Quality education is of prime importance in higher educational Institutions. For the sustenance of quality and innovativeness in teaching, research activities by the teachers of Colleges and Universities have been made mandatory. Quality teachers produce quality students. In the global competitiveness a need is felt to develop quality manpower with modern outlook added to value education. Research works facilitate imparting quality teaching and pave the way for creativity and innovation not merely for teaching learning but also for the welfare and benefit of mankind.

            Midnapore College which is an institution of repute for 150 years has widened the scope of research works for the teachers and scholars. Before independence there was hardly any scope of research works in the College; moreover no such agencies like UGC, DST etc. were established to encourage research works in higher educational institutions. After independence, especially when UGC was formed by the Govt. of India, the teachers serving with low salary were ensured monthly remuneration at least for honourable living in the society and began to ponder overstepping stereotyped teaching in the prescribed syllabus to an undiscovered world of knowledge of exploration of new matters, new concepts and new techniques.

Research culture is not something new in Midnapore College. Research activities officially started in the College in the decade of 1960 or more specifically in 1967 when Anil Kumar Banerjee, lecturer in Botany, launched a programme of research work within the College laboratory of Botany. Regarding the research activity a report may be quoted here.

“Research activities in the department was initiated in the year 1967 when Sri Anil Kumar Banerjee was appointed a lecturer of the department. He started his research work on Plant Taxonomy, Ecology and Plant Anatomy. Sri Banerjee was encouraged and inspired by the then Principal of the College, Prof. (Dr.) Sunil Kumar Chaudhury and Sri Ajit Kumar Roy, Head of the Department of Botany. A research laboratory was prepared in the department. Most of the research work was done by Sri Banerjee in the departmental research laboratory during off periods, even on holidays and Sundays also. Permission for the same was given by the Principal Prof. (Dr.) S K Choudhury and next Principal Prof. S.S. Bari. It is to be mentioned that Prof. Banerjee is also indebted to two Laboratory Attendants namely Krishna Mohon Mahapatra (Zoology Department) and Sunil Karan (Botany Department) for their immense help for carrying out the research work. Prof. Banerjee completed his research work in 1971 and submitted his Ph.D thesis entitled “Certain aspects of weeds of rice-fields” in 1972 under Calcutta university. Prof. Subhas Chandra Datta, Professor of Botany, Calcutta University was his research guide. Prof. Banejee was awarded Ph.D degree in 1973.

Sri Banerjee also got financial assistance from the University Grants Commission, New Delhi during 1973 – 1974 for carrying out Post-doctoral research work on Plant Taxonomy. He published 14 research papers, out of which 8 were published in National and 6 in foreign Journals”.

(Reported by Dr. A.K. Banerjee)

Dr. Hemanta Kumar Hota carried Research work in the Department of Zoology and was awarded Ph.D from the University of Calcutta in 1978. Another teacher, Sri Ajit Kumar Ghorai also started some research work on amphibian histology. Dr Pijuskanti Dinda also obtained his Ph.D degree after joining the Zoology Departent of the College.

UGC also opened the door for researches.

            From the Governing Body resolution Book it is observed that Principal Samsul Bari in the year 1977 inspired most of the teachers to carry out research works in their respective subjects and himself acted as a facilitator for undertaking further studies, observations and researches by the teachers by availing themselves of UGC Faculty Improvement Scheme. About 20 teachers of different departments embarked on Research works.

            Regarding Research Project Dr. Purnendu Kumar Ghosh, Head of the Department of Botany for the first time in the College started a three year research project in 1995. This is evident in the following project:

            “For the first time in Midnapore College so far Science subjects are concerned Dr. P.K. Ghosh as Head of the Department of Botany conducted a three year Research Project (1995 – 1998) under Department of Science & Technology and NES, Govt. of West Bengal and West Bengal Academy of Science for the preparation of a compendium on Medicinal and Aromatic Plants in the district of undivided Midnapore (East portion). Dr. Ghosh was the Chief Investigator of the project and Sri Dulal Kumar De, part-time teacher of the Department, at that time was appointed Research Assistant for the project. On the basis of field studies and other necessary date collected for the project, the book “Medicinal and Aromatic Plants of West Bengal – Midnapore” was published in 2001 by the Dept. of Science & Technology and NES. Govt. of West Bengal & West Bengal Academy of Science. As evidence, one set of herbarium sheets of Medicinal Plants numbering 279 was submitted to the Department of Science & Technology & NES, Govt. of West Bengal. Another set of herbarium sheets of the same plants has been kept preserved in a large separate Almirah purchased from the contingency amount of the project.

            (Reported by Dr P.K. Ghosh)

The fact is that Research activity of the teachers of this College was ingrained in the culture of good teaching long before the rules of UGC about the teachers of Colleges and Universities in general for placement and promotion. The time when the teachers started the research activity was hard for them in a low paid salary as there was no provision of any financial support by UGC to undertake projects.

                        At present the teachers acquire the qualifications of being Research Guide / Supervisor. The number of teachers eligible to be Supervisors stands 32 from Science Departments and 11 in the Arts Departments. Number of computers with internet facilities for research works only is more than 150. Almost all teachers have been provided individual laptops and each department furnished with computer with Wi-Fi. The departmental libraries are enriched more and more with updated journals and current books offer the researchers wide scope for further studies which have not been retarded by non-availability of opportunities. Above all, digital library, e-library facilities, OPAC, Internet access and browsing, INFLIBNET N-LIST, library website, licensed software etc. facilitate uninterrupted research works by the teachers, scholars and students.

            Midnapore College earns reputation for Science and Arts Departments and the teachers of those departments are committed to the active research/ Project works quite for so many decades.

InHumanities, Dr. Manmohan Dutta, Senior Faculty Member in the Department of Bengali obtained D. Litt. Degree from the University of Calcutta in 1981. So far as it was known he was the lone D. Litt. among the Colleges of West Bengal. Dr. Animesh Kanti Pal, another teacher of the Bengali Department, showed his skill in the study of Linguistics and did his Ph.D under the supervision of the prominent Linguist, Prof. Sukumar Sen.He had a great skill in Russian language. Prof. Bishnu Basu, Lecturer in Bengali did his Ph.D in the decade of 1970. Similarly in the Sanskrit Department some teachers had been engaged in the research works.

            Sri Asoke Bhattacharya, Associate Professor of the Bengali Department, was constantly engaged in research works since his appointment in this College in 1975. Apart from publishing his erudite articles and many books for which he was awarded by different institutes he began to act as Joint Supervisor/ Co Guide from 2009. Among the research scholars under his supervision, Sri Debasis Bhattacharya, serving this College as part-time teacher in Bengali and later being appointed as Assistant Professor of Bengali in St. Xavier’s College, Kolkata, obtained Ph.D. Degree from Calcutta University. Other scholars also under his supervision were recipients of Ph.D. Degree from Calcutta University and Vidyasagar University.

The teachers of the Bengali Department till date are committed to research works, published books and articles in journals, edited books, wrote some chapters of books in collaboration with other teachers of Colleges.

            Dr. Amal Kanti Chakraborty, Associate Professor of the English Department, also published a book on William Wordsworth in 2007. He also acted as Joint Supervisor/ Co Guide from 2012. One student, Arpita Bhowmik submitted her Ph.D. thesis at Vidyasagar University and awarded Ph.D Degree. Dr. Sunil Kumar Mukherjee, a reputed teacher of the English Dept. started writing books of criticism on English poems, one act play during 1980’s decade. More or less he also contributed to some research activities. Dr. Saikat Sarkar, teacher of the Dept. of English, became supervisor of Research  Scholars in 2019.

            Sri Bankim Chandra Bhattacharya, Reader in History, was engaged in research works since 1990 and published a book, Prasanga : Itihas O Aitihasik (Western Historiography, Vol- I) in 1999 and Vol- II(Indian Historiography) in 2008.

            Regarding Science Departments In-house research activity by the Faculty members was started during 1967. Experimental Research activity was started during 1990-95 under the supervision of Dr. Samaresh Choudhury, Department of Physiology. At that time Dr. Subhash Samanta started theoretical research work and guided Sri. Asit Kumar Chakraborty, Lecturer in Physics. Sri. Chakraborty earned his Doctrol degree from the Jadavpur University.  Sri. Ranjan Kumar Maishal (M.Sc in Mathematics) also received Doctoral degree from Jadavpur University under the guidance of Dr. Samanta. Dr. Sudhir Chandra Pal, Department of Chemistry, Dr.Manimohan Mandal, Department of Mathematics also carried out their research activities in the meagre infrastructure at that time.  Principal Dr. Prabir Kumar Chakraborty acted as Joint Research Guide in the year, 2007 and under him one of the Faculty Member of Physics, Sri Partha Sarathi Das under took research work for which he was awarded Ph.D degree from Vidyasagar University in 2010. Dr. Manimohan Mandal of Mathematics, Dr. Susnata Jana of Bengali, Dr. Indrani Das and Dr. Ashoke Kumar Das, both of Botany, were research Guides in the decade of 2000. Under their guidance 16 scholars undertook research activities from 2005 and were awarded M.Phil and Ph.D Degrees in different years.

The first postgraduate study began in the College in 2004 in the Department of Physics, Chemistry in 2006. As soon as the Post-Graduate studies started, the then Principal Dr. Prabir Kr. Chakraborty constantly inspired the teachers to do research work and to submit project proposal to different agencies like UGC, DST, DBT etc. It has been considered that UGC -CPE (Phase-I) and UGC-Basic Science Research and DBT grant played an important role at that time towards setting up basic research infrastructure.

During 2005-2009, Fifteen UGC-Minor Research Projects were carried out by the faculty members of the Departments of Chemistry, Physics, Botany and Physiology.

During the period 2009 – 2011 the faculty members of most of the science departments had been actively engaged in various research works on capacities and responsibilities and showed credit in research activities by their publications with individual efforts. 

They had to depend mostly on other institutes for pursuing their respective research works. However, Midnapore College has upgraded the research facilities and other associated activities by availing to its great good luck, DST-FISTsupport during the period 2012-2014. Almost all science departments of the College, more specifically, the Department of Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Botany, Zoology and Physiology have been doing their utmost for further development of research activities connecting with the teaching and learning process.

The X-Ray Diffractometer procured by DST-FIST Fund has improved immensely the research amenities in the department of Physics and Chemistry considerably.  Dr. P. K. Chakraborty realized that an X-ray Diffractometer is an important as well as crucial equipment for doing experimental research work in Physics, Chemistry, Materials Science and so many. He arranged to buy this Diffractometer by Rs. 38 lakh out of which Rs. 20 lakh from DST-FIST grant and Rs. 18 Lakhfrom the College Development Fund. It was a proud moment for the College community when it was known that this is the first installation of X-ray Diffractometer in any College in the Eastern India.  Basically, at that time, the research work in every department of the College started vigorously and they published their research works in various prestigious International journals with high impact factor.

Dr. Tanusri Pal , Department of Physics successfully carried out a Major Research Project (amounting Rs. 25.44 Lakh) funded by DST , Govt. of India and it was the First Major Project in Midnapore College in 2010 as per sanctioned memo no SR/FTP/PS-113/2010.

Dr Surjyo Jyoti Biswas, Department of Zoology and Dr. Somdatta Ghosh, Dept Botany completed UGC funded Major Research Project of funding amount Rs.7.66 Lakh and 8.47 Lakhs respectively.  Later, Dr. TridibTripathy, Department of Chemistry successfully completed two Major Research Projects funded by State Council of Science and Technology, Govt. of West Bengal and DBT. Dr. Makhan Lal Nanda Goswami of Physics, Dr. Dulal De of Botany, Dr. Partha Pratim Maity of Botany also completed successfully individual Major Research Project funded by State Council of Science and Technology, Govt. of West Bengal.

In brief, during 2010-2017, thirty four Minor Research Projects and nine Major Research Project were carried out by the faculty members of the College.

This trend is going on. Dr. Abhijit Bera of the Department of Physics received a grant of Rs.47.9 Lakh from SERB, Govt. of India for the period of 2020-2023.

It is very important and should be highlighted here that the then Principal Dr. Prabir Kumar Chakraborty was constantly encouraging teachers who had a Doctorate Degree to go abroad for Post-Doctoral studies and teachers who had not completed their Ph.D to complete that.

Post Doctoral Research Study by the following teachers:

1. Dr.Tanusri Pal, Associate Professor of Physics, Post-Doctoral Fellowship awarded by the Nano Science Technology Center, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida, USA., 2009-2010
   2. Dr. Nilkamal Maiti, Associate Professor of Chemistry, “Foreign Post-Doctoral Trainee” fellowship, Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology, Republic of Korea, 2009-2010.
   3. Dr. Koushik Chandra, Assistant Professor of Chemistry awarded Post- Doctoral fellowship, The Institute of Chemistry, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel in 2014.
   4. Dr. Abhijit Bera, Assistant Professor of Physics, Post-Doctoral Fellowship funded by Cluster of Excellence, and worked at RESOLV PoRuhr University of Bochum, Germany, 2018-2020.

The College set up two interdisciplinary Research Centers- One for the Science stream in 2017 and another for the Arts in 2019. The aims and objectives of the research centre are to provide facilities for research and development for all the students who have project work in their curriculum.  The scholars and faculty members of various departments may also use the number of computer controlled advanced / sophisticated instruments for their research work. This research facility can initiate interdisciplinary research work among the various departments of the College. The sole objective behind formation of this research facility is to promote easy use of the modern equipments under one umbrella. These research laboratory facilities are common to all Science and Arts departments and therefore can serve as an academic, research and scientific service provider and help in the inter-disciplinary academic and research programmes. 

At present, a separate research wing has been set up by the initiative of Principal Dr. Gopal Ch Bera. High ended research equipments (list is given below) of amounting 1.5 Crore has been sanctioned by the RUSA 2.0 (Component 8) and 30 Lakhs by the DST-FIST (2^nd time) installed at the Research Centre.

Eight faculty members of the College have secured their rank in “World Scientist and University Ranking 2021” and their names are mentioned below:

1. TridibTripathy, Dept. of Chemistry
2. Sujit Kr. De, Dept. of Mathematics
3. Tanusri Pal,Dept. of Physics
4. Makhan Lal Nanda Goswami, Dept. of Physics
5. Nilkmal Maiti, Dept. of Chemistry
6. Krishna Gopal Dhal, Dept. of Computer Science
7. Goutam Ghosh, Dept. of Zoology
8. Akhil Pandey, Dept. of Botany