1. INTRODUCTION
The University Department of English, VBU, is an iconic presence. It commenced as a postgraduate centre of Ranchi University at the century old St Columbaâs College, Hazaribag, in 1983, with Prof S N Sinha as the first Head of Department. It had a unique ambience, ensconced in the COHSSIP room in the Victorian architecture of the old block of the college, producing a stream of talented students through its portals year after year. At the helm was also Prof M L Das, who later joined as the first Pro Vice Chancellor of Vinoba Bhave University, officiating as its Vice Chancellor as well for a brief period. Prof S P Misra and Prof R N Jha were on the faculty team. When Vinoba Bhave University came into existence in 1992, the premises were shifted to the building of the Government Teachersâ Training College near Hazaribag Lake where all departments ran in some three odd rooms.
The Department was relocated in the Vigyan Bhawan of the present Sindoor campus in 2001, on the top floor of the edifice that resembles coincidentally the initial Elizabethan public theatre, The Swan. Since then it has been a bit itinerant like most other departments of the young university that is blooming architecturally in phases. It moved to the MBA building and then to the present station at Rabindranath Tagore Bhawan, on the first floor, the classrooms overlooking the Vinodini Tarwey enclosure and park and the goldmohur trees flanking the south boulevard of the university on the north and the unpopulated maidan nestling between the girlsâ hostel and the imposing engineering college workshop on the east. The Department, during these years, has been led by several academicians like Dr B P Misra, Prof Yamuna Prasad and Dr (Mrs) Mani Sinha. Dr (Mrs) Kakoli Joardar too joined as Head in 2006 but sadly, passed away in harness.
A unique feature of the Department is its spirit to lead through examples â personal and academic. It is a repository of constructive ideas and actions, providing valuable inputs to the overall growth of the university.
2. POSTURE
The Department of English offers programmes in postgraduate and doctoral studies through a dynamic and contemporary syllabus with the assistance of the latest pedagogic technologies. Learners are encouraged to take initiative in conducting creative activities; lively interaction between the learners and the faculty members is a natural part of the functioning of the Department. It publishes a refereed research journal with ISSN credentials and holds regular seminars and academic and extra-academic events. Plans are afoot to establish a state of the art digital language laboratory within the Communication Cell. The Department thrives on a long tradition of scholasticism and innovation, adopting best practices in administration and academics. It carries a sturdy research orientation.
3. ACADEMICS
HODâs Desk
The University Department of English, VBU, is an iconic presence. It commenced as a postgraduate centre of Ranchi University at the century old St Columbaâs College, Hazaribag, in 1983, with Prof S N Sinha as the first Head of Department. It had a unique ambience, ensconced in the COHSSIP room in the Victorian architecture of the old block of the college, producing a stream of talented students through its portals year after year. At the helm was also Prof M L Das, who later joined as the first Pro Vice Chancellor of Vinoba Bhave University, officiating as its Vice Chancellor as well for a brief period. Prof S P Misra and Prof R N Jha were on the faculty team. When Vinoba Bhave University came into existence in 1992, the premises were shifted to the building of the Government Teachersâ Training College near Hazaribag Lake where all departments ran in some three odd rooms.
The Department was relocated in the Vigyan Bhawan of the present Sindoor campus in 2001, on the top floor of the edifice that resembles coincidentally the initial Elizabethan public theatre, The Swan. Since then it has been a bit itinerant like most other departments of the young university that is blooming architecturally in phases. It moved to the MBA building and then to the present station at Rabindranath Tagore Bhawan, on the first floor, the classrooms overlooking the Vinodini Tarwey enclosure and park and the goldmohur trees flanking the south boulevard of the university on the north and the unpopulated maidan nestling between the girlsâ hostel and the imposing engineering college workshop on the east. The Department, during these years, has been led by several academicians like Dr B P Misra, Prof Yamuna Prasad and Dr (Mrs) Mani Sinha. Dr (Mrs) Kakoli Joardar too joined as Head in 2006 but sadly, passed away in harness.
A unique feature of the Department is its spirit to lead through examples â personal and academic. It is a repository of constructive ideas and actions, providing valuable inputs to the overall growth of the university.
