Department of English (BA)

About the
department

The Bachelor of Arts in English program at Jai Hind College has a proud history dating back to 1948. Open to students from both Commerce and Humanities backgrounds, it combines strong academics with enriching extracurricular activities. The department regularly hosts seminars, workshops, literary festivals, and guest lectures from esteemed universities. Our alumni have gone on to study at prestigious global institutions and succeed in fields like media, academia, and the arts. With a balanced approach, our program ensures students are well-prepared for diverse career opportunities and real-world challenges.

About the
HOD

June Dias has led the Department of English since 2015, having joined in 2004. An alumna of Sophia College, she earned her Master’s in English Literature from Mumbai University and passed her SET exam in 2002. She teaches a wide range of subjects, from poetry to journalism, and is involved in biblical study. Beyond academics, she actively mentors students, edits the department magazine, and has established new traditions such as The Novel Room, BabbleOn, and the Kani literary fest.

Message from
the HOD

Dear students, Every year, we look forward to meeting new batches of students because no matter how many degrees we earn and how many accolades we pile up, our greatest learning is in our experience with you. Be it classroom interactions or seminar presentations, your performances on stage or on paper, or now, on digital platforms, you have something new to offer us every single day. It is you who will show us the way as we adapt to innovative teaching and testing platforms. The English Department will teach and learn from you simultaneously as we navigate our way through each academic year. We wish you all the best as we await your next step in Jai Hind College.

Faculty Details

Dr. Seema Sharma

Designation: Associate Professor

Qualification: MA, M.Phil, NET, Ph.D (2010)

Areas of Interest: Literature, African American Literature, Postcolonial Literatures, Translation Studies and Indian Mythology

Experience: 25 years

E-mail Id: seema.sharma@jaihindcollege.edu.in

Research Publications: Dr. Seema Sharmas research spans books, journal articles, translations, and presentations. Her notable work includes the book Articulating Resistance in African American Slave Narratives and journal articles such as “Black Protest in White Literary Marketplace” and “Mark Twain’s India.” Her translation work appears in Sahitya Akademi’s Journal, and she has contributed to the book Gandhi For All Times. Dr. Sharma's presentations cover ecological and Western portrayals of Gandhi, and she has received accolades including the Fulbright Fellowship and recognition as a PhD guide.

June Dias

Designation:Assistant Professor

Qualification:MA, SET, Pursuing Ph.D. (registered January 2013)

Areas of Interest: Eighteenth Century Poetry, Modern American Poetry, Twentieth Century British Drama, Twentieth Century American Drama, Nineteenth Century English Poetry, Literary Criticism, Phonology, Journalism, Gender Studies and Communication Skills

E-mail Id:june.dias@jaihindcollege.edu.in

Dr. Anamika Purohit

Designation: Assistant Professor

Qualification: MA (Hons.), NET-JRF, Pursuing Ph.D. (registered January 2014)

Specialization:English Literature, Gender Studies, Cultural Studies, and Spatial Criticism.

Research Publications: Dr. Anamika Purohits work includes journal papers on Dalit poetry, comparative analyses of Antigone, and trauma in literature. She has contributed chapters to books such as Adaptations of Mental and Cognitive Disability in Popular Media and The Famished Gods. Her conference presentations address cultural trajectories, trauma literature, and spatial criticism, and she has been involved in judging poetry competitions and delivering online talks.

Radhika Rajwani

Designation: Assistant Professor

Qualification: MA in English, Pursuing PhD

Areas of Interest:Dramatic arts, Mass media and the interdisciplinary approach towards literature.

Research Publications: Dr. Radhika Rajwani’s research includes papers on existential precarity in Kashmir, displacement and development, and contributions to Gandhi For All Times. Her conference presentations focus on gender, cultural representation, and postcolonialism, reflecting her engagement with diverse literary and environmental themes.

Dr. Deepna Rao

Designation: Assistant Professor

Qualification: MA, M.Phil, NET, Pursuing Ph.D. (registered January 2014)

Specialization: Indian Writing in English; New Historicism; Material Culture; Literary Historiography; Feminist Literary Theory and Criticism; Gender Theory; Subaltern Studies and Indian Ocean Arena Studies

E-mail Id: deepna.rao@jaihindcollege.edu.in

Research Publications: Dr. Deepna Rao’s research includes journal articles on Victorian literature, digital divides, and postcolonial studies, with contributions to books like Life Skills in Contemporary Education System and The Famished Gods. She has presented at various conferences, chaired sessions, and served as a resource person for academic workshops.

Programs Offered

Bachelors of Arts in English

Societies/Cells Under Department

The English
Forum

The Annual ‘Book and Bake’ Sale:

This event allows students to raise funds through selling donated books and homemade items, promoting entrepreneurial skills and creativity.

The Annual English Play:

Students adapt literary or cinematic works for the stage, showcasing their acting, directing, scripting, and technical skills.

The Annual English Seminar:

Students select a theme, develop individual or group papers, and the best are published in the department magazine, ‘Hwӕthwugu.’

The Annual Department Magazine, ‘Hwӕthwugu’:

This magazine features student creative writing, research papers, and art, with a public launch event where contributors present their work.

The Department Blog, ‘BabbleOn’:

The blog offers a platform for reviews, essays, and academic articles. It also hosts a Spine Poetry challenge and has an Instagram handle, JaiHind EA Blog.

Students Achievements

Many students from the Department receive scholarships from Sumitomo Corporation and participate in summer exchange programs at King’s College, London. They pursue higher studies at top universities and include notable alumni like poet Menka Shivdasani, actors Shikha Talsania and Shreyas Pardiwalla, and journalist Namrata Zacharia. Abhishek Lamba received the Young India Fellowship at Ashoka University, and alumni excel in fields such as filmmaking, journalism, and academia.