DEPARTMENTS - ARTS

DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY

Profile

The Centre for History was established in 1995. During the shortspan of seven years, the Centre has received the national professional attention. The Epigraphical Society of India an highly acclaimed academic association in India was invited and the Nineteenth Annual Conference of the Epigraphical Society of India, a national Conference, was hosted by the Bharathidasan University during 12,13 and 14 February, 1993. Dr. N.Rajendran, the present Head, Centre for History was the Local Secretary for that national Conference. On the heels of this national Conference, Indian Council of Historical Research, New Delhi has selected Bharathidasan University as one among the three centres all over India to host a two week workshop on "Historical Methods" for teachers of history. The Workshop was inaugurated by the doyen among historians and two-time Vice-Chancellor of Goa and Mangalore Universities Dr.B.Sheik Ali, Dr.M.G.S.Narayanan, then Member Secretary and the present Chairman of I.C.H.R., New Delhi, Dr. R.Charpaklakshmi, Professor, J.N.U., Dr.Y.Subbarayalu and Dr.Rajan Gurukkal are some of the other noted Resource Persons. The workshop aimed at providing an updated historical methodology to the teachers of History. In the year 1995 the Post Graduate history programme was started with 20 students. The very next year the Centre for History was officially inaugurated with the hosting of Third Annual Session of the Tamil Nadu History Congress. Participants were drawn from as far as Delhi. Among the important historians who participated in the Congress was Dr.Eugene F. Irschick, Professor, Department of History, University of California, U.S.A.. Besides several other national seminars, the Centre has conducted three refresher courses.

The Centre for History has been regularly publishing at international, national level. Dr.N.Rajendran's book on "National Movement in Tamil Nadu" published by the internationally reputed OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS. Besides, articles are published in reputed academic journals and national newspapers. More than 25 such articles have been published. Dr. N.Rajendran of the Centre for History has been the honorary consultant for the District Gazetteer Project of the Tamil Nadu State Archives, Government of Tamil Nadu. The Centre has also completed 5 UGC Minor Research Projects.

The Centre for History has so far produced more than 100 Post-Graduates, 30 M.Phils, and 3 Ph.Ds in the short duration of 7 years. It has currently, 3 permanent faculty and 3 guest lecturers. Our M.A. programme has some unique components such as Annals School, Subaltern Studies, Cliometrics and Environmental History. The programme is also orienting the students for UGC-NET and UPSC examinations.

The future proposals of the Centre for History includes certificate or diploma course in Tourism, Epigraphy and Archives keeping.

Points to Note:

Telephone Number : 0431 2407042

Name of the H.O.D.: Dr. N. RAJENDRAN

Programmes offered

Method of assessment

Group Discussion, Seminar presentation, Assignment submission, Test, Field Study.

Periodic feedback sessions are held with the P.G. students to evaluate their comprehension, the aim and objective of the course conducted after a feedback from students, necessary corrective measures are adopted as required.

National / International seminars and workshops

National Seminars are organised once in 2 years. National Conferences are organised once in 4 years.

01. "Nation in the Making: Freedom Struggle and Contemporary Challenges", - UGC, ICHR Sponsored National Seminar during 13-14^th February 1998

02. "Contemporary Historical Trends" - 28 days UGC Refresher Course in History, at Academic Staff College, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli during 10^th November to 7^th December 1998

03. "Contemporary Relevance of History: An Evaluation of Curriculum and Examination" - UGC National Seminar, during 26 & 27^th March 1999

04. "Theory and History" - 21 days UGC Refresher Course in History, at Academic Staff College, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli from 25^th Nov. to 15^th Dec. 2000.

Faculty

Ongoing projects

Basic and Advanced

Computer

OHP

Slide Projector

Public Address System

Procedures followed for selecting research scholars

Entrance Test, Interview, Research Proposal Submission, Testing their commitment

Publications

Dr. N. Rajendran

01. The Abstract volume of the 3^rd Annual Session of the Tamil Nadu History Congress, Centre for History, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli

02. The Abstract Volume of National Seminar on Nation in the Making: Freedom Struggle and Contemporary Challenges

03. The Proceedings Volume of "M.P.T. Acharya: A Revolutionary in Exile" - South Indian History Congress, 18^th Session.

04. "Social History of the Tamils 1707-1947" - book review article, The Indian Historical Review, ICHR, New Delhi, Vol.XXV, No.2.

05. "Colonial Economic Policy and Economic Nationalism in Tamil Nadu 1906-1910" - Tamil Nadu History Congress, V Session, Tirunelveli.

06. "Swadeshi gold Coins of Madras" A.V. Narasimha ;Murthy, ed., Studies in South Indian Coins Vol.VI, Madras: New Era Social Research ;and Documentation Centre

07. "Pondicherry : A Political Base for Nationalist Movement in Tamil Nadu, 1908-1917" - Proceedings of the Tamil Nadu History Congress, 2^nd Annual Conference, September 1996

08. "The Expanding Territory of History : The Old and New Paradigms" South Indian History Congress Proceedings of the XVII Annual Session, January 1988, pp.237-240.

09. "Historiographical Trends and its Influence in India" Souvenir Volume of the 34^th Annual All India Conference of the Institute of Historical Studies, Kollam, December 1997

10. "Colonial Economic Policy and Economic Nationalism in Tamil Nadu 1905-1910" Annual Proceedings of the Tamil Nadu History Congress V Session, Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Tirunelveli, October 1999.

11. "Construction and Deconstruction in Historical Methods: Critique of Rationalist" - Tamil Nadu History Congress IV Annual Session Proceedings Volume, October 1998

12. Ágitational Politics and Techniques of Mass Mobilization in Tamil Nadu, 1905-1908" 58^th Session Annual Proceedings of Indian History Congress, December 1998.

13. "M.P.T. Acharya : A Revolutionary in Exile" South Indian History Congress Proceedings Volume, 18^th Session, January 1999.

14. "Social History of the Tamils 1707-1947" book review article, The Indian Historical Review, ICHR, New Delhi, Vol. XXV, No.2, January 1999.

Dr. M. Lakshmanan

15. "Collective Bargaining under the Common law tradition in Madras in the interwar period, 1918-1939, in Indian Economic and Social History Review Vol.35, No.3, 1998, pp.247-273

16. "Industrial conflict in Madras 1918 - 1920 in Indian Historical Review Vol.22, 1996, pp.126-156.

Research funding generated

Rs.40,000/-

Other highlights:

Since the inception of the Centre for History so far 100 students have obtained their P.G. Degrees. Some of them have joined government sponsored Civil Service Examination Training Programmes. Some have passed NET. Others have passed SLET. There are others who have gone for professional teaching course. Many are employed as teachers. All in all the P.G. Course is vigorous and enriching for those who have joined the course.

In Tamil Nadu, Centre for History, (Dr.N.Rajendran) Bharathidasan University has alone published the research work in an International Publication (Oxford University Press).

Future Proposals

Teaching: The Centre for History proposed to have following programmes:

Certificate/Diploma course in Tourism

Certificate Course in Epigraphy

Certificate Course in Archives Keeping

Certificate Course in Historical methods

Research

The Centre for History has the following Minor and Major Research Proposals:

History of Science and Technology in Modern Colonical India (Major proposal to NISDAT)

Bibliography on the National Movement in Tamil Nadu ( Major Proposal to UGC & ICHR)

Books Under Print

Modern and Post Modern Historiographical Trends.

Environmental History.

Guide to Archival Sources for the National Movement.

Conference

A National Seminar on "Sources" will be Conducted in Collaboration with ICHR 2002/2003.

Extension Programmes

The Centre for History is proposed to have the following extension programmes.

Civil Service Training Programme : The Centre for History has proposed to have a regular (every year) Civil Service Orientation Programme for the Preliminary and Main Examinations.

The Centre for History is also proposed to hold workshops cum orientation programmes on Research Methods for Thesis and Assignment writing, Data Collection methods, and Data Interpretation.

Orientation Course for the JRF TEST/UGC and National level tests for History candidates will be offered every year.

For P.G. project works the history students will be directed to concentrate on Local History which will serve as a data bank on Local History for major works.