. The conference brought together academics, researchers, and students from diverse disciplines, creating a vibrant platform for interdisciplinary dialogue. Over the two days, the deliberations explored the historical roots of the Mahakumbh and other major religious festivals, their evolving governance frameworks, and their economic, cultural, and social dimensions. The interdisciplinary nature of the conference enabled participants to examine how these large-scale religious gatherings have adapted to changing social and administrative contexts while retaining their cultural continuity. The conference contributed meaningfully to academic discourse by deepening understanding of India’s religious festivals with dynamic social & cultural processes. It also encouraged discussions on their effective management and sustainable celebration in the contemporary world, reinforcing their relevance and legacy in the twenty-first century. About 10 students from the department of Humanities read papers in the conference.
On 4th October, the Department organised an informative lecture titled “History as an Interesting Subject at University and UPSC: How to Score Well and Get Success.” The session was delivered by Shri Sanjay Prakash, Deputy Inspector General, CISF, who shared valuable insights on the significance of History as a discipline, effective study strategies, and approaches to excel in university examinations as well as the UPSC Civil Services Examination. Held in Room No. 509 at 1:00 PM, the lecture provided students with guidance, motivation, and a deeper appreciation of the subject, making it a highly enriching academic interaction.
On 24th September 2019, the Department organised an interactive session on the topic “A General Survey of Indian Art/Archaeology of Early India up to 12th Century CE” with Ms. Seema Bawa as the guest speaker. The session provided students with a comprehensive overview of the evolution of Indian art and archaeological traditions from ancient times to the 12th century CE. Through her insightful presentation, Ms. Bawa highlighted the cultural, artistic, and historical significance of various developments in early Indian civilization, fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation of India's rich heritage among the participants.
Through seminars, lectures, academic trips, and conferences, the Department of History fosters a deep appreciation of India’s past while encouraging critical historical inquiry and research-oriented learning.
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