Department of English

About Us:

The English Department was established in 1963 and is one of the progressive and flourishing units of the institution, enthusiastically nurturing and moulding the students to make giant leaps in the world of tough competition, using their literary talents and language abilities as weapons. The department is proud of its Post-Graduate centre, and the Functional English course with a well-equipped Language Laboratory.

The Post-Graduate centre in English was established in 2005 to cater to the academic needs of the working students by conducting the lectures in the evening.

The Functional English course is a UGC Add on course to equip the students with communication skills to enable them to develop confidence and to pursue careers of their choice. There is a well–equipped language laboratory with modern devices and instruments in order to train the students to acquire language skills through the latest techniques.

Faculty Profile:

Dr.A.P.Pandey, Reader, HOD, M.A, PhD, L.L.B. Member of BOS in English and Faculty of Arts, Convener of the syllabus Committee, on the panel for recruitments, visiting faculty for PG course, recognized Ph D guide and M. Phil guidance for distance education, visiting faculty at IGNOU. Coordinator PG centres. Member of MUCETA Obtained Ph D after NAAC visit.

Dr. K. Vasudevan. Superannuated in 2005. M.A, M.Ed., PhD, PGDTE. Obtained a PhD after NAAC visit, P.G. recognized teacher, founding editor of R.J.Herald responsible for the conception and layout, Visiting Faculty at R.J.College for PG , Presented papers at National Seminars, Flair for performing Arts (Dance & Music).

Prof Neeta Chakravarty, M.A, M.Ed, NET (English) SET (Education) Member of syllabus committee. Completed University minor research project., Member of MUCETA(Mumbai University and collegiate English teacher’s Association ), PG recognized teacher and visiting Faculty for M.A at R.J. college, Conducted 2 workshops entitled English Language Teaching and training for Teaching English as a second language, Visiting faculty at K.C Engineering college, Thane Regularly collaborates with the colleges of education in Mumbai. Provides special guidance to B.Ed students for their lesson-plans and other activities, Co-coordinator of Functional English course, Member of the Editorial board of Harmony (2002-2005) and Chief Editor of R.J.Herald (2007 onwards). She has presented papers at the National and International seminars.

Prof Sharmila Jajodia, M.A ,SET, PGCTE. University rank holder in graduation, winner of scholarships, awards and prizes, publication in national journals, on going minor research project, Presentation of papers at National and International seminars, visiting faculty at R.J college for BMS and SNDT Distance education centre. Seven paper presentations in seminars, research paper, contests and competition. Member of MUCETA.

Prof Maria Shaikh M A SET Excellent Academic Record and has won prizes at Intra-collegiate and Inter-collegiate level, Presentation of papers at National seminar, escorted students for seminars, conducts certificate course in Functional English.

Student profile:

Lower income group with average performance. The numbers of female students are far more than male.

Trends in success and drop out rates:

The passing percentages of the students in the past five years at the qualifying examinations have been in the range of 75 to 92 % and few of them have passed with a first class. One batch of M A students have succeeded with a pass percentage of 87%. Drop out rates have been negligible. Financial assistance to needy students to enable pursuance of the Master’s degree.  A book-bank is maintained by the department to provide students with borrowing facility of teachers’ personal copies. Students mainly take up teaching as a profession. Some of them are also employed in BPOs.

Contribution of the faculty to changes made in courses or programmes:

Development of Course-material.

Bridge Material for S.Y.B.A Students.

Introduction of certificate course in Functional English.

Guest lectures

Learning Resources:

The department library is well-equipped with books and comprehensive study-material from the best publication houses which helps students with their reference work.

There is a language laboratory to improve the speech, vocabulary and the language skills of the students. It is well-equipped with two sets of linguaphones, six computers with headphones and five cubicles including teacher-console and student console.

The teachers regularly make use of computers and audio-visual aids during the teaching-learning process.

A book-bank is maintained by the teachers to provide students with borrowing facility.

British Council Library membership.

Modern Teaching Methods and use of the  ICT in teaching-learning:

Use of power-point presentations to bring about a suitable combination of technology and literature.

Use of methods like Mock-group Discussion, Mock Interview, Rating Scale, Questionnaire, CAM, VDM.

Emphasis on developing vocabulary skills and grammar through competitions like word games, spell-well etc.

Use of language laboratory to enhance their spoken skills.

Enhancing their literary abilities through competitions like Know your Literary Quotient, Literary Quiz etc.

 Encouraging students to present papers at collegiate and intercollegiate seminars.

Assignment of projects to promote research interest.

Use of a variant method of programmed learning in the course material.

Use of information and communication devices during teaching and learning.

Inviting guest lecturers to talk on different issues on literature that help them to widen their perspectives.

Student feedback on teachers is regularly collected  and the Head of the department conducts a discussion with the colleagues

Participation of teachers in Academic and Personal Counselling of students:

The department receives structured information about the students’ personal background from the counselling cell of the institution which helps to uplift their social and economic status. Some of the measures taken by the department to counsel students are as follows:

Knowledge about career options is provided through guidance and counselling sessions.

Bridge lectures conducted to improve communications skills in English and language proficiency.

Academic counselling is done by conducting pre-examination counselling sessions to guide students and to solve their problems and to enable them to cope up with stress and fear.

Counselling is also given to overcome Personal crisis & to enable efficient time management.

Organising of language based exhibition called Lingua-Expo to acquaint students with the vistas in English language.       

Priority Areas of Research:

Ongoing project:

The faculty members have successfully completed two projects and one is ongoing.

·      Research grant sanctioned to Prof. Sharmila Jajodiya for minor research project entitled An Insight into (Ab) Normal Human Psyche in Mahesh Dattani’s plays by University of Mumbai for the years (2007-08).

Note worthy publications of the faculty:

Dr.A.P.Pandey:

·     Book entitled Political consciousness in Nayantara Sahgal”s Novels published by Bhaskar publication, Kanpur, 2008.

·      Research paper entitled Angrezi Romanticism Ka Hindi Chhayawadi Kavita Par Prabhav published in a Hindi Literary Magazine, Anabhay ,2005.

·      Research paper entitled Smell of the Soil in Fanishwarnath Renu’s Maila Aanchal published in Hindu Innovator, July 2006.

·      An article entitled Kiran Desai’s The Inheritance of loss was published in Aabhay 2007

Prof.Neeta Chakravarty:

·         The research paper entitled ‘Fostering Global Competencies Among Students’ was published at the records of the proceedings of the National Seminar Organised by IQAC, Birla College.

Prof. Sharmila Jajodia:

·         The research paper entitled Exploring (Fe) male Psyche in Shashi Deshpande’s The binding vine , A Woman’s vision was published in research horizons, July 2007.