Ph.D. Programme in Folk Culture Studies

The School of Social Sciences comprises the following Departments and Centres.

1) Department of Economics
2) Department of History
3) Department of Political Science
4) Department of Sociology
5) Department of Anthropology
6) Centre for Regional Studies
7) Centre for Folk Culture Studies
8) Centre for the Study of Indian Diaspora
9) Centre for Study of Social Exclusion and Inclusive Policy
10) Centre for Gandhian Economic Thought

Among these, the Departments of Economics, Political Science and Sociology have been recognised by the University Grants Commission for the Special Assistance Programme.

In addition, the School has Human Rights Programme functioning under the auspices of Political Science Department and a Centre for Indian Diaspora. The School of Social Sciences also has a interdisciplinary Women's Studies Cell which takes up research projects on gender issues. An Archival Cell with the support of the UGC is functioning under the auspices the Department of History for preservation of rare and valuable manuscripts. The Department of Anthropology has developed a museum as a teaching aid for students. All the departments are equipped with e-mail and internet facilities.

From the Academic Year 2007-2008 the School of Social Sciences is starting a Five Year Integrated Programme in Social Sciences leading to masters degree in Economics, History, Political Science, Sociology and Anthropology. For the first three years the students admitted to the programme will do courses offered by various departments in the School and other schools in the University. At the end of three years students will branch out to departments of Economics, History, Political Science, Sociology and Anthropology after fulfilling the credit requirement, stipulated by the departments.

Centre for Folk Culture Studies

In the wake of globalization, Indian culture in general and folk culture in particular needs special attention to safeguard its own identity and heritage. This vital area of enquiry is now arousing culture consciousness among the zealots of the exotic ranging from corporate groups to that of policy makers and social activists.

The Centre for Folk Culture Studies is the first of its kind in the Central University system in India. It was established with the assistance of the Ford Foundation, USA. The Centre's interdisciplinary and multiperspectival approaches emphasises research and teaching in Folk Culture Studies in the milieu of contemporary ethnographic fieldwork.

Several reputed scholars from various parts of the world have been collaborating with the Centre in its research activities. The Centre's clientele has been growing incessantly from scholars abroad to Indian academicians.

The main objectives of the Centre are: to study diverse aspects of folk expressive behaviour as a dialogue between human groups and their physical and social environments; to analyse culture in relation to various aspects of human creativity such as Science, Technology, Art, Religion, Literature etc; to document and utilize folklore genres (verbal and non-verbal) and folk lifestyles of various cultural landscapes in order to cognate the native knowledge systems for sustainable development.

Ph.D. Programme in Folk Culture Studies

The Centre offers Ph.D. Programme in Folk Culture Studies. The written test will consist of essay and objective type questions to ascertain the general aptitude and capability of the candidate for pursuing research in folk culture studies.

Objectives of the Course

1. To appreciate how people learn and internalize ones own culture, and on occasions challenge their own culture.
2. To understand how communities represent themselves to the others through their cultural idioms.
3. To gain knowledge of how expressive traditions play a role in communicating cultural constructs and community behavior.
4. To get insights into the worldview of the communities through the process of ethnographic research interviewing people and analyzing their cultural behaviour.