BANARAS HINDU UNIVERSITY

DEPARTMENT OF BENGALI

PROFILE

The Deptt. of Bengali had been functioning ever since the inception of this University. The PG course was commenced in 1968 while the Research assignments began in1972 when this department became a fully independent and full-fledged department. Three of the faculty members have been awarded UGC major research projects besides the UGC minor assignments. The Departmental Research Journal “Sahitya” has been published. The IX vol. was published after a long gap of 15 years in 2003 and it was dedicated to Shri Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar. The X vol. published last year, was dedicated to eminent women writers. The XI vol. will be published very shortly. In the North India, this department alone has been functioning as a full-fledged department for imparting teaching of Bengali Language and Literature both in the UG and PG courses besides continuing the research activity. The UG course is for 3 yrs. while the PG course consists of 4 Semesters divided in 2 yrs. The intake in the PG course is 50 seats. Approx. 3000 good books have been kept in the departmental library. At present the teaching staff includes one Professor, two Readers and one lecturer besides a few retired teachers whose services are being utilized for teaching specialized papers. Given below are the particulars of the regular teachers:

1. Dr.(Ms.)Bratati Chakravarty: Professor and Head of the Deptt. M.A.(B.H.U.)Topper; Ph.D.(Burdwan University). Joined BHU in 1977; Receipient of UGC CAREER AWARD and Major Research Project.

SPECIALISATION: (a) Literary Criticism (b)Juvenile literature (c)Folk literature (d)History of Bengali literature

Published books: (1) Jogindranath Sarkar: Bangla Shishu Sahitya; (2) Bangla Shishu Sahitya Charcha: Ray Parivar.

A number of research papers on various aspects were also published in Calcutta based books and journals. She has written some poems and translated poems from Bengali to Hindi also. She is associated with various universities in the capacity of examiner of PG courses and Ph.D.awards, Selection Committees including W.B.College Service Commission,UGC Experts Committee etc. During her period of being the Head of the department, quite a number of academic meets were organized viz.,Vivekananda Jayanti(twice), Several Extension Lectures by Eminent teachers and National Seminar etc.The meeting of the Board of Studies was convened for finalising the cosurse of the newly introduced Semester Course. The results of PG course has been hundred percent. All the desirous outstation students have been provided hostel accommodation after persistent efforts. Two Research Journals of the deptt. have already been published while the third one is likely to be published very soon.

2. Dr.(Mrs.)Aloka Chatterjee, Reader – M.A.(BHU), Ph.D.(BHU); joined in 1984 in the Department of Bengali. Awarded Gold medal for standing first M.A. course by Nikhil Bharat Banga Sahitya Sammelan.

SPECIALISATION: ( a) Modern Bengali Novel and short stories specially the writings of “Banaphul” (b) Philology

Published book: Bangla Sahitye Banaphul – Chhoto Galpa O Upanyas

A number of articles written by her have been published in various journals/periodicals. She is associated with various Universities in the capacity of examiner of PG courses and Ph.D. awards.

3. Dr.(Mrs.)Namita Bhattacharya: Reader, M.A.(BHU)Gold Medal, Ph.D(BHU)

Joined BHU in 1994 in the Mahila Mahavidyalaya and joined the Deptt. of Bengali in 2003.

SPECIALISATION: (a) Bengali Literature of mid-eighteenth to mid-nineteenth century (b) Supernaturalism in Bengali literature with special reference to Bibhuti Bhushan Bandopadhyay.

Published books: (1)Bibhuti Bhushan Bandopadhyay Atiprakrita(2001)

(2) Yugasandhir Bangla Sahitya (1761-1899) – under print.

Quite a number of articles written by her have been published in various journals and periodicals. She has also translated Hindi poems in Bengali.

4. Dr.(Mrs.)Sumita Chatterjee: Lecturer, M.A.(BHU), Ph.D.(BHU), Joined BHU in 2004 recipient of Silver medal for securing first position in UG class and Gold Medal for securing first position in the PG course.

SPECIALISATION: (a) Modern Bengali Prose (b) Vivekananda Literature

Published book: Bangla Gadya Sahitye Vivekananda (2005)

A recipient of Research Scholarship, she has written a number of articles which have been published in various journals and periodicals.