Name of the Activity: “The Importance of Primary Sources in the Study of History and How to Use Them”
Type of Activity: Talk and Interactive Session Organised by the Departments of History and Bengali, The Bhawanipur Education Society College, in collaboration with Punarnaba (a non-governmental research organisation) and the Department of History, Victoria Institution (College). The event was organised under the aegis of IQAC, as indicated in the event notice.
Date/Duration of Activity (from–to): 1 October 2026 (One-day event)
Time: 2:00 P.M. to 5:00 P.M.
Venue: Society Hall, The Bhawanipur Education Society College
Details of Resource Persons:
- Ratnabali Chattapadhyay, Retired Professor, Department of Islamic History and Culture, University of Calcutta.
- Preeta Bhattacharya, Assistant Professor, Department of Ancient Indian History and Culture, University of Calcutta.
- Malini Bhattacharya, author, scholar, translator, playwright and activist in the women’s movement; retired Professor of English and former Director, School of Women’s Studies, Jadavpur University, Kolkata.
Prof. Ratnabali Chattapadhyay and Dr Preeta Bhattacharya as speakers.
No. of Participants: 70 participants, including students and faculty members of The Bhawanipur Education Society College and Victoria Institution (College).
Objective of the Event:
The primary objective of the session was to familiarise students with the importance of primary sources in historical research and to develop an understanding of how such sources can be identified, examined, interpreted and utilised in academic research. The session also aimed to introduce students to the processes of dissertation writing and to highlight the importance of translating primary sources available in classical languages for research and teaching.
Brief Description of the Event:
The Departments of History and Bengali of The Bhawanipur Education Society College, in collaboration with Punarnaba and the Department of History, Victoria Institution (College), organised a talk and interactive session titled “The Importance of Primary Sources in the Study of History and How to Use Them” on 1 October 2026. The event notice identifies the session as a talk and interactive programme with students.
The session brought together distinguished scholars from different areas of the humanities. Prof. Ratnabali Chattapadhyay spoke on the significance of primary sources in the study and writing of history. She emphasised the importance of engaging directly with primary materials and understanding their value in constructing historical narratives.
Prof. Preeta Bhattacharya discussed the intricacies of dissertation writing with the students. Her session focused on the processes involved in academic research and writing and provided students with an opportunity to understand the practical aspects of developing a research-based dissertation.
Prof. Malini Bhattacharya discussed the role of translation in making primary sources available for research and teaching, particularly sources written in classical languages. Her discussion highlighted the importance of translation as a means of facilitating access to historical materials for contemporary researchers and learners.
The talks were followed by an interactive session in which students and faculty members engaged with the speakers and discussed various aspects of historical research, the use of sources and academic writing. The event was attended by approximately 70 students and faculty members from the two participating institutions.
Outcome of the Event:
The session enhanced the participants’ understanding of the importance of primary sources in historical research and familiarised them with different approaches to using and interpreting such materials. The discussion on dissertation writing provided students with practical insights into research methodology and academic writing. The translation session further broadened their understanding of how primary sources in classical languages can be made accessible for contemporary research and teaching.
The interactive nature of the programme encouraged students to engage directly with the resource persons, clarify their queries and develop a more critical and informed approach towards historical sources and research practices. Overall, the programme created a meaningful academic platform for interaction among students, faculty members and scholars from different areas of the humanities.
