Department of Political Science

INTRODUCTION

The Department of Political Science of Gauhati University, which was established in the Year 1958, is the oldest Department of this discipline in the Region.

PROFILE OF THE DEPARTMENT

The Department of Political Science of Gauhati University, which was established in the Year 1958, is the oldest Department of this discipline in the Region. In the year 2007, the department completes 50 years of its glorious presence with significant contribution towards teaching and research in the discipline of political science. The Department has produced hundreds of Ph.D. scholars as well as renowned educationists in the country. The Faculty members of the Department have also earned reputation in the country and abroad through their contribution towards the discipline of Political Science and other related social sciences. The department has introduced Semester System from the academic session 2001-02 with a revised syllabus focusing on the emerging areas in political science like Environment and Politics, Human Rights, Political Economy, Gender Studies, Social and Political Movements, and South Asian studies. A number of students have cleared UGC- NET and many are drawing fellowships from various research institutes including UGC and ICSSR. The Department received special appreciation from the UGC-NAAC Team during their visit to Gauhati University in 2001 for Assessment and Accreditation.

As a part of its Golden Jubilee celebration, the Department proposes to bring out a series of publications as well as to hold two National level Seminar and lecture programme.

MISSION AND VISION STATEMENT

From humble beginnings as a group of elective subjects taught in the department of Economics in the 1950s, Political Science emerged as a full-fledged department of study, teaching and research in 1958. Under the dynamism and dedicated leadership of Dr. V. Venkata Rao, the founder Head, and his able successors, the department has grown in strength and vitality.

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OBJECTIVES

The objectives of teaching and research in Political Science correspond partly to the general aims of liberal education, such as cultivation of maturity of mind, responsible citizenship, respect for all creation and human values in particular ; in a nutshell, attainment of the Platonic ideal of virtue. But quite apart from the general objectives, Political Science education aims at teaching and training in professional requirements of the subjects so that the alumni might perform competent roles as teachers and researchers if they chose to be or else as administrators, legislator and professionals in politics in general, thus bringing theory closer to practice.

HISTORY

The history of the department may be highlighted in terms of its leadership and thus seen broadly in three phases. The first phase began with the establishment of the Department in 1958 and lasted till 1973 (15 years) when Prof. V.Venkata Rao, the founder head relinquished his office on superannuation. The second phase began when the mantle of headship passed on to Prof. D.P. Barooah and continued till his appointment as Vice-Chancellor of Gauhati University in 1986.