The Post-Graduate Department of History was founded on 1st December 1959 at the then Ravenshaw College, Cuttack. It was shifted to Vani Vihar, Bhubaneswar in July 1962 when the University moved to its present premises from Cuttack. Ever since the Department is functioning in the Old Arts Block of the University. The founder faculty members of the Department were Prof. M.N. Das, Prof. Prabhat Mukherjee, and Prof. B.C. Ray. Prof. M.N. Das became the first Head of the Department and establishment himself as a famous scholar of Modern Indian History. Prof. Ray and Prof. Mukherjee pursued Regional History, particularly, the History and culture of Odisha and published monumental works. One among the largest Departments of the University, it functions at present as an autonomous Department of Learning and Research.
The output of research in the Department, both in the qualitative and quantitative sense, has also got due recognition by the community of scholars and academics all around. The PG Department of History gave way to the formation of a new Department to disseminate the ideas, research and expertise on Orissan Culture and Archaeology and formed the Department of Ancient Indian History, Culture and Archaeology in July 1996.The University hence, has accorded it the status of an autonomous Department since January 1995. The Department has successfully celebrated the Golden Jubilee Year of its foundation during the session 2009-10. The Centre for Ambedkar Studies, sponsored by the UGC under XI plan, was set up at the PG Dept. of History, UtkalUniveristy on 2nd May 2007.
Prof. M. N. Das Memorial Lecture has been set up by the PG Dept. of History, Utkal University on the occasion of its Golden Jubilee Celebration with effect from 2009.
VISION:
The History Department aims to make the students aware of the past and its legacies through teaching, research and extension activities in Indian history in the context of world history. We believe that only a critical understanding of the past will enable the students to understand the present and help them look towards the future.
MISSION:
Transform the students into citizens who are critically informed about the past and its consequences for the present
Empower students to cope with the challenges of globalization by instilling in them a life-long passion for learning about the past. The knowledge about the interconnections between the global, national, regional and local history will equip the students to face the challenges with confidence.
The Department conducts seminars/conferences on a regular basis to promote the research culture and update with the latest development in a specific area of research. Besides this, the department also conducts Refresher courses/Faculty Development Programs for College and University teachers at different periods of time.
List of Seminar/Conferences/Refresher Course/FDP organized in Last Five Years:
Seminar/Conferences/Refresher Course/FDP
Duration
Participants
1
Odisha History Congress 54th Foundation Day & Memorial Lecture on Prof. Manmath Nath Das
National Seminar on Peace and Development: Role of Democracy, Civil Society and Media, Department of History in collaboration with International Decency Movement, Udayagiri, Jajpur
2nd-3rd January, 2020
55+
8
Academic Training Programme for History faculties under WB-OHEPEE (SAC)
National Seminar on Culture of Non-violence and Decency in India, P.G. Department of History in collaboration with International Decency Movement, Udayagiri, Jajpur
Ph D course Work Students 2023 1.Chinmayee Nayak ( NET/JRF) 2.Ishita Mishra 3.Khirod Kumar Pradhan (NET) 4.Paramjit Singh 5.Shibasundar Patra 6.Sidhant Gamango
PhD Scholars Prof. Basanta Kumar Mallik (Rtd)( Supervisor) 1.Deepak Kumar Das 2.Dhiren Kumar Patra 3.Tarakanta Behera 4.Sanjay Kumar Mohapatra 5.Rasananda Bag 6.Jeenapriyanka Jethi 7.Prabeer Kumar Behera 8.Mhabeni M Tsanglao
Prof. Jayanti Dora (Supervisor) 1.Harendra Narayan Behera 2.Puspalata Jena 3.Paramananda Naik 4.Swarnalata Mahari 5.Souri Narayan Sahu 6.Alakananda Gahir 7.Kamalakanta Behera
8.Pravakar Sethi
Prof. Amal Kumar Mishra (Supervisor) 1.Sushil Kumar Patnaik
Dr. Ajit Kumar Sahoo (Supervisor) 1.Asish Kumar Sahoo 2.Goutam Behera 3.Aliva Panda 4.Mandakini Dhal
“The Alumni Association”, Department of History, Utkal University has following objectives:
To create a platform for interaction among the old students and staff for the promotion and development of overall interest of Chemo-scientists.
To promote and update the student of all branches of History.
For achieving the above objectives and overall development of the Department, Alumni, may undertake the following programmers and any other such steps as may be deemed necessary from time to time.
Publication of a directory (Name, Batch (year), Designation, Address, Telephone number, Activities etc. of the members)
Publication and circulation of newsletter/journals/seminar proceedings/special publications relating to different frontiers of chemistry.
Installation of Award(s) in frontier fields of History at institutional level, state level etc.
Felicitation to eminent History.
Organization of seminar/workshops on any suitable themes of History and related fields.
Welfare fund for employees/students/Alumni
Events :
On 24th November 2019 Departmental an alumnus meeting was held and about 350 alumni participated in it. Another meeting was conducted in virtual mode on 29th December 2021 and attended by 50 alumni.
Noted Alumni of the Dept. (since inception to present) and their profiles:
Sl.
Name
Present Position/ Organization
1.
Prof. Amiya Kumar Pattanayak
Ex-Vice Chancellor, Utkal University of Culture
2.
Dinanatha Pathy
Ex-Secretary, National Lalit Kala Academy
3.
Subhakanta Behera
Indian Foreign Service
4.
Dr. Ratikanta Mishra
S.O.G. Chemistry Division, BARC
5.
Dr. Arun Kumar Sahoo
Minister, Higher Education, Agriculture, Fisheries & Animal Resources Development, Government of Odisha