Suhrita Saha

Professor and Head of the Department

BA Sociology, Presidency College (1991-94)

MA Sociology, Jawaharlal Nehru University,New Delhi(JNU) (1994-96)

MPhil Sociology,JNU,New Delhi(1996-98)

PhD Sociology,JNU,New Delhi(1998-2002)

UGC NET in1995

UGC JRF in1997

NORAD Fellowship of the Norwegian Government in 1997

Without any formal training in Sociology at the plus two level,I stood first in the Presidency College entrance examination.This was an instant connect with the discipline.The subject has given theories,methods,heuristic tools,analytical concepts,imagination,reflexivity and more.With the sociological lens I look into the self,the other and society.I am fascinated with the process of sociological research,the construction,deconstruction and reconstruction of social world.After completing my BA Hons in Sociology from Presideny College,I went on to do my MA, MPhil and PhD from Jawaharlal Nehru University,New Delhi. I got my first job as Lecturer at Kabi Sukanta Mahavidyalaya,Hooghly through College Service Commission(empanelled 1st) in 1999. In 2008, I joined Presidency College through Public Service Commission(empanelled 1st).In 2013, I became part of Presidency University.

Research:

Broad Research Interest:

 Bengali Intelluctual Tradition; Globalization,Consumption,Leisure; Domestic Space and Women; Object History.

Ongoing Research Projects:

1. Kumudini Trust: An Intimate History of Gender, Care and Capital in Post- Partition Bengal. I am working in collaboration with Dr.Nabamita Das, Asst. Professor, Dept of Sociology, Presidency University. The project entails documenting the institutional and lived history of Kumudini Trust, the oldest Welfare Trust in Bangladesh.

2. Consultancy project in collaboration with Prof. Sumita Saha, Dept. Of Sociology, Presidency University.Social Impact Analysis of CSR projects(medical facilities/ equipments to hospitals across West Bengal) undertaken by West Bengal State Electricity Tranmission Corporation (WBSETCL).

 MPhil and PhD Research:

1.My PhD thesis was on Resurgent Hindu Nationalism in The Age of Globalization:The Case of West Bengal.1998-2002.Supervisor T.K.Oommen.

2.My MPhil dissertation was on Political Responses to the New Economic Policy in India,1991.1996-1998.Supervisor T.K.Oommen.

Administrative Experience:

1.Sociology UG/PG Board of Studies Member, currently at Jadavpur University, Rabindra Bharati University, Netaji Subhas Open University, St Xavier's College Autonomous.

2. Research Advisory Committee Member, Dept of Sociology, West Bengal State University.

3.Erstwhile Member,Institutional Ethics Committee For Human Research, at Medical College,Kolkata and Tata Memorial Cancer Hospital,Kolkata.

4.Erstwhile Member,Board of Moderators,Calcutta University.

5.Erstwhile Joint Coordinator NAAC,Kabi Sukanta Mahavidyalya, Burdwan University.

6. Erstwhile Member,PG Board of Studies,Department of Sociology,Vidyasagar University,West Bengal.

Teaching Experience: 25 yrs

1.Professor, Sociology, Presidency University from 1.11.2016.

2.Associate Professor, Sociology, Presidency University from 1.11.2013.

3.Assistant Professor, Sociology, Presidency College from 26.11.2008 to 31.10.2013.

4. Reader, Senior Lecturer, Lecturer in Sociology, Sukanta Mahavidyalaya,Hooghly from 16.2.1999 to 25.11.2008.

5.Guest Faculty,Dept of Sociology,Jadavpur University from 2002 to 2003.

Courses Taught:UG+PG

1.Introductory Sociology:Concepts,Issues

2.Sociological Theories

3.Western SociologicalThought

4.Indian Sociological Thinkers

5.Indian Society:Institutions,Processes,Problems

6.Globalization and Indian Society

7.Research Methodology

1.Scholar Rahul Singh: PhD title ' The City Below: Drainage and Its Infrastructural Promises in Kolkata', Registration 2022-23

2. Scholar Sriradha Debroy: PhD title ' The Life and Journey of Kantha: Stitching Myths, Memories and Markets', Registration 2021-22

3. Scholar Sana Rahman: PhD title 'Muslim Women Entreprenuers of Kolkata: Exploring Aspirations and Identities, degree accorded in 2024

Life Member,Indian Sociological Society(ISS), New Delhi.

Life Member,Sociological Association of West Bengal(SAWB), Kolkata.

Books:

Political Responses to The New Economic Policy in India: A Sociological Analysis (Kolkata: Readers Service, 2016) ISBN No 9789382623724

Globalisation and Hindu Nationalism in West Bengal: 1991-2001 (Kolkata: Readers Service, 2012) ISBN No 9788187891529

Articles:

Articles in Journals:

 ' Education in India: Learning and Unlearning', Proceedings of International Conference on Education and Information Technology, 21-3 October, 2015, World Congress of Engineering and Computer Science (WCECS 2015), vol. 1, pp. 343-47. 

 ‘Globalisation and Mall Culture in a Metropolis’, Jadavpur University Journal of Sociology, vol. 6 (2013), pp. 21-31. 

 ‘Benoy Kumar Sarkar: A Tryst with Destiny’, Sociological Bulletin, vol. 62, no. 1 (Jan.-April 2013), pp. 4-22.

Articles/ Proceedings in Conferences:

'Barbie in India: A Study of Effects of Barbie in Psychological and Social Health', International Scholarly and Scientific Research Innovation, Vol.1, 2016, pp 1563-66.

'5 Pm - 10 Pm: Interrogating Domestic Inequality', in Facing an Unequal World: Challenges for Global Sociology, Vol.XVIII, No.129.8, 2014.Page 126.

'Impact of the New Economic Policy (1991) in India: A Socio-Political Analysis’, in New Economic Policy: Its Impact and Alternatives (Khalisani Mahavidyalaya Publication: 1999), pp. 55-67. UGC sponsored National Seminar on Globalisation held at Khalisani Mahavidyalaya, University of Burdwan in April 1999.

Book Reviews:

Journals

 Sudha Pai (ed), Constitutional and Democratic Institutions in India: A Critical Analysis ( Hydrebad: Orient Blackswan, 2020), Sociological Bulletin, vol. 70, no.3 (2021), pp. 427-29.

 Suresh Chandra Ghosh, Essays on Modern India ( New Delhi: Orient Black Swan,2017), Sociological Bulletin, vol. 67, no.3 (2018), pp. 372-73.

Asoke Basu, The Rise of Civil Society in Bengal, Sociological Bulletin, vol. 63, no. 1 (2014), pp. 148-49.

Satish Saberwal, Spirals of Contention (New Delhi: Routledge, 2008), Sociological Bulletin, vol. 58, no. 2 (2009), pp. 284-6.

 T.K. Oommen, Crisis and Contention in Indian Society (New Delhi: Sage, 2005), Sociological Bulletin, vol. 55, no. 3 (2006), pp. 509-11.

Vivek Kumar, Dalit Leadership in India (Kalpaz), Sociological Bulletin, vol. 53, no. 2 (2004), pp. 301-3.

 Lancy Lobo, Globalisation, Hindu Nationalism and Christians in India (Rawat), Sociological Bulletin, vol. 52, no. 2 (2003), pp. 302-3.

Zoya Hasan (ed.), Politics and State in India (Sage), Sociological Bulletin, vol. 51, no. 2 (2002), pp. 318-20.

Javeed Alam, Living with Modernity (Delhi: Oxford University Press, 1999), Sociological Bulletin, vol. 49, no. 2 (2000), pp. 327-9.

Apart from Journals, I regularly review books for Newspapers.

Paper Presentations in Seminars / Conferences:

'Sustainable Development and Environment', Master Class, Modern High School for Girls, Kolkata, 10 September, 2024.

'Anti-Natal Movement and Environmental Ethic', FDP Lecture, Institute of Social Sciences, Amity University,Kolkata, 3 July, 2024.

 Session Chair, One Day National Conference on ' Women Empowerment for a Sustainable Future’, St Xavier's University, Kolkata, 11 January, 2024.

 ‘Gender and Everyday Domestic Space: An Exploratory Study of Upper Middle Class Women in Kolkata', International Conference on Identity, Culture and Communication, Paris, 25-26 June 2018.

 ‘Methods in Comparison: Sociologists and Social Thinkers in Context', Department of Sociology, MS University, Baroda, 13 March, 2018.

 ‘Hindu Sociology of Benoy Kumar Sarkar: Intellectual History and Inheritance', Extra Mural Lecture, MS University, Baroda, 12 March, 2018.

 ' Domestic Division of Labour: Interrogating Gender, Hegemony and Counter Hegemony',43rd All India Sociological Conference of Indian Sociological Society on Neo Liberalism, Consumption and Culture, Dept of Sociology, University of Lucknow, Lucknow, 9-12 November 2017.

 'Benoy Kumar Sarkar and Hindu Positivism', Sociology Colloquium in St Xaviers College, Kolkata, 13 September, 2017.

  'Interrogating the Domestic Gendered Space', Fifteenth International Conference on New Directions in the Humanities,Imperial College, London, UK, 5-7 July 2017.

  ‘Social Thought of Benoy Kumar Sarkar: Heritage not Inherited’, Conference on The Past Before Us: Heritage and History in South Asia, SOAS, UK, 5-6 September, 2016.

 ‘Barbie in India: A Study of Effects of Barbie in Psychological and Social Health’, Psychological and Behavioral Science Panel, World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology Conference, Vienna, 16-17 June 2016.

 ‘Interrogating Domestic Inequality’, International Sociological Association, XVIII, World Congress of Sociology, Yokohama, Japan, 13-19 July 2014.

 Gender Issues in Bengal, Conference on Equal Opportunity at KSMV, Burdwan University, 5 March 2014.

  ‘Untouchability Revisited’ in a seminar on Untouchability at Don Bosco School, Higher Secondary Class on 6th August 2011.

 ‘Leisure Patterns Revisited in the Age of Globalisation: The Case of West Bengal’ at the Sociological Research Unit, Indian Statistical Institute, 10.9.2004.