Did you know that the Department of Humanistic Studies at IIT BHU Varanasi is relatively new? It emerged in 2015. Before that, a Technical Writing Section supported the language needs of students for over two decades.
The Department of Humanistic Studies enhances science and technology with human sensibility. It addresses the civilizational crisis caused by mindless development. The department wants to instill finer sensibilities in engineering and technology students. It encourages them to engage in societal development rooted in heritage values.
Imagine engineers who are not only technically skilled but also deeply aware of history, philosophy, and culture. That’s the vision here. The Department of Humanistic Studies offers PhD programs in History, Philosophy, Sociology, English, and Computational Linguistics.
The department runs courses for undergraduate, postgraduate, and PhD students in Engineering and Technology. It provides an interdisciplinary platform. This platform helps students creatively engage in society’s development. The department includes faculty from various disciplines. These include History, Philosophy, Sociology, Psychology, Language, Literature, and Culture.
Notably, Samapika Roy and Prashant Priyadarshi, senior research scholars, received Fulbright Fellowships. They worked as FLTAs at New York University and Brown University, USA.
Dr. Nirmalya Guha was invited for lectures at Fudan University, China. Dr. Swasti Mishra was a Visiting Lecturer at the University of Würzburg, Germany. The department also actively organizes events. These include Constitution Day Awareness Programs and Vigilance Awareness Week. The department conducted the Unnat Bharat Abhiyan in association with Student Counseling Services IIT BHU.
The Department of Humanistic Studies aims to shape well-rounded individuals. They will contribute to a society that values both progress and its cultural roots. So, as you stand here, consider the unique role this department plays within a technical institute. It weaves the threads of human understanding into the fabric of scientific innovation.