DEPARTMENTAL ACTIVITIES

                                             EXCURSION  2017

state level seminars 2017

State level Seminar was conducted by Vidyasagar Evening College in association with Bangiya Itihasa Samiti on 04.11.2017. Seminar was  sponsored by Higher Education Department, Government of West Bengal

awards

Students securing highest marks in science, arts and commerce and best student award to a student belonging to low income group are awarded every year in the loving memory of father of Smt. Swati Maitra, Shri Sukha Ranjan Banerjee (IPS). 

SPECIAL lecture 2018

Dr. Uma Chakraborty of Seth Soorajmal Jalan College delivered lecture on "Art in Ancient India" on 11.08.2018 at Iswar Chandra Sabha Kakshya

Synopsis of the Lecture:

Each era in ancient India is unique in its distinctive artistic activity. The major artistic activity of ancient India begins with Harappan miniature art pieces which are unique in expression. Art of the Mauryan period are monumental in conception and design and fine and precise in execution. The native style, distinguished by its simplicity and folk appeal is best represented in the narrative Sunga art of Bharhut and Sanchi. It forms a treasure house of fables, visually represented. The Kushana sculptures of Gandhara   fostered a mixed culture which is best illustrated by the variety of deities with Graeco-Roman affiliation. The Mathura School of Art was entirely influenced by Indianism. Portraits of Kushana rulers retained the fashion of their Central Asian nomadic ancestors. The sensuous sculptural art that bloomed at Amaravati and Nagarjunakonda in white lime stone display a mastery in detailed ornamentation and the elegance of figures are shown in a rare harmony. They unfold the cultural story of a glorious people. The human figure is the pivot of Gupta sculpture. They express a characteristically refined taste and charm of the Gupta style. The soft and pliant human figures exhibit a free and easy movement. The Buddha figures from Sarnath and Mathura with their soft and pliant body   prove to be infused with an inherent energy. The synthesis culminated in the Pala-Sena period is a fusion of classical mannerism with the indigenous style of Bengal. This new style of art reflected the ideas of beauty, physical charm and sensuousness. In Mahabalipuram is the magnificent open air bas-relief sculpted out of rock. Casting of bronzes became the most distinctive form of sculpture in South India. The period of the imperial Cholas was an age of continuous improvement and refinement of Dravidian art. Thus the innovation and creativity that have exerted lasting influence on the art movement in ancient India never lost its integrity.

            VISIT TO  INDIAN MUSEUM  2019

VISIT TO NETAJI BHAVAN

2019

SPECIAL LECTURE 2019

Prof Sarmistha Bandyopadhyay of Deshbandhu College For Girls delivered a special lecture on 'Social Structure of Mughal India' on 11.09.2019 at Vidyasagar Metropolitan College. 

Synopsis of the lecture

The Mughal society was like a pyramid, at the top of which stood the Emperor who was the fountain of all powers and enjoyed enormous status and honour.The Mughal ruling class, representing both the central authority ( Mansabdars and Jagirdars)and the local power (local chiefs and Zamindars) were feudal in nature and drew their financial resources from the surplus labour of the peasants. The nobles had unlimited reaches and enjoyed a highly privileged position in the society. The process of bureaucratisation started with time.

In the village the process of stratification and growth of income disparity went on side by side with expansion and improvement of cultivation. In the village, below the zamindar, were the owner peasants, followed by a class of tenant cultivators and at the bottom lay numerous agricultural labourers and sharecroppers, exploited by the richer sections in the rural society. At the same time it was the privileged sections who played a leading role in expanding and improving cultivation.

In the urban areas we can notice a rising middle class comprising traders and businessmen and a class of artisans, both skilled and unskilled and a group of officials and educated professionals. Below them stood the urban poor who were socially marginalised and had very scarce facilities of life.

The society in Mughal India, as it progressed from the Sultanate period, carried elements of both continuity and change. The social structure of the Sultanate period continued to operate under Mughal rule while the most important changes were the growth of a composite ruling class accompanied with bureaucratisation and commercialisation, further stratification of the rural society, growth of urbanisation and the emergence of a class of artisan entrepreneurs, the development of middle segments and the further expansion and strengthening of the commercial classes.

Mr Sayantan Mukherjee  of Indian Museum delivered a special lecture on "Different aspect of Art in Indian tradition" on 8.11.2019 at Vidyasagar Metropolitan College.

SYNOPSIS OF THE LECTURE

Different aspects of art in Indian tradition

In Indian tradition, art is one of the most influential and expressive media through which the extremes of expression of human mind can be seen. It is very firm to explain and discuss art and the expression of art in any way. Therefore, discussions of various aspects of art in Indian tradition are very necessary and important.

Art never refers to the material created by all the mediums such as stone - clay – wood and so on, which is the touching medium of art, that is, the one we can touch. What we do not see or touch, is the touch less medium of art. An example is worth stating in this discussion, which is a musical instrument. The musical instruments we see with our eyes, we can even touch them. But the music we play in it, that we can feel, is not visible.

It is necessary to mention the foreign influence in the discussion of the evolution of Indian art. Foreign expeditions have been taking place in the Indian subcontinent since ancient times, which has influenced many different segments of Indian thought, foreign influence has been mixed with Indian culture. This phenomenon stands the highlight of Indian civilization&culture. We find appearance of this elaborate artistic and traditional Indian art, in sculpture, in painting, in costumes, in cuisines, in eating, in daily living, and in several other fields. Some of the utmost touching mediums have been preserved and displayed in various museums in India and outside India. In this case, our job is to capture and narrate the thinking of those touching mediums through the evolution of their history.

WEBINAR  ORGANIZED BY DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY

ON 

REVISITING HISTORY FROM DIFFERENT DIMENSIONS: BENGAL IN NINETEENTH AND TWENTIETH CENTURY

17TH AND 18TH OCTOBER 2020

A two day international webinar entitled ‘Revisiting History from Different Dimensions: Bengal in Nineteenth and Twentieth Century’ was organized by the Department of History Vidyasagar Metropolitan College in collaboration wit IQACs and Bamanpukur Humayun Kabir Mahavidyalaya on 17th and 18th of October,2020. The Convenor of this programme was Dr. Srinwanti Mukhopdhyay of VMC and Co-convenor was Smt. Prajna Paromita Podder of BHKM.

The webinar was graced by the presence of four eminent resource persons. On Day One, Prof. Amit Dey presented a paper entitled ‘Interpreting the Folk Songs of Colonial Bengal’ and Prof. Dibyadyuti Sarkar presented a paper entitled ‘Internationalization of Bengali Culture: Bhaktivedanta, Yogananda and Chinmoy’. On Day Two Prof. Abul Kashem presented a paper entitled ‘Bangladesher Mukti Samgram O Choy Dofa Karmasuchi: Chatroder Bhumika’. The second speaker Prof. Sankar Kumar Biswas presented a paper entitled ‘Bengali Muslims : From Awam to Ummah’. 356 delegates participated in this webinar.

The link of the webinar is given below:

DAY 1 OF THE WEBINAR 

DAY 2 OF THE WEBINAR 

SPECIAL LECTURE SERIES 2021

SPECIAL LECTURE SERIES 1

The department of History has organized a special lecture series  from April 2021. Prof Surajit Gupta, Associate Professor in History, Raja Rammohun Roy Mahavidyalaya delivered a special lecture on "Changes in Society in Early Medieval India" on 9th June 2021 on the google meet platform. 

Below is the link of the lecture Series 1

SPECIAL LECTURE SERIES -1 

 Prof Surajit Gupta

Associate Professor in History

Raja Rammohun Roy Mahavidyalaya

SYNOPSIS OF THE LECTURE

Changes in Society in Early Medieval India

Early Medieval India witnessed a host of changes in the societal structure in comparison to that of the ancient period. The insertion of Brahmana doneesinto the village community by virtue of land-grants or Brahmadeyas, introduced a new element into agrarian relations. Those donees replaced the State regarding rights over water resources, forests,  and habitation area, which affected the rights enjoyed by the village community. Judicial rights were also possibly transfered to them.

Increasing pride of birth, and the accompanying self-sufficient village economy, which prevented both spatial and occupational mobility gave rise to great numbers of newer castes and decline of certain older ones. The Kayasthas evolved as a new caste, Rajputs were recognised as Kshatriyss. However, in places like Assam, where non-brahmins also received land-grants, the social discrimination was not so widespread.  Brahmins regained their power and were responsible for reinterpreting the regulatory canons of life as laid down by the earlier texts. Brahmins had numerous sub-sections. Brahmins played an important role in the emergence of temple-oriented religion. Vaishyas were almost degraded to the Shudra community. Number of sections of the Shudra community increased.  Another caste, lower than the Shudras, were Antyajas. Some tribal groups were absorbed into the fold of caste society.  Brahmadeyas functioned as nodes of reciprocal interaction between Brahmanical and tribal religion. Tribal communities were exposed to Brahmanism and Brahmanism too was transformed in the course of its interaction with regional, local and tribal traditions. Position of women was far degraded.

Key Words: Brahmadeyas, castes, Brahmins, Vaishyas, Shudras, Women

SPECIAL LECTURE SERIES 2

The department of History has organized a special lecture series in 2021. Dr Priyanka Guha Roy Assistant Professor in History, Kazi Nazrul University, West Bengal delivered a special lecture on "Third Urbanization:  Feudal Thrive  or Proliferate Urbanity" on 25th June 2021 on the google meet platform. 

Below is the link of lecture series 2

SPECIAL LECTURE SERIES 2 

Dr Priyanka Guha Roy

Assistant Professor

Kazi nazrul University 

SYNOPSIS OF THE LECTURE

Third Urbanization : Feudal Thrive or Proliferate Urbanity

Introduction

The Early medieval Age experienced an expansion of Rural Economy that may be considered as both the cause and effect of de-urbanization as suggested to be very peculiar to that age. This is because of increased practice of granting lands favouring agrarian spread and growth. The languishing long distance trade also explained the decay of urban centres  in the AD 600- AD1000 phase.

The decay of a number of prominent towns in India, especially in the Ganga Valley, during AD 300-900, resulting in a general urban decay that  did not however, engulf the subcontinent as a whole. The diagnosis of urban anaemia leading to ruralization and peasantization may not serve as an all purpose key. The decline or otherwise of long –distance trade cannot be taken as the principal determinant of urban development and decay in Indian conditions. The absence of external trade cannot be regarded as major determinants of Urban developments. The greater the convergence of economic , political and cultural (including religious) activities at an urban centre, more eminent would be its position than cities with a predominantly single functional role mainly as being trade centre.

The Predecessor

The second urbanization in Indian history (c. 600 BC- AD 300) had its epicenter in the Ganga valley (or more precisely in the middle Ganga valley) which acted as a platform  for the development of secondary urban centres. In the early medieval  period  Brajadulal Chattopadhyaya does not find any such epicenter generating urban impulses to disparate regions . Urban centers from AD 600 onwards, on the other hand  appear to have been strongly oriented to their local roots and therefore may be judged in terms of their respective local developments and local formations. Such local formations were largely helped by agrarian expansion, generating resources for local or supra-local ruling groups. The mobilization of resources and the urge to procure exotic and luxury items by rulers would encourage movements of products, both within the region and also beyond it.

The initial Causations of the decline if that was really so

The ruins if cities such as Vaishali, Pataliputra,Mathura,Indraprastha,Hastinapur,Sravasthi,Kausambi, in post Gupta phase suggested a kind of urban decline . R.S. Sharma has pointed out that although the Gupta period is called the golden age of Indian History, archaelogically it has not been made bright.

The reason for this decline suggested by R.S.Sharma was mainly deforestation of the hinterland which mainly supported these towns in the Hinterland. The preservation of cattle wealth as propounded by Gautama Buddha became an article of faith in the post Gupta phase with the result much of the uneconomical cattle for the sake of protection was increasingly fed resulting in grave grazing and . This over grazing and clearing of forests reduced nitrogen and oxygen. This reduced rainfall. This naturally impoverished the hinterland on which the towns were based.

Cities However Thrived

 Inspite of such declining mode, cities showed a constant rise leading to the upsurge of Urban proliferation. This theory however proved to be very applicable to the development of localised urban stratas .While several leading Urban sites show downward slide as pointed out by R.S Sharma, some others were recovered undesserted. Chirand , Varanasi, Ahichhatra,Purana Quila, Ahar, Ujjaini emerged as major urban centers and showed uninterrupted habitation  during AD 700-AD 1200.  There existed though other major factors that led to the emergence of third urbanization . This may need thorough discussion to arrive at the vantage point of the study.

Urban terms and Trade

 A series of urban terms denoting several urban cities and trade conducted through them may support heavily to suggest an urban trend that early medieval India witnessed. Prithudaka or Pehoa in Haryana derived its material strength from horse trade(Ghotakayatra). The emergence of urban space at  Tattanandapura ( Bulandshahar) , lebelled as a purapattana in epigraphic records of  AD 867-907 , is proved by the existence of Brihadrathya (high street), Kurathya (small road),hattamarga (road leading to market). Siyaduni , also lebelled as a pattana where a mandapika stood,was an urban center of prominence, marked by trade in essentials. Here existed a number of markets such as Dosihatta,caturhatta,prasannahatta,vasantmahattaka each of which specialized in a particular craft.The term kotta was used to denote administrative-cum- military headquarters .Hattika denotes small rural market. Pura is being frequently used to denote urban center for example Dhritpura in early medieval Vanga under the Chandra Kings is a case in point.  The extensive development of Purvahattapradesha that is a market place in the eastern frontier of the urban area.

Emergence of Nodal Centers

 Agrarian expansion leading to surplus production also operated as preluding factors to promote urbanization. This often led to increased ruralisation. Large-scale agrarian activities in South India point to the process of rural expansion. This process of rural expansion can be suggested through the mention of increased grants of land, creation of Brahmhadeyas, agrarahars. This large scale agrarian activities led to the emergence of exchange centers or nodes  or Manadapikas among clusters of rural settlements transacting agricultural products. Trade centres developed at a point of convergence for movements among the villages. Naddula was one of the gramas in Rajasthan got transformed into mandapika or trade centre. Thus the chahamanas made Noddula  their political citadel. Venugrama or Begam in Karnataka too emerged as an eminent point of convergence of merchants of various types.

These nodes or Nagarams were not only urban centres but also served as interregional trade. These were linked further at the local level with rural units while at the upper level with pattana,eriviripattinam,mangaram. They maintained horizontal connections with other pattinams thus emerging as big trade units. Apart from regional trade, large scale exportation of cotton cloth from Rahma or Bengal, Teak from Rashtrakuta kingdom, spices transported from South India to Indian Colonies at Quilon suggested that a vast network of both internal and external trade operated to achieve a state that was very urban. This has been pointed out by Ibn Khurdadbeh,an Arabian traveller of the 10th century The towns of  Red Sea, Arabia and India enjoyed an influx of people . The Geniza records of  the Jews in the 11th and 12th centuries refer to shipments of wheat ,vessels clothing, lead, household goods ,silk from Aden to India. The records show  that the goods were frequently transacted not only from Tripoli or Morocco but also Nafusa, Urbus ( places under king of kish or Qais or Kindah kingdom in Yemen) and other small places.

Spurt in Bhakti Appeal

Excessive growth in urban centres was also the because of the result in the growth of Vaishnava and Saiva  Sectarian  devotional cults. There is extensive growth of temples who dominated the urban centres. Thanjavaur or Gangaikondacholapuram were examples to this. The monumental temple of Brihadisvara ,according to Champakalaxmi, stood at the very center of Thanjuvur. Around the temple was located the quarter for the political and priestly classes, formimg the uppermost crust of the elites and thus forming the urban space closest to the shrine.

The rise of Angadis

The temple complexes also had markets (angadis). The residential area around temples housed various urban groups, including the residence of merchants. The requirements of the temple rituals and services generated demands, and this generated transactional functions in milk, flowers,betel nuts and areca nuts. Around the city lived farmers, herdsmen and artisans.

Trade in Betel nuts and Areaca Nuts, Growth of Temple Colleges

Champakalaxmi has pointed out about two cities of the cholas :Kudamukku-Paliyarai ,situated in the most fertile tracts in the kaveridelta, the core  area of the cholas. While Palaiyarai was the site of the palace, Kudamukku functioned as the sacred centre having a number of temples. The twin cities were located on an important trade route and noted for its transaction in two bulk items ,areca nuts and betel nuts. The two cities had access to and linkages with the hinterland for the supply of  local agrarian products mainly betel nuts apart from other agrarian products. Thus local agrarian production immensely contributed to the growth of urban centers. A Temple college at Tirumukkudal in Chingleput district and another at Salotgi in Kaladgi district attracted students from far off places. Mathas were attached to temples and jointly they contributed an institutional influence in Urban Growth.

Conclusion

Thus the emergence of urbanization was not the outcome of any single factor,but what is interesting, is that the factors became important  not all throughout the period from 700 AD to 1200 AD. The importance of the factors can be filtered out in specific periods as 600 AD to 750 saw the large scale agrarian expansion. AD 750 – 1000 AD saw the rise of powerful kingdoms. The rise of big commercial centres can be witnessed more from 1000AD to 1200 AD. The combinations of these formations helped the emergence and development of an early medieval urban structures which by their distinctiveness are situated by  Brajadulal  Chattopadhyay in the third phase of urbanization in Indian History.

References

•  Chattopadhyay B.D, The Making Of Early Medieval India, New Delhi: OUP,1994

•  Champakalaxmi R, Trade,Ideology and Urban Centres: South India,c.300BC-AD 1300:New Delhi;OUP,1996.

•  Sharma, Ram Saran, Decay of Gangetic Towns In Gupta And Post Gupta Times;Proceedings of IHC,1971, vol-33;pp.92- 104

•  Chakrabarty Ranabir, Exploring Early India upto  c.AD 1300;Macmillan ,2010.

•  Thakur Renu, Mechanisms of Urban Growth In India: AD 600-1200;Urban History,Vol 29,No 2,CUP;2002.pp.187-196

SPECIAL LECTURE SERIES 3

The department of History has organized a special lecture series in 2021. Dr Tusher Baran Halder Associate Professor in History, Sushil kar College delivered a special lecture on "Economy of Colonial India: A Brief Outline" on 8th July 2021 on the google meet platform. 

Below is the link of lecture series 3

SPECIAL LECTURE SERIES 3 

Dr Tusher Baran Halder 

Associate Professor in History, 

Sushil kar College 

 "Economy of Colonial India: A Brief Outline" 

SYNOPSIS OF THE LECTURE

The present lecture deals with impact off colonial economy on rural structure in Indian specially in Bengal from classy to great mutiny that is eight 1757 -1857. English East India company was granted farman by Farrukhsiyar in 1717. Nearly fifty years later company received the dewani from Mughal emperor shah Alam. The company’s acquiring of Dewani of Bengal let loose uncontrollable exploitation on Bengali economy. They carried on several experimental measures till the permanent settlement was introduced in 1793. The first thing noticeable is the outsting of majority of old zamindars who are unable to pay within stipulated time had to forego there’s zamindaries by the sunset law.  Prue this law a new type of zamindar rose den called absentee landlord. They divided therezamindari into several parts and settled these smaller portions with the vessels on profitable rates. These middle strata zamindars again subdivided their land. This was known as sub infudation system. Another important impact of colonial economy was commercialization of agriculture. Company introduced cash collection of revenue. For this the peasant became dependent on cash money to buy things he needed from the market. This started producing cash crops for better gains. For the Indian peasant commercialization was a forced process known as Forced Commercialization. To meet the excessive land revenue demand and high rates of interest the peasants by force had to opt for cultivating cash crops to sell at whatever price fetched. The British economic policy gave a strong blow to the industry especially in the cotton industry. The wealth of our country was gone to England through drainage of the company servants during the post Plassey period. Company destroyed our industry gradually and their policies made in India as an agricultural country. That led to the process of deindustrialization or destruction of indigenous industry. Company followed the policy of producing raw material at higher rate and selling goods at cheaper rate which popularized the artisans. India’s export trade was extinct. In what ways company did the leading trading activities where nothing but artificial foreign rate. So East India company’s economic measures ruined our agriculture destroyed our industry and died out our trade.

WEBINAR  ORGANIZED BY DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY

ON 

REVISITING GANDHI: THE MAN, HIS LIFE AND LEGECY

2ND OCTOBER 2021

CELEBRATION OF WORLD HERITAGE WEEK  

FROM 

19TH TO 25TH NOVEMBER 2021

SPECIAL LECTURE SERIES 4

The department of History has organized a special lecture series in 2021. Dr Debashis Majumder, Assistant Professor in History, Baruipur College delivered a special lecture on "Different aspects of Nazi rule and their consequences during the Second World War " on 22nd November 2021 on the google meet platform. 

Below is the link of lecture series 4

Dr Debashis Majumder, 

Assistant Professor in History, Baruipur College 

 "Different aspects of Nazi rule and their consequences during the Second World War " 

 22nd November 2021 

SYNOPSIS OF THE LECTURE

The Rise of Nazi Rule in Germany under the leadership of Hitler during the intermediate period of the both World Wars used to be a very significant phase of European History. Generally the totalitarian and autocratic ruling period of Hitler had various criticisms from different aspects. Yet the Nazi administration also had certain positive aspects. The environmental consciousness and the development of sporting activities used to be two very significant aspects in this regard. The Nazi machinery gave utter importance to the conservation and reservation process of the animal and forest resources. In addition to this greenery development project used to be another significant step of the Nazi administration in this regard. Besides this the sporting development used to be another significant positive aspect of Nazi administration. Behind both the positive measures some darker aspects were hidden. Behind the environmental aptitude the land aggression policy was taken and on certain occasion the conservation of animal resources had been used to execute the anti-Semitist and anti-Polish policies as well. Behind the sporting development the darker shadow of racism existed in Germany. The heroics of the Sportspersons often used as the heroics of the Fuehrer Adolf Hitler. In fact during the Second World War Germany used most of its sportsperson in military duty to get butchered in the War Front. Through the aggressive policy of Anschluss Hitler’s Germany not just only established its political domination over Austria but at the same time it also tried to utilize its cultural resources especially in the ground of sports. This used to be a clear dichotomy regarding the Nazi ideology of Herrenvolk theory of Pure Aryan Race. Therefore the ties of Hitler’s nationalist ideology started to become weaker even before the outbreak of the Second World War. The inhuman practices in the concentration camps as well as secret killings of the anti Nazi persons used to create negative aspects regarding the Nazi policy and its outcome. Therefore the Second World War ultimately turned out to be the Waterloo for Hitler and Nazi administration. The ultimate frustration led to the Hitler’s decision of conducting Operation Barbarossa against Soviet Russia by denouncing the Nazi-Soviet Nin Aggression Pact of 1923. Therefore Hitler’s Nazi rule faced various internal problems during the Second World War. Despite certain immediate success the Nazi government reached its Zenith long before the end of the Second World. It was only matter of time when the destruction became effective. The crucial questions of financial progress and the problems of unemployment were not adequately handled by the Nazi Government which developed internal discontents among the people of Nazi Germany during the Second World War and which became very much prominent in post World War and post Nazi German politics. Thus even the positive aspects of German Nazi administration were not absolutely clean and benevolent in nature and therefore Germany paid its consequences during the Second World War.           

SPECIAL LECTURE SERIES 5

The department of History has organized a special lecture series in 2021. Mr Sayantan  Mukherjee, delivered a special lecture on "Necessity to Read History" on 2nd December 2021 on the google meet platform. 

Below is the link of lecture series 4

Mr Sayantan Mukherjee

2ND December 2021

SYNOPSIS OF THE LECTURE

Necessity To Read History

The word history is very comprehensive, the days beyond what we see around us, the events of its origin, etc., which we state to as history. Every moment left in the endless flow of time is subject to history. Every subject, every object in the world, even our world has a history of origin and prosperity. So, history is the recorded events of the time left behind, such a subject needs to be studied. As a result of the practice, people can know a new aspect of an object or event which they are not aware of in that way. However, there are many precautions to be taken in the study of history, which, if followed, will lead to a fair discussion environment. History should be discussed and practiced keeping in mind the issue of neutrality consciously.

We also have to take care of the information that we have to rely on naturally. In practice, it may be seen that we also have to rely on some oral narratives to verify its authenticity without completely disproving it, and we cannot deny that not all the histories of this vast world are recorded. So it is necessary to be aware of the source of information. Because the source of historical information may or may not be palpable.

The museum plays an important role in preserving historical information and its contents. So we have to be careful about the museums. This is because the museum is the only institution that preserves the history discussion material for the future. Interestingly, this museum also has a history, so that we can know about its origin, evolution, etc.

Those of us who study history should not always look at history with the intention of reading it just for the sake of testing. It is also true that in a very short time you have to pass the test by assimilating a large part. But still, if this practice is limited to the study boundaries for the exam, it is bound to lose interest. Again, we need to remember to be aware of our discussions as students of history. What I want to say, what I am discussing should be in the flow of discussion. And what I need to read - I wrote to evaluate it. This is a very important point.

So, if I say why we should read history! That is to say, we practice or study the past so that our present may be beautiful, we may be aware of the shortcomings, as a result of which we may be able to create a beautiful and stable future, or we may be able to articulate its ways.

SPECIAL LECTURE 2022

Dr Milan Roy,  Assistant Professor, Department of History, Ananda Mohan College, Kolkata  delivered a special lecture on  "Prantik Samaj- Sanskriti: Banglr Bagdi Jati O Tader Apon Satta Nirmanon" on  13.04.2022 at Vidyasagar Metropolitan College.  Seventy Six students participated in the interactive seminar.

Prantik Samaj- Sanskriti: Banglr Bagdi Jati O Tader Apon Satta Nirman

Assistant Professor,

Department of History,

Ananda Mohan College, Kolkata

13/04/2022

The Bagdi is one of those lower-most ancient anti Aryan communities of West Bengal. From the very primitive age, the Bagdi caste had to lead their lives through negligence at each and every step with the higher classes of the Society. The Bagdies unified their religion with the Hinduism taking some features of Sanatan Hindu religion. The main source of cultural amusement of the Bagdi community was various fair and festivals. Manasa Puja was one of the chief festivals. The Bagdies made a long procession with the pratima ‘Bhadu’ on the last day of Bhadra month in Manbhum and Bankura. On the occasion of ‘Bhadugan’, several fairsn took place and they helped in social contact. Traditional Vaisnab religion comparatively influenced more. In the East Bengal the Bagdi made development in the rituals of the worship of deity Manasa and others after having influenced by the Barahmins this trend became stronger after India getting its freedom. Above all the Matua community influenced the living style of the Bagdies very much. As a result of this, mixing was taking place between their religions, cultural and linguistic diversities. Need of profession wiped out the remaining differences. Overall long neglected Bagdi community is gradually developing socio economically, educationally and culturally. They are gradually educating themselves and playing a vital role in the development of their own culture and society.

PPT PRESENTATION OF THE LECTURES

Dr Saswati Pal Choudhuri and Dr Pradip Mondal

SYNOPSIS OF THE LECTURE

Conservation of Cultural Property

Dr. Pradip Kr Mandal

Curator, Rabindra-Bhavana

Visva-Bharati.

According to ICOM-CC “all measures and actions aimed at safeguarding tangible cultural heritage while ensuring its accessibility to present and future generations.”

The main aim of Conservator is to increase the life span of cultural properties. This is very difficult tusk. First we should have to know the cultural property and its material composition. Cultural property may organic or inorganic. Organic materials may plant product (cellulosic fibers) or animal product (collagen fiber, calcium rich materials). On the other hand in-organic product may metallic (Iron or Non-Iron or Nobel) or non metallic (siliceous or Non-Siliceous). According to material composition of cultural materials we have to choose the process of conservation.

Then we should know the aggressors of the cultural property to save them from their aggressors.

The main Aggressors are –

1.     Physical (Temperature, Light, Humidity etc)

2.     Natural (Flood, Earthquake, fire, storm etc.)

3.     Biological (Insects, Fungus, Algae and others animals)

4.     Chemical (Acid gasses, Air pollutant, dust and dart etc)

5.     Human Vandalism

We know prevention is better than cure. If we know cultural property properly and keep safely from their aggressors the purpose will be done. Otherwise curative method is very difficult, costly, laborious and time consuming. 

Introduction to Museums: An Overview

Dr. Saswati Pal Choudhuri

Asst. Professor

Tagore Institute of art and Education

According to ICOM annual General Meeting, 2007 a museum is

“A museum is a non-profit, permanent institution in the service of society and its development, open to the public, which acquires, conserves, researches, communicates and exhibits the tangible and intangible heritage of humanity and its environment for the purposes of education, study and enjoyment.”

This definition says Archives, Zoo garden, Botanical garden, Planatorium, Aquarium all are museums. The activities of museum are collection, documentation, conservation, presentation   and exhibition of cultural property/ documents/manuscripts/wild animals etc through the educational activities, researches and enjoyment for the development of Society. Museums   deal with heritage property. So we should know the heritage, types of heritage, their presentation and education to the society with enjoyment.

       It is a very good example of living cultural heritage is Rabindra-Bhavana, Visva-Bharati, Santiniketan   for  discussion  different  types heritages.

Both tangible (historical buildings, murals, reliefs, sculptures, historical gardens, manuscripts, paintings, memorabilia etc.) and Intangible heritage (programmes and Festivals, Song, drama, Dance etc) can be observed here throughout the year.

 Museum can be reached to all classes and types of people. Museum is for the people, by the people and of the people. Different types of social, racial, economical, political, mental can be reduced through museum. Museum can be acted as a trace relief organization for all kind of people 

PPT PRSENTATION OF THE LECTURE

SYNOPSIS OF THE LECTURE

Transformation of Europe from Feudalism  to Capitalism 

Dr. Arunima Roychoudhuri

Assistant Professor, Sundarban Mahavidyalaya

Period between the 15th and 18th century witnessed rapid changes in the European socio-politico-economic scenario. Population of Europe was increasing after two centuries of decline or stagnation. The bonds of commerce within Europe tightened, and an international trade network flourished. The great geographic discoveries then in process were integrating Europe into a world economic system. New commodities, many of them imported from recently discovered lands, enriched material life. Not only trade but also the production of goods increased as a result of new ways of organizing production. Merchants, entrepreneurs, and bankers accumulated and manipulated capital in unprecedented volume. Most historians locate in the 16th century the beginning, or at least the maturing, of Western capitalism. Capital assumed a major role not only in economic organization but also in political life and international relations. Culturally, new values—many of them associated with the Renaissance and Reformation—diffused through Europe and changed the ways in which people acted and the perspectives by which they viewed themselves and the world.

This world of early capitalism, however, can hardly be regarded as stable or uniformly prosperous. Financial crashes were common; the Spanish crown, the heaviest borrower in Europe, suffered repeated bankruptcies in 1557, 1575–77, 1596, 1607, 1627, and 1647. Even as capitalism advanced in the West, the once-free peasants of central and eastern Europe slipped into serfdom. The apparent prosperity of the 16th century gave way in the middle and late periods of the 17th century to a “general crisis” in many European regions. Politically, the new centralized states insisted on new levels of cultural conformity on the part of their subjects. Several states expelled Jews, and almost all of them refused to tolerate religious dissenters. Culturally, in spite of the revival of ancient learning and the reform of the churches, a hysterical fear of witches grasped large segments of the population, including the learned. Understandably, historians have had difficulty defining the exact place of this complex period  in the course of European development.

EDUCATIONAL TOUR TO KOLKATA POLICE MUSEUM

An educational tour was organized by Department of History, Vidyasagar Metropolitan College on 19th April 2022 to Calcutta Police Museum. The tour was organized for 4th semester and 6th Semester students. Forty five students participated in the educational tour to the Museum. The heritage building, where this museum is located, has its own history. It used to be the home of the great social reformer Raja Ram Mohan Roy who sold it to the government before leaving for England in 1829. Today, the museum houses several interesting artifacts. Many of these artifacts such as pistols, guns and rifles go back to the times of the Indian freedom struggle. Marvel at these artifacts as you deepdive into the history of Kolkata police and their operations. Apart from write-up and case stories, there are  actual weapons from some of the most infamous crimes in history. These include the Alipore Bomb case following which Aurobindo Ghosh was arrested and fragments of bomb pertaining to the failed assassination of Lord Hardinge were recovered. Other artifacts include Naxalite manuals, drug samples, a range of tools confiscated from master burglars, police uniforms and badges and much more. 

VISIT TO ALIPORE JAIL MUSEUM

An educational tour was organized by Department of History, Vidyasagar Metropolitan College on 9th November 2022 to Alipore Jail Museum. The tour was organized for  6th Semester students. 19 students participated in the educational tour to the Museum.

The Alipore Jail or Alipore Central Jail, also known as Presidency Correctional Home,is a prison in Alipore, Kolkata, where political prisoners were kept under British rule, among them Subhas Chandra Bose. It also housed the Alipore Jail Press. It is no longer in operation as a jail, having been shut down on 20 February 2019. The jail site is being developed as an Independence museum in the name of the martyrs who were imprisoned and executed there.

HISTORICAL EXHIBITION - CELEBRATION OF THE 75TH INDEPENDENCE DAY

Department of History, Vidyasagar metropolitan college organized an exhibition on the Indian national movement to commemorate the 75th Year of Independence. There were 10 teams who were assigned different periods of national struggle. The exhibition was framed in the form of competition among the various teams. Prof Arunabha Misra, Dr Suparna Nandy and Dr Sarajit Sardar judged the compettion.

SPECIAL LECTURE BY DR DEBALINA BANERJEE

A special lecture was organized by Dr Debalina Banerjee, Department of English, Vidyasagar Metropolitan College on 2nd September 2022 on " Historical Perspectives of Romanticism". 

SPECIAL LECTURE  BY  DR ANANDA  BHATTACHRYA

5/4/2023

SYNOPSIS OF THE LECTURE

Archives in Proper perspective: Its Management and system of Record Keeping

Dr. Ananda Bhattacharyya, Retired  Assistant Director, Directorate of State Archives Government of West Bengal

In ancient times, before the art of writing was introduced in India, record of thought or events was kept by memorizing. Generally record was kept by signs, drawings, pictures or engravings on a variety of clay, wood, stone, rock-wall, caves, leaves or animal skins. The system of recording ideas and incidents changed with the progress of civilization as alphabets and writing materials were properly introduced. Archival institutions in Europe probably had their origins in the ancient Greek civilization. It was in 1302 that the first Archivist was appointed in Bologna for weeding of papers. It is also said that from Italy the idea of archives administration travelled to England. In 1578 a State Paper Office was established by Queen Elizabeth. France was not lagging behind and it was in 1790 the archival institution was named the Archives Nationales of Paris. The United States Government established a National Archives by the Act of 19June 1934. Although the modern concept of archives keeping travelled from England to India during the time of the East India Company, yet it will be not wrong to say that India had already known the problems and had tried to solve them much earlier than European Countries. But the Record office existed in India during Buddhist times. The “Arthasastra of Kautilya (cir.300B.C.), which may be called the Imperial Code of Governance of the Early Mauryas , is such a remnant”. During the middle ages, the Muslim rulers in India used to have record repositories. The royal household establishment was divided into thirty-six Departments known as Kar-khana. The Akbernama gives a description as to how Akbar had established a Record Office in 1574 on the advice of Abul Fazl who himself made use of the records preserved there for writing his book Akbernama. Maintenance of records also may be gathered from Ain-I Akbari. It was practically after the battle of Buxar (1764) the present day Archival system came into being but with major changes both in structure, technology, management and system of record keeping. A General Record Office was established at Fort William. The East India Company records were divided into pre- Mutiny and post Mutiny records with some modifications. Another major break trough was noticed in the system of record keeping when the H. L. Smith Committee placed some proposals. The system of record keeping and its management is being followed even during the post-colonial period.

SPECIAL LECTURE BY DR SUSMITA SAHA

8/5/2023

SYNOPSIS OF THE LECTURE

DR SUSMITA SAHA

 DEPARTMENT OF BENGALI, VIDYASAGAR METROPOLITAN COLLEGE

19TH CENTURY- FEW WORS

Society, literature, country, time- everything is constantly changing – certain centuries become especially important in the process of change. Nineteenth Century is one such century. The 19th century was an age of Renaissance – just as there was a parallel current of conservation to block the way for the new. It is better to say that the 19th century was actually had a series of such parallel thought doctrines and disagreements. In the age of transition we found poet Iswarchandra Gupta who can be called the last of the Ancients.  As the first amongst the moderns” self-contradiction was seen in Ishwar gupta’s poetry which is the tendency of 19th century. In the 19th century, the practice of prose writing began through Fort William College. Raja Rammohan Roy and Ishwarchandra Vidyasagar appeared in this century.They had come forward in various social reform movements. Bethune Saheb and William Bentinck were also involved in the work of women's education, suppression of sati-immolation, introduction of widow marriage etc. Contemporary newspapers played an important role to spread the steps taken by them.

Michael Madhusudan Dutt was a remarkable man of the 19th century, whose powerful pen created a revival of the ancient epic poem - the 'Meghnadavadh Kavya'. He was always active on the issue of women's liberation. However, there were many thorns along this path. Ambiguous people were, still are, always will be - so will the lamp stop burning! Never - we have the next generation of writers as the successors of those luminaries. This is our great achievement.

VISIT TO SBI MUSEUM

Name of the Department: Department of History

Title of the activity: Educational Tour

Date: 18/5/2023

Participants: 9 participants

About the Museum:

The State Bank Archives & Museum opened on 13 May 2007, is a treasure trove that holds in its custody the rich documentary heritage as well as numerous related relics and memorabilia that have a direct scent of this great institution in its long and enduring legacy. It has three distinct wings: one the precious holdings of the Bank for the benefit of scholars and research; two, a rapidly growing collection of rare books and journals of the 19th and 20th centuries and three, a display of the rich legacy of the Bank. Together it captures the genesis, growth, and fulfilment of this banking odyssey. It focuses on the transition of the Bank through the phases with the aid of original records and objects of historical interest.