Department of English

Undergraduate BA: English Major (Semester system from 2011); English Honours for 2nd and 3rd year students affiliated to Calcutta University; Extra-Departmental English Language and Literature (Semester system from 2011); Compulsory English and Elective English for 2nd year and 3rd year students affiliated to Calcutta University.

Postgraduate MA: English Literature, Classical Literature in Translation, and Interdisciplinary Studies in English (Semester system from 2011); English Literature, Children's Literature in English, Film and Literature and Gender Studies (Part 2 MA under Annual Examination System)

The history of English teaching at Presidency can be traced back to 1828, when it was known as Hindu College. Henry Louis Vivian Derozio was appointed Master of English Literature and History. The Department of English owes its distinct identity to the efforts of Principal H R James, who in 1909-10 separated the various disciplines in view of their specialized requirements. A long line of distinguished scholars and eminent teachers contributed to the Department's heritage. Among the luminaries were D L Richardson, C H Tawney, Hugh Melville Percival, F J Rowe, Manmohan Ghosh, P C Ghosh, Srikumar Banerjee, Rabindra Kumar Dasgupta, S C Sengupta, Tarapada Mukherji and Taraknath Sen.

The Department is proud of its distinguished alumni. The list includes Rajendra Prasad, former President of India, Shyamaprasad Mookerjee and Humayun Kabir. Among recent alumni, several have since completed their degrees from Oxford, Cambridge, London, and top ranking American universities. Academic brilliance apart, many of our ex-pupils have distinguished themselves in the life of the nation in some capacity or other. Many have made a mark in academic positions while others have been successful in careers in the publishing industry, media, corporate houses and in theatre and performing arts.