Berhampore Girls’ College

Distinctiveness of Berhampore Girls’ College: “Centre for Murshidabad Studies at Berhampore Girl's College” 

Founded in 1946, Berhampore Girls’ College has had a rich history about contributing significantly towards the promotion of women's education in the district of Murshidabad and West Bengal as a whole. It also has been engaged with various extension activities towards enrichment of the socio-cultural ethos and heritage of Murshidabad. The Centre for Murshidabad Studies is a unit established in 2022 under the patronage of Berhampore Girl's College aimed to promote academic research about the socio-cultural dynamics surrounding the district of Murshidabad. Established with the aim of promoting research, education, and awareness about the history, art, and culture of Murshidabad, the wing also seeks to help in the development of the society by creating a synthesis between the past and present. It works with the noble aim of contributing towards the preservation and transmission of the rich cultural traditions of Murshidabad and its adjacent regions. Hence, it’s considered as a remarkable example of our institutional distinctiveness.

Proposed aims and objectives of the Centre for Murshidabad Studies: 

• To conduct various programs, workshops, seminars, and conferences to facilitate scholarly discussions and collaborations among scholars, social workers and students of this region. 
• To promote rural cottage industries of the region by creating a platform for showcasing the remarkable artifacts made particularly by the local artisans. 
• To raise awareness about the glorious cultural heritage of Murshidabad by focusing on the ethnic rites and rituals of Murshidabad. 
• To initiate a renewed interest in the folk culture of Murshidabad particularly among the youth of Murshidabad through intensive discussions, research and scholarly publications. 
• To highlight the immensely significant role of Murshidabad in the socio-cultural history of Bengal.

With the aforementioned   objectives in mind, The Centre for Murshidabad Studies organized the following events during the 2022-2023 session:

1. The Centre for Murshidabad Studies at Berhampore Girls' College, in collaboration with the Department of Geography & Economics, organized a One-Day workshop on the " Future Prospects of Small Cottage Industries in Murshidabad District " on 18.11.2022.
2. Centre for Murshidabad Studies, Berhampore Girls' College in Collaboration with the Department of Bengali, Berhampore Girls' College arranged a One-Day Workshop on "Folk Song: Bauls of Bengal" on 21.12.2022.
3. The Centre for Murshidabad Studies at Berhampore Girls' College, in collaboration with the Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC), organized an "Earn-While-Learn" programme entitled "Udbhabani." The program took place from 17.02.2023 to 23.02. 2023 and it offered a unique opportunity for students to earn while learning, fostering thereby a practical approach to education and skill development
4. The Centre for Murshidabad Studies organized an invited lecture on "মুর্শিদাবাদের কবিগান" (Kavigan of Murshidabad) by renowned speaker Dipak Biswas. The lecture took place on 27/05/2023 at 12:30 p.m. in the Conference Hall. This event offered a unique opportunity to explore the rich tradition of Kavigan in Murshidabad.
5. The Centre for Murshidabad Studies at Berhampore Girls' College organized a special lecture on the topic "Fish Diversity in Murshidabad District" (মুর্শিদাবাদ জেলার মৎস্য বৈচিত্র্য) by Dr. Bhaskar Mahanayak, Associate Professor in the Department of Zoology, Berhampore Girls' College. The lecture was held on 02.06.2023 (Friday) at 11:30 AM in the Conference Hall.
6. The Centre for Murshidabad Studies at Berhampore Girls' College organized a special lecture on the topic "রেশমশিল্প: অতীত ও বর্তমান" (Silk Industry: Past and Present) by Dr. Khairul Anam, Associate Professor in the Department of History,B erhampore Girls' College. The lecture was held on 10.06.2023 and it aimed to explore the history and evolution of the Silk Industry in Murshidabad, highlighting its significance in the past and its current status.
7. The Centre for Murshidabad Studies hosted a special lecture on "Museum & Local Identity" eminent educationist Sanjoy Mukhopadhyay. The lecture was scheduled for 20.06.2023 at the conference hall. This event provided valuable insights into the relationship between museums and local identity, highlighting the role of museums in preserving and promoting the cultural heritage of Murshidabad.
8. Add-On Course on “Know Your District: Murshidabad “was conducted by the Centre to provide in-depth knowledge about the District of Murshidabad, with particular reference to its history, culture and socio-economic aspects.
9. Add-On Course on “Folk Culture and Folk Art of Murshidabad” was successfully conducted by the Centre to generate a renewed interest into the ethos of the rich ethnic traditions of the region.
10. An edited volume (with ISBN number) entitled “In Quest of Local Culture, Literature and History: District Murshidabad “was published by the centre on 31.03.2023 to create a potent platform for conducting research. 
11. A Library with more than 300 books dedicated towards preserving the cultural heritage of Murshidabad has been built by the Centre.
12. MOU has been signed with organisations like Murshidabad Itihas Charcha Kendra, Rakhaldas Museum and Maharani Kashishwari High School to share knowledge about the region and promote scholarly or academic activities.

Activities during 2023-2024 Session:

1. Add-On Course on “Know Your District: Murshidabad “was repeated during the session 2023-24 also.
2. Add-On Course on “Folk Culture and Folk Literature of Murshidabad” was conducted by the Centre to share and disseminate knowledge about the roots of their Identity, and integrate academics with broader socio-cultural aspects of the region. 
3. One-day State Level Seminar on “Women’s Education in Murshidabad: Then and Now “was organized by Maharani Kashishwari High Scholl in collaboration with the centre for Murshidabad Studies. 
4. An edited volume entitled “Murshidabad Zillar Sahitya O Sanskriti “was published on 30.06.2024 to orient the students and scholars towards a better understanding of their ethnic Culture.

To uphold its legacy of Institutional Distinctiveness, the Centre for Murshidabad Studies at Berhampore Girls’ College continues to foster academic excellence and cultural enrichment in the region, aligning with its mission to bridge the past and the present for the betterment of the society.