About

Brief History of the Department

Established in 1946, the Department of English, Indraprastha College for Women, is among the oldest departments of the College.

The Department of English is dedicated to promoting excellence in language, literature, and Cultural Studies with a thrust on critical thinking and analytical skills. It contributes actively to the academic  and cultural life of the College while nurturing generations of women scholars committed to leadership, responsibility, and social progress.

Grounded in the study of English language and literature, the Department consistently encourages students to engage with India’s rich literary, cultural, and intellectual traditions in dialogue with global knowledge systems. Over the decades, it has grown into a vibrant academic space where literary scholarship is enriched by critical inquiry, ethical reflection, and an appreciation of diverse historical and cultural perspectives.

Notable Alumnae and Faculty

The Department takes pride in being part of an institution whose alumnae and teachers have rendered distinguished service in public life, teaching and research, governance, media, and the arts:

Rati Barthelomew

Kumkum Sangari

Sudesh Vaid

Sharmila Purkasthya

Soofia Siddiqui

Kalyani Dutta

Poonam Trivedi

Neeraj Malik

Uddipana Goswami

Aruna Sitesh

Bharti Arora

Thrust Areas / Expertise / Research Areas

The Department promotes rigorous scholarship rooted in both global literary traditions and Indian intellectual perspectives. Key areas of expertise include:

  • British and European Literatures and Literary Traditions
  • Postcolonial Studies
  • Disability Studies
  • Indian Writings in English and in Translation, Classical and Modern
  • Modern South Asian Literatures in Comparative Contexts
  • Women’s Writings
  • Translation Studies with Indian Languages
  • Literary Theory and Criticism
  • Partition and Memory Studies
  • Media, Film, and Popular Culture and Literature
  • Language, Communication, and Skill Development
  • Modern Drama in India and Europe
  • Writings from the Margins
  • Tribal and Folk literature

Important Milestones

• 1946 – Establishment of the Department of English.

• Continuous contribution to women’s higher education.

• Expansion of curriculum to include Indian writing, translation, and contemporary interdisciplinary studies.

• Organisation of national and international seminars, conferences, and literary events.

• Promotion of research on Indian culture, identity, language traditions, and emerging academic areas.

• Student research is encouraged through mentor-ship, conferences, and academic forums.

• Continued commitment to the ideals of excellence, heritage, empowerment, and service to society.

NEP 2020 Initiatives and Implementation  

The Department of English has implemented NEP 2020 by teaching a number of SEC and VAC courses apart from the Honours papers, with a special emphasis on the BA Programme students who can now read Minor papers in English for credits. The department faculty supervised the 4th year students’ research projects which were on varied topics and which promoted a multidisciplinary approach. The topics of the projects spanned a wide range of subjects from Hindi films and menstrual hygiene to social media and folk songs. 

The Dept of English also promotes multidisciplinary learning in the SEC and VAC courses it offers, ranging from Ecology and literature and Creative Writing to Media for Children and The Art of Being Happy. 

List of Faculty Members 

  • Dr. Anisha Kaul, Assistant Professor 
  • Dr. Bithika Gorai, Associate Professor
  • Ms. Chetna Mishra, Assistant Professor
  • Dr. Debjani Sengupta, Associate Professor, PhD, MPhil, MA
  • Dr. Disha Pokhriyal, Assistant Professor (Senior Scale)
  • Dr. Divya Mehta, Associate Professor, MA (Delhi), MPhil (Delhi), PhD (Sussex)
  • Dr. Jayashree Borah, Associate Professor   
  • Ms. Jyoti Singh, Assistant Professor
  • Dr. Jyoti Singh, Assistant Professor 
  • Ms. Meghna Basaou, Assistant Professor
  • Dr. Neelima Luthra, Assistant Professor (Senior)
  • Dr. Ningombam Sanjay Singh, Assistant Professor, MA(P.U),M.Phil (P.U.). PhD (Delhi University)
  • Dr. Nitoo Das, Associate Professor 
  • Dr, Reetu Raj Ekka, Associate Professor
  • Dr. Shivani Jha, Assistant Professor
  • Ms. Sonali Agarwal, Associate Professor
  • Ms. Swati Jain, Assistant Professor
  • Dr. Vasundhara Gautam, Assistant Professor