College Events

Dialego 2025

Loreto College, Kolkata witnessed a vibrant confluence of ideas, perspectives, and voices on issues of critical contemporary importance as the Department of Political Science, in collaboration with the Political Science Society, organized Dialego 2025, its annual students' meet. This year, the event was elevated to an international conference format with the central theme "From Margins to the Center: Gender, Environment, and Political Change."

The day-long academic fest, marked by intellectual rigour and spirited student participation, began with an inaugural session- where students presented a prayer dance, followed by Sr. Nirmala, Teacher-in-Charge of Loreto College, opened the event with a motivational address and a prayer, followed by a keynote address delivered by Dr. Pratip Chattopadhyay, Associate Professor, Department of Political Science, Kalyani University. His address set the tone for the day, weaving together the thematic threads of gender, environmental justice, and political transformation. The keynote was followed by a stimulating panel discussion led by Dr. Sulagna Maitra, Associate Professor, University College Dublin, with Dr. Sujata Chowdhury as the discussant, further lending the event an international dimension.

One of the highlights of Dialego 2025 was its parallel paper presentation sessions, involving undergraduate and postgraduate students from leading institutions across the city. Undergraduate teams hailed from Jadavpur University, Lady Brabourne College, Presidency University, and the host college, Loreto, while the postgraduate teams represented Presidency University, St. Xavier's College (Autonomous), and Jadavpur University. These sessions offered a platform for students to present original research and policy ideas, promoting peer learning and academic exchange. The Post-graduation Paper Presentation was judged by Dr. Pratip Chattopadhyay and Dr.Trijita Gonsalves, moderated by Ms.Aloknanda Nag. While the Undergraduate Paper Presentation was judged by Dr. Sujata Chowdhury and Dr.Maitryee Guha and the session was moderated by Ms.Archana Verma.

The Hackathon, conducted as an off-stage event, saw teams develop and present innovative policy briefs and solutions addressing pressing socio-political challenges. Mr.Shiladiya Saha adjudicated the session. The event was won by the home team from Loreto College, whose interdisciplinary approach and presentation skills stood out.

In the post-lunch session, the focus shifted to an intense inter-college debate on the motion: "This House Believes That Developed Nations Should Bear a Greater Responsibility for Addressing Climate Change." Teams from Scottish Church College, Jadavpur University, Gokhale Memorial Girls’ College, Bethune College, Shri Shikshayatan College, and Loreto College participated. The debate was adjudicated by a distinguished panel by Mr. Raju Raman and Mr.Shiladiya Saha, and Dr.Julie Banerjee Mehta moderated the debate.

Scottish Church College emerged as the winning team in the debate, with their speakers also bagging the titles of Best Speaker - For and Best Speaker - Against the motion.

In the paper presentation segment, Jadavpur University (UG) and Presidency University (PG) were declared Best Teams in their respective categories. The Best UG Presenters were Adrija Ray (Loreto College) and Samriddhi Nandi (Presidency University), while Anindita Chatterjee (St. Xavier's College Autonomous) and Madhubanti Chowdhury (Jadavpur College) were awarded Best PG Presenters.

Dialego 2025 witnessed remarkable participation from students and faculty across Kolkata's premier colleges and provided a much-needed platform for critical engagement with the intersections of gender, environmental concerns, and political transformation. The event concluded on a high note, celebrating student scholarship, spirited discourse, and a collective commitment to building a more inclusive and sustainable future.

For the Department of Political Science, Loreto College, Dialego continues to be a flagship event, reflecting the institution's emphasis on academic excellence, democratic participation, and social relevance.