PREFACE The highest education is that which does not merely give us information but makes our life in harmony with all existence –Tagore. Panihati Mahavidyalaya is a co-educational academic institution situated on Barasat Road, Kolkata 700110. The college is located in the vicinity of Panihati Municipality and Barrackpore Trunk Road. It is well connected to Kolkata and the 24 Parganas by bus and rail routes. The humble beginnings of the college go back to the year 1974, when Panihati Municipality generously made a donation of one acre of land for establishing a degree college. The foundation stones were laid by the then chief minister, Siddhartha Sankar Roy, on 3rd February, 1974, with a view to open a gateway of higher education for local boys and girls. Sri. Tapan Chattopadhyay was the first Founder-Secretary of the institution. The origins of the institution were truly modest. Initially, classes were held inside makeshift classrooms of a building that was still being constructed. Benches and desks were often borrowed from nearby schools during the time of examinations. Panihati Mahavidyalaya became affiliated to the West Bengal Council of Higher Secondary Education in July, 1976. Teachers from local schools and university postgraduates offered their benevolent service to teach in the Higher Secondary Section. In 1978, the institution was granted affiliation by the University of Calcutta for offering degree courses in B.A. (General) and B.Com. (General) alongside the existing Higher Secondary section, in the following subjects: English, Bengali, Political Science, History, Economics, Philosophy and Mathematics. It was conferred the status of a degree college by the West Bengal Higher Education Department on 1st July, 1990 (w.e.f. 1st July, 1989), thereby becoming a Government-aided college recognized under section 2 (f) and 12 (b) of the UGC Act 1956. Consequently, all existing full-time and part-time teaching and non-teaching staff of the institution were brought under the pay-packet scheme of the Government of West Bengal. The institution, which is now affiliated to the West Bengal State University, offers several Honours and General courses in the Arts, Science and Commerce streams. Two new General subjects, namely Psychology and Sociology, will be introduced in the session 2018-19. The new session will also see the introduction of Honours in two subjects which have been offered as General subjects so far, namely, Food & Nutrition and Philosophy. There are 15 Honours subjects and 20 General subjects. Several developments have come about in recent times. With financial aids from MLA LAD and MP LAD funds, Panihati Mahavidyalaya has built, in the past few years, a seminar hall with digital facilities and a high-end virtual smart classroom. A WiFi facility with high-speed internet is also available. The Central Library of the college has been upgraded and is now managed through the open source Integrated Library System, Koha. Library space has been increased with the addition of an adjacent room. CCTV cameras have been installed inside the campus for surveillance and as a security measure. Solar inverter is available for harnessing solar power and for providing electric backup. Lift has been installed in the Science Building. Water purifiers are installed at several places of the college for use by students and staff. The major sources of institutional fundings are grant from the Government of West Bengal, UGC grant, and student fees. The college also receives occasional grants from MP and MLA funds. The college has been effectively dispensing various scholarships provided from the Chief Minister Relief Fund to financially poor students and SC/ST/OBC minorities. One Concession on tuition fees is provided to needy students. The college ensures that female students benefit from the ‘Kanyashree Prakalpa’ which seeks to improve the status and well being of girls, specifically those from socio-economically disadvantages families. A combination of traditional and contemporary pedagogical approaches towards education is the hallmark of this institution. The traditional classroom-lecture pattern is supplemented with the use of the latest technologies. This includes the regular use of PowerPoint presentations, screening of relevant films and documentaries, and the occasional arrangement of video-lectures and video-conferences in the virtual classroom. The teaching-learning process is made interactive through coordination of debates, extempore speeches, academic presentations, quiz, etc. This facilitates greater understanding and provides a participatory space for students. In a world dominated by virtuality and visual simulation, in order to make teaching more apposite and contemporaneous, digital technology is unavoidable. Keeping itself updated about the latest available technologies, Panihati Mahavidyalaya also ensures that the process of learning is grounded firmly in the reality of everyday life, and that it produces knowledge that is useful and practical. To this end, educational tours and excursions are arranged from time to time. The whole idea behind these endeavours is to promote originality of thinking in the students and provide them with necessary guidance. Students of different economic and social backgrounds take admission in this institution. They are all united by the common causes of education and learning. the tireless pursuit of learning on the part of the students and the ever-active zeal to educate on the part of the teachers, have made it possible to create an atmosphere of equality and shared values in which true merit is recognised, nurtured and upheld. It is our belief that the goal of education is not to impart bookish knowledge but to enable the students to think independently, and help them understand, as citizen, their responsibility towards society. The professional as well as the ethical considerations are held important by out institution. Students are prepared in such a way that they are able to face and overcome challenges when they enter professional and academic fields, after completing graduation: they are equipped with practical knowledge of the subjects they have studied. Many students from our institution enrol at the Masters level at universities after they graduate. Many of our students go on to prosper in their respective fields, securing jobs at the levels of both government service and private sector. Although our institution is primarily dedicated to promote the cause of education, it values and nurtures talents in the students, through regular organisation of different cultural programmes and sports-related activities. With the upcoming Choice Based Credit System (CBCS), there will be major structural changes in the curricula and their implementation. The faculty members and the staff are ready to ensure a smooth and effective implementation of the new system. The college has a Governing Body, Teachers’ Council, Academic Committee, IQAC Team and other subcommittees. All these bodies are supportive about smooth functioning of the college. The college has a research committee for monitoring and encouraging teachers for pursuing research. Besides the minor project from the UGC, there are major research projects with different sources of funding, such the ones undertaken by the Department of Zoology. Various programmes are organized by NSS unit from time to time, such as organising blood donation camps, health check-ups, Womens’ Day celebration, preventive awareness programmes, tree-plantation programmes, community outreach activities, etc. Cultural programmes involving the participation of students and staff are occasionally held. The college has made a MOU with the National Skill Development Corporation regarding skill development training in Modern Office Management, IT Help Desk Assistant, Domestic Data Entry Operator, Field technician, Certificate in A.C Servicing, Beautification and Makeup Artist Professional Courses. I would like to acknowledge the contribution and dedicated efforts of individuals from all walks of life and faculty members, all office staff and students who deserve full credit for these numerous achievements and developments. I extend my heartiest gratitude to all who have been extending their support constantly to the institution. Moral education means development of right emotion, character and actual values, and formation of good habits covering all aspects of one’s personality – moral, physical, social and mental. Dr. Mukti Ganguly (Principal) Panihati Mahavidyalaya Governing Body President Dr. Amit Kumar Biswas Principal & Secretary Dr. Mukti Ganguly Government Nominees Dr. Dipankar Ghosh Dr. Jayanta Kr. Chandra Prof. Tanmoy Biswas University Nominees Dr. Jayanta Sen Sri Biswajit Dey Prof. Monami Mukherjee Teachers’ Representives Dr. Mau Sinha Ray Dr. Laxmi Narayan Saha Dr. Anirban Ghosh Dr. Amulya Kumar Acharya Non Teaching Employees’ Representative Sri Ramen Das Sri Dilip Barua Students Union – General Secretary To be elected Principal Dr. Mukti Ganguly, M. Sc, M. Ed, M. Phil, Ph. D Bursar Dr. Mau Sinha Ray , M. Sc., Ph. D Faculty DEPARTMENT OF BENGALI 1. Dr. Krishna Ghosh ,M.A., Ph.D Assistant Professor 2. Dr. Soumitra Mukhopadhyay, M. A., Ph. D Part-time Teacher 3. Sri Prasenjit Mahapatra, M. A. Guest Lecturer 4. Smt. Sampurna Roy, M. A. Guest Lecturer 5. Smt. Satabdi Biswas, M. A. Guest Lecturer DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMICS 1. Dr. Anindita Basu Chowdhury, M. Sc., M. Phil, B. Ed., Ph. D Associate Professor 2. Smt. Rapti Deb, M.A., M.Phil. Guest Lecturer DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION 1. Dr. Amulya Kumar Acharya, M. A. (Edu.), M. A. (Eng.), B. Ed.,Ph.D. Assistant Professor 2. Sri Biplab Haldar, M.A, B.Ed., Assistant Professor 3. Smt. Chandrani Banerjee, M. A. Contractual Whole Time Teacher 4. Sri Shouvik Roy, M. A., M. Phil. Contractual Whole Time Teacher DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH 1. Sri Tapan Mondal M.A., Assistant Professor 2. Sri Avirup Ghosh, M.A, M.Phil. Assistant Professor 3. Smt. Arati Banerjee, M. A., B.Ed. Contractual Whole Time Teacher 4. Smt. Sraddha Nag, M. A. Part-time Teacher DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY 1. Smt. Poly Chakraborty, M.A Assistant Professor. 2. Smt. Soma Dey. M.A. Part-time Teacher 3. Sri. Anirban Das, M. A., M. Phil.