DEPARTMENT OF GEOGRAPHY
DEEPANWITA BORAH, Assistant Professor
MOBILE: 9435839328
EMAIL: dipanwitaborah@gmail.com
ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT
“If geography is prose, maps are iconography.”
- Lennart Meri
Geography, an integrating science provides a systematic understanding of the relationship between humans and natural phenomena in a particular space. The Geography Department of this college opened its avenues to women in order to impart and dissipate knowledge in the field of geography in 1963 under the stewardship of Dr. (Mrs) B. L. Singh. Initially the college offered the subject as a core course (non-honours now) gradually introducing Honours in 1989. With a faculty strength of 4 permanent teachers and a laboratory bearer, the total intake capacity of the department is 150 students (35 Honours, 40 GE and 75 HS courses).
The world is challenged by various issues arising from human-nature conflicts which are dynamic and unique in their spatial settings. A geographic approach towards understanding these problems through qualitative and quantitative analysis and their depiction in the spatial context is vital to finding out probable solutions and amelioration. Following the spirit of the discipline, the department seeks to develop critical thinking towards understanding the human-environment interactions in space among its students through a blend of classroom teaching, fieldwork, excursions and their presentations through quantitative techniques and mapping.
The pedagogy involves both the traditional “chalk and talk method”, use of maps, globes, equipments, etc., along with the use of modern tools and techniques like audio-visual aids, ICT, presentations, documentaries, invited talks and the like.
Students are encouraged to present seminars based upon fieldworks or excursions and ask questions; as an act of motivation, they are given prizes for their presentations or assignments based upon their performance. Students are taught to use various instruments, interpret topographical maps and satellite imageries. They are being trained in computer cartography and GIS recently.
The teachers, as mentors offer career related, personal and psychological guidance counseling. They are actively involved in enriching the curricular aspects of the students and encourage the students in participating in co-curricular and extra-curricular activities. The departmental wall magazine “The GeoM” showcases the creative writing and artistic pursuits of the departmental students.
The department has successfully produced alumni who are actively engaged in a wide arena ranging from academics, research, administration, management, legal services, planning besides being self-employed.
VISION OF THE DEPARTMENT
With the unique blend stressing on the theoretical and applied aspects of the discipline, the department visualizes to forge ahead as a leader in geography education in both UG and PG programmes for the creation of responsible global citizens working towards the betterment of the society in general and environment in particular. We would also like to cater to the needs of the student community by imparting life skills through value based education.
MISSION OF THE DEPARTMENT
- To encourage and promote geographical scholarship through an innovative and enriching pedagogy.
- To provide analytical, technical and communication skills necessary for progression into higher education or some allied field.
- To impart life skills to women of the region as complementary to empowering them.
- To supplement knowledge acquisition by inviting prominent academicians and experts.
- To create a socially and environmentally aware alumni who are sensitized towards the needs of the hour and equipped with problem solving approaches.
MESSAGE FROM THE HoD
The Department of Geography of M.D.K.G.College has evolved significantly since its inception in 1963 to its current state by the outstanding contribution of every faculty members associated with it. The teachers are actively involved in the dissemination of knowledge and skills through theoretical and experiential learning and research activities as well. The department boasts of excellent results in the B.A. final exams under the affiliating university producing Best Graduates, Toppers and high rank holders over the years. Catering to a few students who opted for geography as a core subject during the past to a department with a high demand for seats in Honours, the department has produced some prominent alumni who are doing well in their respective fields.
In order to keep up with the dynamic nature of the discipline and to make learning more interesting, the department has been inviting prominent academicians and experts to deliver talks to enlighten the students. The teacher-student relationship is highly commendable as teachers take great efforts to uplift the slow learners by constant motivation and feedback; the advanced learners are provided impetus to further their academic performance. Under the present COVID 19 pandemic situation, the faculty is doing its best to reach out to the students by delivering regular lectures, providing study materials and e-resources, conducting student webinars, assignments, assessments, etc. The department has also arranged for an interactive session with a Clinical Psychologist in 2020 to boost up the mental health of the students during the pandemic.
A well stocked library and the laboratories are other facets of the department. Following the syllabus adopted under CBCS it is pertinent that a fully functional GIS laboratory be set up at the earliest to give hands on training to the students. The department also envisions imparting value based education for skill development to other students as well provided adequate infrastructural arrangement is made available.
Each year the fresh faces of the students invigorate our spirits to extend the light of geographic learning to illuminate the society with hope for a better future.
Warm regards,
Dr. Moutusi Bagchi.
COURSE OFFERED
Note: The College reserves the right to change the papers offered as options, as well as the number of options offered in any semester, within the prescribed syllabus of Dibrugarh University.
ACHIEVEMENT OF THE DEPARTMENT
A. STUDENT ACHIEVEMENTS
Dr. BANIKANTA KAKATI AWARD
Every year, the students bring accolades to the department by their participation in the Annual College Week in group and individual events including Wall Magazine competition, Cultural Procession, Group Dance, Drama, Music, Dance, Rangoli, Mehendi, Article writing, Essay, Indoor and Outdoor games, etc.
B. TEACHERS ACHIEVEMENTS
The faculty members have authored some research publications in journals, books or chapters in books. Dr. Moutusi Bagchi’s UGC sponsored minor research project (2005-2006) has been listed as Extra-mural Research in the NSTMIS directory under Department of Science and Technology, GOI for the benefit of the scientific community.
ACTIVITIES OF THE DEPARTMENT
SCHOLARSHIPS
E-resources
An introduction to remote sensing – Dr.M.Bagchi https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SWNda3u31y415th June 2021
PROMONENT ALUMNI
Tora Saikia
Technical Expert
Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale
Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH
.
Niharika Dutta(ACS),
Assistant Commissioner of State Tax
State GST, Government of Assam.
Best Graduate (2002), Dibrugarh University
Moumita Duttagupta Clifton
Geo Scientist & Business System Analyst II
GIS Business Solutions department
San Diego Gas and Electric
Southern California
Dr. Nitashree Mili
Assistant Professor,
Department of Geography,
Cotton University, Assam.
Nibedita Gogoi
Superintendent of State Tax,
State GST, Govt. of Assam.
Chathong Lowang
Zila Parisad Chairperson (District Chariperson),
Tirap, Arunachal Pradesh
Mayuri Paul
GIS Engineer
RMSI Pvt Ltd, Noida,
Manoharian Rural Outreach Programme
Two students of the department, Hemi Sonowal and Puspa Sharma participated in the Outreach programme orgainsed by the college in the adopted village in the occasion of Women’s Day 2021. The department has a plan to carry out some activities to make geography learning popular by some activities and fun among the children of the adopted village involving the departmental students with the return of normalcy due to the current pandemic situation.
RESEARCH
Research: With limited scope for research being an undergraduate college, the faculty has published some research papers. Presently two teachers are PhD holders and two have M.Phil degrees with one pursuing her PhD in Gauhati University.
Stars: Retired Faculty Members
Ms. Bidyut Prova Barua | Ms. B.P. Barua joined the department in 1969 and retired in 1997. Besides being an excellent teacher her outstanding contribution to the department is introducing Honours in Geography in 1989. |
Dr. (Mrs.) P.L.Buragohain | Dr.P.L.Buragohain (1973-2013) was actively involved in research and publication. Her M.Phil dissertation (1990)was titled “ The Ahom Population of Undivided Lakhimpur District: Study in Population Geography”, University of Gauhati University”. She was awarded Ph.D. in 1996 by Dibrugarh University for her thesis, “The Ahom Poulation of Assam: A Study in Population” She completed a UGC Minor Research Project : “Tai-Buddhists Women Population of North-East India : A Study in Gender Geography” in 2011. She has authored a number of books, articles and poems. She was also the Court Member of Dibrugarh University and was involved in extending suggestions in academic, administrative, financial and other matters of the University. She was involved in many activities of the college and took keen interest in the growth of the department. She retired as the Vice Principal of the college. |
Dr. U.C.Saharia | Late Dr. U.C.Saharia (1983-2017) brought a new dimension to geography learning in the college by his specialization in Cartography. He completed his M.Phil in Gauhati University in 1994 and his dissertation was titled “Tea Labour In Dibrugarh District: A Study In Population Geography”. In 2000 he was awarded Ph.D for his thesis “Tea Labourers In The Undivided Dibrugarh District: A Study In Population Geography” under Dibrugarh University. Dr. U.C.Saharia was a Royal Geographical Society member and had published a number of research papers. He had acted as a Resource Person in a number of National level seminars. He was UG and PG BoS member of Dibrugarh University. As a Ph.D supervisor under above mentioned the university, he successfully guided four Ph.D scholars who were duly awarded their degrees. He retired as the Vice Principal of the college. |