Report on Launch of the Monograph – Imperial Persona

Name of the Activity: Monograph Launch
Organizing Department: Department of Sociology and Bengali
Type of Activity: Book Launch
Date: 20th September, 2025
Time: 11:30 am to 01:00pm
Details of the Resource Person: Prof. Prasanta Ray, Professor Emeritus of Presidency University;
Prof. Ratnabali Chattopadhyay, Retired Professor, Department of History, University of Calcutta; Prof. Anuradha Roy, Department of History, Jadavpur University
Number of Participants: 30

Objective of the Event:
To bring out the interplay of power, representation, and memory within the domains of art, history, and social imagination.

Brief Description of the Event:
The Departments of Sociology and Bengali of The Bhawanipur Education Society College jointly hosted the launch of the Monograph Imperial Persona on 20th September at the College Library. Authored by Professor Prasanta Ray, Professor Emeritus of Presidency University, the work delves into the interplay of power, representation, and memory within the domains of art, history, and social imagination. The event opened with a cordial welcome by the organizing departments, followed by the formal release of the book. The foreword, co-authored by Dr. Mili Samaddar, Dr. Kasturi Mukherjee, Ms. Shreya Bhattacharya, and Mr. Diptava Sarkar, reflected the collaborative spirit and academic plurality behind the volume.

A key highlight of the programme was a special lecture delivered by Prof. Ray. He elaborated on the notion of the “imperial persona” as a construct shaped by aesthetics, authority, and collective memory, while offering insights into how art and iconography have historically mediated the image of power and continue to inform our perception of culture and history.

The occasion also featured illuminating addresses by two eminent scholars. Prof. Ratnabali Chattopadhyay situated the book within the wider ambit of art history, highlighting visual narratives that sustain imperial and postcolonial discourses. Prof. Anuradha Roy emphasized the philosophical dimensions of the text, locating Imperial Persona at the intersection of history and philosophy.

Outcome of the Event: The gathering was enriched by vibrant discussions, scholarly reflections, and a spirit of intellectual exchange. Faculty members, students, and research scholars in attendance added to the academic depth of the event, underscoring the value of such interdisciplinary dialogues. The launch of Imperial Persona thus emerged as an inspiring academic experience, weaving together art, history, and social thought, while celebrating the distinguished scholarship of Prof. Prasanta Ray.