About the Department

DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE

Department of Political Science, Malda College, Malda has long been recognized as one of the very best departments in  Malda College.  Our faculty’s accomplishments in teaching are well established.  Undergraduate students prepare for active citizenship by becoming astute observers of their own government and political systems around the world. The Department of Political Science was officially established in the College in 1944.Today the department has 6 faculty members, approximately 600 Major and 720 Minor (Sem-1/2, 3/4, 5/6) undergraduate students. Many students and faculty combine their study and research in Political Science with other academic interests such as public policy, media and politics, e-governance, political economy, rural development, Indian & Western philosophy and more to prepare for advanced studies or specific careers after completed his/her graduation. The Department takes pride in its members' varied accomplishments as teachers, writers, consultants and advisors to public officials.

Why Political Science?

“Political Science prepares students for active citizenship, for careers in public affairs, and for advanced study in the social sciences and professions by training them to become good observers of political behavior in their own country and around the world.  It is an exciting field because of its diversity, its complexity and above all, its relevance to the modern the world.  Political scientists attempt to describe and explain the wide range of political systems using a variety of powerful analytical techniques.  Political science cannot be studied in isolation from other disciplines.  Many different and constantly changing influences –philosophical, historical, economic, geographical, sociological, psychological and cultural - determine the form and continuously affect the functioning of political systems.  Education in political science exposes students to the issues over which people struggle and disagree not only in India, but also in Rest of Asia, USA, Europe, Africa, and Latin America and all over the globe.  Students of Political Science learn about the latest research findings on public opinion, executives, bureaucracies, parties, elections, the legislative, judicial systems, international organizations, and other aspects of the governmental process.  Students acquire better knowledge of the way public affairs conducted and a more practical knowledge of how citizens elect representatives, judges, and administrators approach the decisions they are called upon to make.”

• Year of Establishment: 1944

• Names of Programmes / Courses offered : UG (Major, Minor, MDC, VAC)

Intake Capacity (Major)= 300

Minor= 300

The department of Political Science presently follows the course syllabus both in Honours and General framed and approved by the concerned Board of Studies under the jurisdiction of University of Gour Banga and exams are conducted by the university the following patterns:

B.A (Major & Minor): Semester System

The Department is engaged in activities other than daily classes, test exams, online MCQ test, extension Programmes, awareness programmes, programmes related to human values, fundamental rights, duties and ethics, Poster making competition, Model Exhibition, Wall Magazines,  Few of them highlighted below for reference:

Seminars:

The department is always glad to organize national, state and departmental seminars withing its capacity. The seminars organized by the department are mentioned below:

• National Seminars: 1.The department is in collaboration with Gour Mahavidyalaya organized a UGC sponsored  National Level Seminar on the topic "Child Marriage and its Impact on Society: on 11-12 November 2016 which had fruitful results.

    2. One Day National Seminar on the topic 'Mind and Memory Management' in collaboration with Department of Commerce, University of Gour Banga, on 21.12.2017

3. 'The Present Corona Crisis and its Probable Impact on the Ecopolitical Scenario of India'

Jointly organised by Department of Political Science, Malda College Malda and Department of Political Science, Chandidas

Mahavidyalaya, Khujutipara, Birbhum on 21 May, 2020.

4. The National Webinar On   Women in Politics

Jointly organised by the Department of Political Science, Syamaprasad College, Kolkata & the Department of Political Science, Malda College Malda on 2nd August, 2020.

5. Two Day’s National Webinar On "Sino-Indian Relations: Historical Perspective and Contending Contemporary Dynamics"

Jointly organised by the  Department of History, Saheed Kshudiram College, Kamakhyaguri & the Department of Political Science, Malda College Malda on 19th and 20th August, 2020.

6. Report on One-Day National Seminar on ‘Complete Wellbeing and the Art of Winning’ Organised by The Department of Political Science, and IQAC, Malda College, Malda on 29th March, 2023 .

• State Level Seminars: Two state level seminars organized by the Department;

  1. 1st State Level Seminar on the topic 'Human Rights: its Contemporary Issues' on 05.06.2014

  2. 2nd State Level Seminar on the topic 'Teachers-Students Relationships' on 06.06.2014

Departmental Seminars: The Department frequently organizes departmental seminars where all students are encouraged to participate in a discussion and expert is invited to observe and provide his valuable inputs benefit the students.

Workshop: One workshop was organized by the Department on the topic 'Constitutionalism and Social Justice' on 10-11-2016 where the speakers were Prof Debi Chatterjee of Jadavpur University and Dr Munirul Hussain of Guwahati University.

Interdisciplinary & Special Classes: Our faculty members took an initiative long time back to invite experts/faculty members from different departments of the colleges for a lecture on special topics. Interdisciplinary and special classes are organized on regular basis . We also invite our alumni for special lecture where they share their experiences with olur students.

Extension/Awareness Programmes: The Department organizes extension/awareness programmes at various places to create awareness among the masses about their rights & duties for nation-building. A survey is conducted by our faculty members along with students through a questionnaire and findings are collected, suggestions forwarded to the administration.

Mock Parliament: The Department took a responsibility to conduct inter-college Mock Parliament competitions under the scheme of Govt of West Bengal and successfully performed its responsibility. Our students are always encouraged to participate in debates, educational competitions, exhibitions, sports etc. They make the department and college proud by winning various competitions and represented the college at district and state level.

Wall Magazine: Wall magazine provides a space to the students to enlarge their skill of creativity and innovation. The magazine is being published by the Department where all topics of the politics are covered and the students express their views in the form of prose and poetry. it is much appreciated by other departments and it brought a great sense of writing into students.

Naba Pallab: This is a collection of writings mainly from our innovative students where they try their best to express their ideas and thinking. this proves to be an historical landmark for the department to encourage the students for polishing their qualities. An initiative is taken for nurturing them to grasp this golden opportunity to develop them in this regard. The magazine will be continuing to flourish students' qualities and inspiration for students joining the department in future.