Department of Philosophy

About The Department

Department of Philosophy: A Profile

History:

Department of Philosophy is one of the initial departments of D.R. College which was established in 1949. The founder teacher of this department was Late Jadunath Saikia, who was  a prominent lawyer of Golaghat. he rendered his honorary service till 1951. Late Laksmi Narayan Bharati joined this department as a lecture in 1951. He rendered his service to the department only for a few months.  From 1956 to 1959, Lakhi Das worked in this department as a lecturer. In 1958, Dr. Kalicharan Das joined D.R. College as the principal, who also happened to be the Head of the Department as he was an M.A in philosophy. Later on he joined Gauhati University as a Reader and retired from that University as a Professor. In 1959, Lakhi Das left D.R. College and Robin Sarma was appointed as a lecturer in the department. Robin Sarma also left this college in 1961 and Purnakanta Gohain was appointed in the said post. In 1962, Prafulla Sarma Tamuly joined this department and Purnakanta Gohain became the Head of the Departent. Under the able leadership of Purnakanta Gohain, this department deserved to open Honours classes in the year 1978. The first honours graduates of the department were late Anjali Devi, Sanjibani Sarma, Purnakanta Bora and Lokeswar Bora.

            Dr. Paresh Chandra Dutta joined the department in 1981 as the 3^rd faculty member. In 1986, Ms. Anjali Devi was appointed as the 4^th faculty member. Prafulla Sarma Tamuly retired in 1994 and Gayatri Sarma Tamuly was appointed in his post in 1995. In 1997 Purnakanta Gohain retired and Dr. Paresh Chandra Dutta become the head of the  of department. In 1998 Paban Ch. Dutta Joined the department as the 4^th faculty member.

Dr.paresh Ch. Dutta retierd as Associate Professor from the department in 2016.The post remained vacant for about five years and Ms.Bandana Kathar joined the said post as Assistant Professor in 2021.After sudden and sad demise of Anjali Devi in 2019,Ms. Silpeesikha Pathak joined the department as Assistant Professor in 2020.

Achievement of the department:

          At present it is a full -fledged under graduate department offering three programmes i.e Higher Secondary, Degree (core) and Degree (Major).Results yielded by this department have always been exhilarating. In Higher Secondary final examination, a good number of students have secured letter mark in Logic & Philosophy. In 1962 Mrinalini Saikia stood second in I.A examination under Gauhati University securing letter mark in Logic. In 1989 Gayatri Sarma Tamuly obtained 1^st class in B.A examination under Dibrugarh University having major in Philosophy. In 2002, Pallabi Saikia obtained 1^st class major under the same university. Jyoti Rajkhowa obtained 1^st class major in 2008. In 2003 Santana Khanikar Stood 1^st in the H.S examination securing 90% mark in Logic & Philosophy. In 2006 Mriganka Sekhar Dutta and Yubaraj Gogoi stood 3^rd and 8^th respectively in H.S examination. Both of them secured 88% marks in Logic & Philosophy.

 During the last few years the department has produced a good number of brilliant students who have obtained first class in Major.Some of them have extended their invaluable service in various spheres of social and academic life of the state of Assam.

Plan and programmes:

          The department has some ambitious plans and programmes for the upliftment of student and teachers for the next three years.

• Proposed to invite visiting faculty from other institution twice in a year.
• Proposed to open a centre for Gandhian Peace Studies.
• Proposed to compile a collection of articles on Contemporary Western Philosophy.
• Proposed to compile a collection of articles on Contemporary Indian Philosophy.
• Departmental seminar among students of the district once in a year.
• An all Assam Essay Competition on Philosophical issues.
• An Art Competition among the students up to H.S Classes. (District Level)
• Propose to publish a departmental journal.
• Propose to open a photo gallery in the departmental room.

Facilities:

       The department has a well furnished independent room equipped with a computer and a small departmental library.

Student progression:

          Students of this department have successfully occupied various responsible positions in different fields.

Any Other:

          The department has forged ahead with a brilliant and competent teaching staff. Faculty members of this department are constantly engaged in research and other academic and social activities. Dr.P.C.Dutta, Head of the Dept. is the President of SAAS,a regd. Socio-academic NGO of Golaghat, Assam. He has been publishing articles in various dailies and periodicals. Anjali Devi has published several books on philosophy meant for degree students. Gayatri Sarma Tamuly and Paban Ch.Dutta are also brilliant teachers generating contributions for the growth of the department. The latter has also obtained an additional degree of B.Ed in his career.