Academic Departments University of Calcutta

[ Women, Society, Identity: A Collection of Webinar speeches of Women’s Studies Research Centre, University of Calcutta ]

History

Year of Establishment : 1st April 1989

History of the department : The Centre was established on April 1st 1989 with financial support from University Grants Commission. Women’s Studies Research Centre at University of Calcutta is an interdisciplinary research unit. The unit was run under Prof. Bharati Ray, founder director and then under Prof. Ratnabali Chatterjee, with Prof. Ishita Mukhopadhyay as the present director. From the beginning, this Centre is dedicated to the cause of gender sensitization programmes as well as serious academic research. It is also engaged in micro-level field studies. It also conducts awareness programmes. The Centre has made sincere attempts to include women’s studies as part of the curricula. The Centre has been recognized as one of the two nodal centers for Women’s Studies during the IX Plan period. The journey from 1989 till 2016 has been a story of success The Centre is a multi-disciplinary research unit, which deals with issues relating to women from a holistic viewpoint. Though our methods include research at the micro level, based on field surveys and published records, we seek to never lose sight of the fact that Women’s Studies belongs essentially to the humanist tradition of the social sciences. The Centre seeks to reach beyond merely academic concerns. It aims to create a general consciousness of the problems of women as well as to promote awareness among women themselves. The Women’s Studies Research Centre seeks to promote the pursuit of Women’s Studies as a rigorous discipline by encouraging all academic endeavors that attempts to rectify traditional biases that operate against women within every branch of learning.

Women’s Studies Research Centre has started an M.Phil degree course from July 2005and PhD course in 2010.. The activities carried out at the Centre are multi-faceted. Besides being involved in various fields of research on women (carried out by Research Associate and Research Assistants employed by the Centre under the supervision of the Director and an Academic Committee comprised of Faculty members of the University), seminars and workshops are conducted regularly on different topics, sometimes in collaboration with other organizations. Research publications are an important aspect of this Centre.

Academic

Faculty Members :
Name Designation Area of specialization Email
Prof. Susmita Neogi Director Human Development (Applied Psychology) [email protected]
Emeritus professors and adjunct professors :
Name Designation Area of specialization
Prof. Ranjana Ray UGC, Emeritus Professor Gender and Anthropology
Visiting faculty members :
Name Institutions attached with Period of appointment
Prof. Rinita Mazumdar University of New Mexico July to August 2015
Prof. Sucharita Sinha College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University April to May 2015

Courses :

Programme Level of study Eligibility Intake capacity
Ph.D Programme   M.Phil & Master Degree in any stream 5
M.Phil Programme   Master Degree in any stream 15

Research

Research scholars :
Name Research topic Name of the supervisor Date of registration
Bhaskar Chakraborti Poverty, Social Networks for Women and Microfinance: A Case Study of West Bengal Prof.Ishita Mukhopadhyay 25-04-2012
Disari Roy At Men's Receiving End : The Weaker Sex As Victims of Domestic Violence Prof. Ranjana Roy 25-04-2012
Malinee Mukherjee Survival Strategies of Female Maintained households: A Study of Howrah & North 24 Parganas of West Bengal Dr. Ritu Sen Choudhuri 16-06-2014
Mary Vanlalthanpuii The Changing Roles of Mizo Women since 1987 to the Present Prof. Paula Banerjee 21-02-2013
Pragna Paramita Mondal Market and Women’s Agency in Commercial Surrogacy in India Prof. Achin Chakraborty 08-04-2015
Pratima Kirtania Senior Citizen in Urban Bengal: A study of Women living in old age homes in North 24 Parganas Dr. Nandini Bhattacharyya  Panda 14-07-2015
Shalmoli Bhattacharya Status of women at workplace and understanding into gender discrimination and harassment Prof. Ranjana Roy 25-04-2012
Projects :
Project title Funding agency Principal investigator Duration Budget
“Social Discrimination, Access to Credit and Women’s Empowerment” National Commission for Women, New Delhi Prof. Ishita Mukhopadhyay 10 months Rs.4,33650
“Vulnerability of Tribal Women in terms of Social Discrimination and Livelihood with respect to State Policies : Study of three states in Eastern India” Indian Council of Social Science Research Prof. Ishita Mukhopadhyay 2 years Rs.9,50,000
Indo-US 21st Century Knowledge Initiative Programme. “Promoting Eco-friendly Entrepreneurship Development for Women in West Bengal” University Grants Commission, (Ministry of Human Resource Development) Prof. Ishita Mukhopadhyay 3 years Rs.1.5 Crores
Collaborations :
Title of the programme Principal collaborator of the department Name and address of the collaborating institution Principal collaborator of the collaborating institution Duration of the programme
Women Empowerment Policy as Declared by the State Government Prof. Ishita Mukhopadhyay The National Alliance of Women.(West Bengal) 29B, Chetla Central Road, Kolkata, West Bengal 700027 Ms. Koely Roy One day
CEDAW (Convention  on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women) Alternate Report and Recommendations  for West Bengal State Policy for Women Prof. Ishita Mukhopadhyay The National Alliance of Women. (West Bengal) 29B, Chetla Central Road, Kolkata, West Bengal 700027 Ms. Koely Roy One day
“Nazar Ya Nazariya”. Prof. Ishita Mukhopadhyay Sruti Disability Rights Centre, 5A, RK Ghoshal Road. Kolkata-700042 Ms. Shampa Sengupta Half day
“Women and Disabilities” Prof. Ishita Mukhopadhyay Sruti Disability Rights Centre, 5A, RK Ghoshal Road. Kolkata-700042 Ms. Shampa Sengupta Half day
Burn – Challenges to Survivors with their Disabilities due to Deformities & Social Stigma”. Prof. Ishita Mukhopadhyay South Kolkata Sannidhya, 38A, Balaram Bose Ghat Road. Kolkata 700025 Smt. Swati Chatterjee Half day
‘Changing Child Sex Ratio: Trend & Pattern in West Bengal & Purba Medinipur’ Prof. Ishita Mukhopadhyay State Resource Centre for Women, under Control and Management of West Bengal Women Development Undertaking Women Development and Social Welfare Department, Jalasampad Bhawan, 10th Floor, Sector 1, Salt Lake City, Kolkata 700091 Joint Secretary One day
“Government’s move to legalize pimping, brothel-keeping and child labour in audio-visual entertainment industry, and family-​based enterprises” Prof. Ishita Mukhopadhyay Apne Aap Women Worldwide,
Karl Marx Sarani, Tikiapara, Mominpore, Kolkata-700023		 Ms. Tinku Khanna One day
Thrust areas in teaching and research of the academic centre :
  • Gender and Society
  • Gender and Development
  • Gender and History
  • Gender and Education
  • Gender and Sociology
  • Gender and Development Studies
  • Gender and Literature
  • Gender and Media Studies
Major Activities :
Seminars organised by the Centre between 2014 to 2016
16th April, 2014: Nona Shahnezarian an Armeninan anthropologist visited Women’s Studies Research Centre, University of Calcutta for a talk on Gender
27th June, 2014: A short film show with episodes from TV Series “Nazar Ya Nazariya” was organized by Women’s Studies Research Centre, Calcutta University in collaboration with Sruti Disability Rights Centre, Kolkata
25th July, 2014: An alternative report presentation on “Women Empowerment Policy as Declared by the State Government” organized by Women’s Studies Research Centre, Calcutta University in collaboration with NAWO, (National Alliance of Women’s Organization) Kolkata.
24th September, 2014:A Half-day Seminar was held on “Women & Disabilities” organised by Women’s Studies Research Centre, Calcutta University in collaboration with Sruti Disability Rights Centre, Kolkata.
12th November, 2014: A Film Screening was held on Rokeya followed by a talk by Prof. Sonia Amin, Gender Historian from University of Dhaka; organized by Women’s Studies Research Centre, Calcutta University.
9th December, 2014: A Half-Day Brainstorming was held on Burn - Challenges to Survivors with their Disabilities due to Deformities and Social Stigma, organized by Women’s Studies Research Centre, Calcutta University in collaboration with South Kolkata Sannidhya, Kolkata. It was a part of our gesture towards celebrating   International Fortnight Observation Protesting Violence Against Women from November 25 till December 10.
30th January, 2015: A lecture was delivered by Prof. Snehendu B.Kar, Fulbright-Nehru Distinguished Chair (Global Health), Emeritus of Public Health & Asian American Studies, Founding Director of MPH for Health Professionals Program,  Associate Dean and Chair Emeritus, Fielding School of Public Health (Community Health Sciences) University of   California at Los Angeles; organized by Women’s Studies Research Centre, Calcutta University.
4th February, 2015: A lecture was delivered on “It’s not a Lark: The Current Landscape of International Population Politics” by Dr. Betsy Hartmann, a Fulbright-Nehru Distinguished Chairbased at the Centre for Social Medicine and  Community Health at JNU and the women’s health research and advocacy group, Sama, from January-May 2015, organized by Women’s Studies Research Centre, Calcutta University.
11th February, 2015: A lecture was delivered on “Gender Archetypes of Literary Heroines: A Methodological Approach” by Dr. Blanka Knotkova-Capkova, organized by Women’s Studies Research Centre, Calcutta University   Dr. Blanka Knotkova-Capkova, Associate Professor in Cultural Studies,Department of Asian Studies,  Metropolitan University Prague,Dubecska 10, Praha 1, Czech Republic and Department of Gender Studies, Charles University, Faculty of Humanities U Krize 8,Praha 1, Czech Republic.
17th February, 2015: A Consultation Programme was held on CEDAW Alternate  Report and recommendations for WB State Policy for Women shared by Ruth Manorama, President NAWO and Anuradha Kapoor of Swayam, organized by Women’s Studies Research Centre, Calcutta University in collaboration with NAWO, Kolkata.
9th – 10th July, 2015: A Two-day National Seminar was held on “Women and Disabilities: Triumphs & Challenges” organised by Women’s Studies Research Centre, Calcutta University in collaboration with Sruti Disability Rights Centre, Kolkata.
9th September, 2015 : A Discussion was held in memory of Prof. Rajashree Basu on“Usha Multipurpose Cooperative Society: A Durbar Initiative” organised by Women’s Studies Research Centre, Calcutta University in collaboration with     
4th December, 2015 : A Half-Day Programme was held on  “Gender Budget :  Academia- Academist Interface”,  organized by Women’s Studies Research Centre, Calcutta University in collaboration with Maromi, a Centre for One Stop Crisis Centre.
8th December, 2015 : A  One Day Consultation Programme was held on  “Government’s move to legalize pimping, brothel-keeping and child labour in audio-visual entertainment industry, and family-​based enterprises” at Hotel  Kenilworth,Kolkata, organized by Women’s Studies Research Centre, Calcutta University in collaboration with Apne Aap Women Worldwide,  Kolkata
15th December, 2015: Women’s Studies Research Centre, Calcutta University organised a “Dissemination Workshop on Baseline Survey of Trafficking”
30th December, 2015:A Half-day Seminar was held on “Breaking Silence against   Violence” organised by Women’s Studies Research Centre, Calcutta University
3rd - 5th February, 2016:  3 Day National Seminar was held on “Son Preference in India: A Patriarchal Legacy: Socio-Economic and Socio-Culture Perspectives” organised by Women’s Studies Research Centre, University of Calcutta;            
19th February, 2016: A lecture was delivered on “Methodology of Comparative Gender   Analysis of Religions” by Dr. Blanka Knotkova-Capkova, Associate Professor in Cultural Studies,Department of Asian Studies, Metropolitan University Prague, Dubecska 10, Praha 1, Czech Republic and Department of Gender Studies, Charles University, Faculty of Humanities U Kriz 8, Praha1, Czech Republic organised by Women’s Studies Research Centre, Calcutta University

Placement : Ms. Laboni Basu pursuing Ph.D at the Centre has received placement in the NGO named Apne Aap Women Worldwide.

Links :

Women’s Studies Research Centre maintains links with the following undergraduate colleges :

  1. Basanti Devi College
  2. Behala College
  3. Bethune College
  4. Bidhan Chandra College
  5. Bijoykrishna Girl’s College
  6. Calcutta Girl’s College
  7. Deshbandhu College for Girls
  8. Dum Dum Motijheel College
  9. East Calcutta Girls’ College
  10. Gokhale Memorial Girls’ College
  11. Jogamaya Devi College
  12. Lady Brabourne College
  13. Loreto College
  14. Magrahat College
  15. Maharani Kasiswari College
  16. Muralidhar Girls’ College
  17. Netaji Nagar College for Women
  18. Ramkrishna Sarada Mission Vivekananda Vidyabhavan
  19. Rammohan College
  20. Rani Birla Girls’ College
  21. Sarojini Naidu College for Women
  22. Serampore Girls’ College
  23. South Calcutta Girls’ College
  24. Vidyasagar College for Women
  25. Viharilal College for Home and Social Science
  26. Vivekananda College for Women
  27. Women’s Christian College

NGO Links :

  1. Gana Unnayan Parishad
  2. St. John Ambulance Association
  3. Institute of Social Work
  4. Shusri
  5. Paschimbongo Bigyan Mancha
  6. Paribesh Duson Protirodh Mancha.
  7. Nehru Juba Kendra Barasat
  8. Murshidabad Samaj Kalyan Samity
  9. Rural Welfare Society
  10. Uttar Mokambaria
  11. Panikhali Rural Development Society
  12. Sonarpur Natunpally Chetna
  13. Bara Sunderban Seva Samity (Hingalgunj)
  14. Ebong Alap
  15. Apne Aap Women Worldwide
  16. Sruti Disability Rights Centre
  17. South Kolkata Sannidhya
  18. The National Alliance of WomenWest Bengal

International Links :

  1. TRICKLE UP
  2. Department of Women and Gender Studies, Dhaka University
  3. The United Negro Fund Special Programs Corporation (UNFSPC), USA
  4. University of Hawaii and Centre for South Asian Studies, Hawaii
  5. State University of New York Oswego, Oswego, New York, USA
  6. British Council, Delhi & Kolkata
  7. Department of Philosophy and Religion, American University, Washington DC, USA
  8. The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
  9. University of Glasgow, U.K
  10. Claflin University, USA
  11. USIS, Delhi & Kolkata
Additional information :

M.Phil Syllabus

Paper I: Gender & Society

  • Module 1: Concept of Gender in Social Sciences
  • Module 2: The Streams of Feminist Thought
  • Module 3: History of Women’s Movement
  • Module 4: Women and Law
  • Module 5: National and International Policies and Programmes relating to gender

Paper II: Gender and Development

  • Module 1: Issues relating to the question of Gender and Development
  • Module 2: Gender, technology and politics
  • Module 3: Gender and Health
  • Module 4:  Feminist Research Methods
  • Module 5: Quantitative Research Methods

Special Papers

  • Gender and Society
  • Gender and Development
  • Gender and History
  • Gender and Education
  • Gender and Sociology
  • Gender and Development Studies
  • Gender and Literature
  • Gender and Media Studies

Attachment for questions papers

Contact

Campus : Alipore (Shahid Kshudiram Siksha Prangan)

Address for communication : Women’s Studies Research Centre, 1 Reformatory Street, Alipur, Kolkata 700027