Brief Introduction of the Department

The Department of Women’s Studies was established in 2014 with the commencement of academic activities in the University in tune with the university’s commitment to the cause of empowerment of women. At present, the department offers a post-graduate programme. The PG curriculum has been framed with the objective of familiarising students with the discipline of women’s studies, which involves not only the historical dimensions of this field of study, but also its political and socio-cultural antecedents. Fieldwork, research projects and outreach activities are integral aspects of the curriculum of the Department. The Department of Women’s Studies, DHWU aims to create holistic and research oriented academic environment for students along with opening up possibilities of academic engagement beyond the curriculum. The areas in which the department puts forward most emphasis are Law and Gender, Women’s Health Issues, Gender and Media, Women & Performance, Gender and Violence, Women’s rights and Human Rights, Feminist Theory, Gender and Caste.

Diamond Harbour Women`s University was originally established under the Government of WB Legislative Assembly Act 2012. However, the academic activities of the Department was started on 2014.Along with Departments of Political Science, History, English, Bengali , Sociology and Education the Department of Women Studies was established .In the first year 8 students took admission. The group used to celebrate all programs by their own initiative. In 2015 and 2016 students celebrated International Women`s Day ,fresher`s social, Teacher`s Day by their own initiative. The Department of Women Studies Was also involved in extra- curricular activities along with the other students of the Departments. Thus during the first two years all departmental activities are performed together. It was in 2017 the International Women`s Day was celebrated in proper fashion. Ste Government Fund was allotted for the celebration of the program and a two days program was organized in collaboration with the Department of History and Bengali. In the same year `Sayamsidha`, an NGO from the South 24 Parganas Police Department conducted a program to promote the security of women in the areas. Two girls who was trafficked and rescued were brought to the University with their parents to narrate the ways they survived from trafficking and how the Police department has been involved in the protection of the women was the main theme of the discussion. Besides this a seminar was conducted and among the Chair person of the Women`s Commission was invited as the guest of Honour had been carried out in the Department .The extra- curricular activities included International Women`s Day. In 2018 Geraldine Forbes was the chief Guest of the International Women`s Day. From 2018, the Department in collaboration with the Department of Bengali and History started celebrating the birth Anniversary of Begum RokheaSakhawat while dignitaries used to visit the University on that day .Normally activities in the Department are performed in collaboration with the Department of Bengali and History. Department side by side organized paper presentation session, poster competition among the students in 2018 a quiz competition was organized under auspices of The State Women`s Commission. In 2020 an International Seminar was organized by the Department of Women Studies under the sponsorship of National Women`s Commission. A two day program was organized, Prof Molly Kuruvilla was the Chief Guest of the Conference she was the Director Women Studies Calicut University. Beside her, the key note speaker was Prof Nirmala Banerjee , Faculty from JNU , JU Department of Women`s Studies was also present to enrich the sessions of the seminar, Chanrika from the Department of Women`s Studies Tripura University was also Present .Our students from 16-18 and 17-19 batch also presented paper and attended seminar. In Rabindran Bharati University, Women Studies Department, and Lady Braborne College Women`s Studies Centre for paper presentation in the Seminar. The poster presentation is a favorite events of the Women`s Studies Department of Diamond Harbour University At present, the Department of Women’s Studies, DHWU plans to widen its research area and welcome scholars and academicians to enhance students’ academic potential.

Year of Establishment: 2014