Departmental Profile

DEPARTMENTAL PROFILE

NAME OF THE DEPARTMENT: SOCIOLOGY

YEAR OF ESTABLISHMENT: 2023

BASIC INFO:

Address: Department of Sociology

     Amjonga, Goalpara, Assam, India, 783124

Website: https://pduamamjonga.ac.in/

Departmental Email Id: sociologypduamamjonga@gmail.com

ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT:

The Department of Sociology, PDUAM, Amjonga was established in August 2023 with a Bachelors Programme under NEP known as Four Year Under Graduate Programme (FYUGP) and Higher Secondary (Arts). The Intake capacity for FYUGP in Arts stream in PDUAM, Amjonga has been finalised by Gauhati University to be 50 for MAJOR and 150 for MINOR programmes. The department has been initiated with three (3) Assistant Professors only. The Department of Sociology, PDUAM, Amjonga is dedicated towards creating socially sensitive graduates through rigorous teaching programme and extension activities. The curriculum provided by Gauhati University lays emphasis on the teaching and learning of sociology as a discipline as well as implementing the theoretical knowledge in understanding social realities in a nuanced way. With a perspective to develop academic inquisitiveness, critical thinking and eagerness to learn, the department is willing to create a creative and participatory pedagogy. The department is interested in creating an inter-disciplinary framework to engage students with the subject of Sociology.

VISION OF THE DEPARTMENT:

The vision of the department is to establish itself as a centre for sociological academic excellence. To empower the students with academic knowledge and develop critical thinking to be able to assess the current situations. The Department of Sociology aspires to train the students to develop sociological imagination with broader perspective to understand the different societies and cultures in both local and global contexts.

MISSION OF THE DEPARTMENT:

The mission is to promote scientific understandings of social life through academic engagements. The department aims at creating a space for students to develop critical thinking by engaging in rigorous training in disciplinary methods and theories. The Department of Sociology is a student-centric department that focuses on engaging students with both classical sociological theory and recent developments in sociological theories. The attempt is to contribute to the knowledge building of the students so that they can engage in research and current debates and take part in the development of the society.

ENROLLMENT OF STUDENTS:

FACULTY DETAILS

FACULTY ACHIEVEMENTS: PAPER PRESENTATIONS, PUBLICATIONS, REFRESHER COURSE ETC.:

1.Dr. Himasnata Dutta Sarkar:

Serving as Head of the Department (HoD), Department of Sociology from 1^st April, 2024.

Membership of Professional/Academic Bodies

·         Life Member of Indian Sociological Society (ISS).

Papers Presented in International and National Seminars:

·         Himasnata Dutta Sarkar, “Understanding performance of culture and identity amongst the Rabhas of Goalpara district, Assam”, in international seminar on Identity Politics Reconsidered organised by Department of Sociology, Tezpur University on 5^th-6^th December,2018.

·         Himasnata Dutta Sarkar, “Performing Culture and Identity Politics: The Rabhas of Assam”, in international conference on Locating Northeast India: Human Mobility, Resource Flows and Spatial Linkages, organised by Department of Sociology, Tezpur University on 9^th-12^th January,2018.

·         Himasnata Dutta Sarkar, “The presentation of culture in Identity Politics: The Rabha Movement”, in 42^nd All India Sociological Conference (AISC) on ‘Rethinking Sociological Traditions in India’ organised by Department of Sociology, Tezpur University on 27^th-30^th December, 2016.

·         Himasnata Dutta Sarkar, “Negotiating Identity through the Baikho Festival: A study of the Rabhas of Assam”, in national level Graduate Seminar Meet, 2016, organized by the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, IIT, Guwahati during 20^th-22^nd October, 2016.

·         Himasnata Dutta Sarkar, “The Articulation of Culture as an Agent of Identity in the Rabha Movement of Assam”, in international conference and seminar on Asom  Vidya, organised by Modern Indian Languages and Literary Studies, Gauhati University and NEINAD on 26^th-27^th February,2016.

·         Dr.Sumesh Sivananand & Himasnata Dutta Sarkar, “Development for whom? The politics of ethnic identity of Rabha tribe in Assam”(Poster Presentation), in international seminar on Ethnicity and Development in South Asia: Issues and Challenges, organized by School of Extention and Development Studies, Indira Gandhi National Open University, New Delhi on 21^st-22^nd January, 2016.

·         Himasnata Dutta Sarkar, “Tracing the Rabhas of Goalpara through the Perspective of Customs and Rituals”, in international conference on Contesting ‘Self’ and ‘Other’: Identities of Caste, Tribe, Gender and Beyond, organised by Department of History and Department of Anthropology, Assam University, & MAKAIAS & ICSSR on 27^th-28^th March, 2015.

·         Himasnata Dutta Sarkar, “Quest for Identity: A Case Study of the Rabha Hasong”,in national seminar on Interrogating Indigeneity, Citizenship and the State: Perspectives from India’s North-East, organised by Department of Sociology, Tezpur University & ICSSR NERC on 7^th-8^th March, 2013.

Publications:

·         Himasnata Dutta Sarkar & Sumesh S.S. 2021. Politics of Ethnic Identity Accommodation in Assam: Rabha Andolan. Sameeksha: The Sociology Journal, 4 (1). (UGC-Care listed)

·         Himasnata Dutta Sarkar. 2017. ‘Tracing the Rabhas of Goalpara through the perspectives of customs and rituals’. in R.K.Bijeta & Vulli Dhanaraju (Eds) Debating Northeast India: Mapping Ethnic Identity Formation, Kalpaz Publication: Delhi.

·         Himasnata Dutta Sarkar & Amiya Kumar Das, module name- From Class to Identity Politics, paper-Media and Margins, subject- Media and Communication Studies, NCERT E-Pathshala, 2017.

·         Himasnata Dutta Sarkar, ‘Social Construction of Gender’ in Gender and Society Self Learning Material for MA course, Centre for Open and Distance Learning (CODL), Tezpur University.

Workshops Attended and Participated:

·         Participated and presented a paper titled The Identity Politics of the Rabhas of Assam at the Graduate Seminar during the International Conference on Locating Northeast India: Human Mobility, Resource Flows and Spatial Linkages, International Conference, organised by Department of Sociology, Tezpur University on 9-12 January, 2018.

·         Participated in Young Researchers Workshop, Indian Sociological Society (ISS) on ‘Challenges of doing Ethnography Today’ organised by Department of Sociology, Tezpur University on 26^th -27^th December, 2016.

·         Participated in workshop on Memory Studies, Sources and Historical Analysis organised by the Department of Sociology, Tezpur University from October 12-18, 2015.

·         Participated in Research Methodology in Social Sciences organised by the Department of Sociology, Tezpur University and Equal Opportunity Cell, Centre for Inclusive Development, Tezpur University from 21-27 September, 2015.

·         Participated in All India Young Social Scientists’ workshop on Emerging trends in Social Science Research & Methodological Challenges organised by Department of Sociology, Tezpur University and Indian Sociological Society and Rajiv Gandhi National Institute of Youth Development & Indian Council of Social Science Research from 10-11 October, 2011.

·         Participated in a Seminar on Inclusive Social Development organised by Equal Opportunity Cell, Tezpur University and Department of Sociology, Tezpur University from 7 to 8 September, 2011.

Attended Faculty Development Programmes:

·         Completed e-course on CRITICAL THEORIES MADE EASY by SOLIS from 11^th April to 23rd April, 2020.

·         Completed Faculty Awareness Program on “Research Methodology” organised by Department of Education, Mazbat College, Udalguri (BTAD), Assam during the period of 31^st May to 10^th June, 2020.

·         Completed Faculty Development Program on “Institutional Bench Marking of Best Practices” organised by 10 premier Institutes of India from 8^th to 14^th June 2020 from 4pm to 6pm.

·         Completed a 7 day e-FDP programme on the topic "IMPORTANCE OF CROSS-DISCIPLINARY RESEARCH IN THE POST COVID-19 SCENARIO: SOCIAL PERSPECTIVES" organised by Royal School of Biosciences, Royal School of Life Sciences and the Department of Social Work (RSHSS), Royal Global University from 16th June, 2020- 23rd June, 2020.

·         Completed a 5 day Online Faculty Development Programme (FDP), organised by IQAC Testo College, Dimapur from 13-17 July, 2020.

·         Completed a 7 day online FDP on “New Narrative of  NAAC” by RR Institute of Advanced Studies, Bangalore from 1-7 August, 2020.

·         Completed a 7-day online FDP on Research Ethnics and Academic Writings in Social Sciences conducted by Dakuwakhana College & Dibrugarh University from 28^th June-4^th July, 2021.

List of Webinars attended:

·         Pandemic: Social Dimension by Prof. M. Kalam, Dean, Administration and Regulatory Affairs and Professor Anthropology, Krea University Sri City, Tamilnadu conducted by Royal Global University on 16^th-17^th April, 2020 at 3:00 pm.

·         Rebuilding a Better World- Social Business during Covid Times by Prof. Muhammad Yunus, Nobel Peace Laureate, conducted by Amity University on 19^th May, 2020 at 2:30 pm.

·         Translation Thursdays with Saba Bashir on her translation of Sa’adat Hasan Manto’s collection of short stories Shikaari Auratein into English as Women of Prey (Speaking Tiger, 2019) organized by Mother Tongue Twisters on 4^th June, 2020 at 7 pm.

·         Academic Publishing and Enhancing Research Effectiveness" organised by Dr. Zakir Husain Library, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi on 9^th June, 2020 at 9.30 am.

·         Attended summer webinar series, titled “Summer of ISHQ: Issues in Society, History and Queerness” talk by Judith Butler conducted by Centre for Studies in Gender and Sexuality, Ashoka University on 18^th June, 9 pm.

·         Prof. Jacob John Kattakayam first memorial lecture on The culture of Development and Development of culture by Prof. Arjun Appadurai, organised by Institute for Social Research and Action & Prof.J.J.K Student’s Collective on 12th July, 2021.

Participation as External Paper Setter/ Evaluator:

·         Appointed as Question Paper Setter for MA 4^th sem paper MPS S4-13 Indian Society in Transition during October, 2021 for KKHSOU.

·         Appointed as Question Paper Setter for MA 1^st sem paper PGSO S1-O1 Sociological Perspectives and Theories during January, 2022 for KKHSOU.

·         Appointed as Question Paper Setter for BA 5^th sem paper GEC/GSO S5-03 Population and Society/ Demography during February, 2022 for KKHSOU.

·         Appointed as Question Paper Setter for MA 1st sem paper MSO-02 Sociological Theories I during February, 2022 for KKHSOU.

·         Appointed as Question Paper Setter for MA 4^th sem paper MSO S4-15 Social Demography during August, 2022 for KKHSOU.

·         Appointed as Question Paper Setter for MA 4^th sem paper MSO S4-13 Indian Society in Transition during September, 2022 for KKHSOU.

·         Appointed as Question Paper Setter for MA 4^th sem paper PGSO S4-03 Sociology of Health and Illness during June, 2023 for KKHSOU.

·         Appointed as External Examiner for Dissertation/ Project Evaluation and Viva-Voce Examination of Master Degree 4^th Sem Semester/ PG Diploma 2^nd Semester  Examination, 2021 at Gauhati Commerce College Examination Centre on 28-01-2022 for KKHSOU.

·         Appointed as External Examiner for Dissertation/ Project Evaluation and Viva-Voce Examination of Master Degree 4^th Sem Semester Examination, 2022 at KKHSOU City Centre, Khanapara Examination Centre on 29-01-2023 for KKHSOU.

2. Daisy Singha:

Participation In Workshop/Seminar/Conferences:

• Participated in the three-day 45th All India Sociological Conference on Environment, Culture and Development: Discourses and Intersections held on 2019 at University of Kerala organized by Indian Sociological Society.

• Five days e-workshop on Introduction to beginner guide for Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) held on October 2021, organized by Simplify Research.

• Participated in a one-day Workshop on 'Protection and Enforcement of Tribal Rights held on 2019 at Pondicherry University organized by Union Territory of Puducherry Legal Services Authority.

• Participated in Fieldwork conducted under Swatchh Bharat Abhiyan under the Supervision of Dr. C. Aruna (Professor, Centre for Women’s Studies, Pondicherry University) and Dr. K. Gulam Dasthagir (Professor, Department of Sociology, Pondicherry University) held on 2018.

• Participated in Voluntary Blood Donation Camps organised by Pondicherry University held on 2018 and 2015

Participation In Webinars:

• Participated in three days National webinar on Covid 19 organised by Department of Sociology, Dwaraka Doss Govardhan Doss Vaishnav College and ST. Jude’s College held on June 2020.

• Participated in webinar on Violence against Women in lockdown-A gendered perspective analysis organised by Centre for Women’s Studies of Ethiraj College for Women held on July 2020.

• Participated in webinar on Orientation on Google Tools for Effective Teaching Methodologies organised by Department of Bachelor of Computer Application, BES College held on June 2020.

Course Experience:

• PGDCA under CEC Assam (October 2021).

• Six weeks online training on Creative Writing under Internshala Trainings in August 2020.

3. Dr. Arpita Choudhury:

Publications ( Books/ Journals ):

·         Paper published in “International Journal of Applied Social Science” titled “Urbanisation and Tourism Development in the Capital City of Mongolia and its Relevance for India”, Date of Publication: July and August 2020.

·         Paper published in “Education Times Journal” titled “Mongolia: Population and Urban Growth; 1990-2010”, Date of Publication: December 2017.

·         Paper published in “Managing Sustainable Development Concepts, Issues and Challenges” (Edited Book by Dr P.K Mishra and Dr J.K Verma) titled “Indigenous Communities of Majuli River Island and Sustainable Actions to Develop the Island”, Date of Publication: March 2019.

·         Paper published in “North East India: Exploring Philosophy, Culture and Environmental Sustainability” (Edited Book by Sonia Mehta and Anna Senrung) titled “Strategic Importance of the Siliguri Corridor to the North Eastern Region”, Date of Publication: July  2019

Papers presented in National and International Conferences:

·         Presented Paper in ICSSR Sponsored National Conference in ‘Central University of Punjab’ titled ‘Indigenous Communities of Majuli River Island and Sustainable Actions to Develop the Island’.

·         Presented Paper in International Conference on North East India: Exploring Philosophy, Culture and Environmental Sustainability in ‘Daulat Ram College’, Delhi University titled ‘Strategic Importance of the Siliguri Corridor to the North Eastern Region’.

·         Presented Paper in International Conference on Ganga to Volga: India’s Connectivity with Inner Asia which is titled ‘Transition in the Economic Scenario of Mongolia and its Relation with India’ in ‘Centre For Inner Asian Studies’, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi.

·         Presented Paper in International Conference organized by School of Business Studies, ‘Central University of Karnataka’ sponsored by Incredible India, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, New Delhi titled ‘Rapid Urbanisation and Development of Tourism in the Capital City of Mongolia’.

Extracurricular Activities:

·         Participated in Summer Workshop organized by “Gandhi Bhawan, University of Delhi” in Collaboration with “Gandhi Hindustani Sahitya Sabha” on “The Regeneration of Indian Society in the Light of Constructive Programmes of Mahatma Gandhi” held from 10 – 20 August 2020.

·         Participated in Community service in TDC 3^rd Year and has completed 30 hours of compulsory Community Service in Handique Girls’ College, Guwahati, Assam.

·         Participated in BASAS Workshop on planning and preparing to publish for early career researchers organized by Centre for South Asian Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, 31 May 2016.