Brief History of the Department
The Department of History, established in 1924, is one of the oldest and most prestigious faculties at Indraprastha College for Women. Conceived alongside the institution's formal recognition as an Intermediate College, the department was founded with the vision of cultivating a vibrant intellectual environment that promotes the historian’s craft and enhances student employability. Since its inception, the department has grown significantly, fostering a cooperative academic atmosphere that goes beyond traditional instruction to embrace modern methodological approaches.
Today, the department is defined by its commitment to experiential learning and innovative teaching. Students engage directly with history through classroom video projections, museum visits, historical excursions, and collaborative heritage workshops. By prioritizing interactive learning and academic rigor, the department continuously evolves to equip students with analytical skills, research acumen, and a deep appreciation for diverse historical narratives.
Notable Alumni
Over the years, the Department has nurtured an exceptional alumni network of accomplished professionals who have distinguished themselves in civil services, the judiciary, journalism, mass communication, academia, research, archaeology, and museum studies. Some of our distinguished alumnae are Prof. Narayani Gupta: Professor and Historian, Jamia Millia Islamia; Prof. Meena Bhargava: Professor and Historian, Delhi University; Aparajita Singh: Senior Advocate, Supreme Court of India; Kanika Singh: Director, Centre for Writing & Communication, Ashoka University;Ambika Soni: Indian Politician and Former Union Minister; Dr. Harleen Kaur: PhD Candidate, National University of Singapore;Lalita Singh: Senior Operations Coach, Capital One, Las Vegas, USA;Shatakshy: Assistant Manager of Research, Samhita Social Ventures;Nivedita Kukreti: Indian Police Service (IPS) Officer;Shruti Jain: Editorial Associate, Indian History Collective.
Thrust Areas / Expertise / Research Areas
The Department of History offers a dynamic spectrum of research expertise, driven by a specialized faculty committed to both traditional historical analysis and emerging academic discourses.Faculty specializations also extend beyond South Asia into global and regional histories, featuring dedicated expertise in African Studies and Global Art History. Furthermore, the department emphasizes a strong interdisciplinary approach through subaltern and gender studies, deeply examining the histories of marginalized groups, caste dynamics, women, and nationalism, while maintaining an active academic engagement with archaeology, material culture, and heritage conservation.
NEP 2020 Initiatives and Implementation
Aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, the department has comprehensively restructured its academic offerings under the directives of the University of Delhi. The department currently offers two dynamic academic streams: B.A. Honours and
B.A. Programme with History as a Major or Minor discipline.
To foster a multidisciplinary approach, the curriculum incorporates a diverse pool of specialized papers offered as Generic Electives (GE). Furthermore, the department places a strong emphasis on holistic skill-building and employability by actively rolling out structured modules under the Skill Enhancement Courses (SEC) and Value-Added Courses (VAC) streams. These NEP integrations ensure that students benefit from contemporary curriculum revisions, flexible learning pathways, and expanded research opportunities.