Political Science Department

The Political Science Department is a highly reputed and sought after Department of Loreto College. It is known for rigorous intellectual inquiry and commitment to the empowerment of the students to face the challenges of higher scholarship and career building. The Department’s focus on academic excellence is indicated not just in the outstanding performance of the students in the Calcutta University Examinations over the last decade but also the high success rate of the students of the Department in the entrance examinations of institutions of repute such as JNU, TISS Delhi University and foreign universities.

The Department commits itself to the excellent syllabus provided by Calcutta University to which the college is affiliated. To bring vibrancy to the syllabus the faculty stress on moving beyond the syllabus by encouraging research and critical thinking in the students. The Department regularly organises seminars exposing students to resource persons of repute and students’ seminars where the students are provided a platform for expressing their opinions on various aspects of political life. The Quarterly Wall Journal, the street plays and departmental research projects are tools used by the faculty to imbibe creative thinking and a deeper understanding of the discipline and it’s potential in making a difference to society.

The alumnus of the Department are well placed in various capacities - position holders in colleges in India and abroad, the West Bengal Civil Service, the American Center, reputed NGOs etc. The strong sense of commitment and care on the part of the faculty members in an institution steeped in values of discipline and social commitment has enabled the Department to reach great heights and make a mark for itself.

Department: Faculty

Mrs. Sayoni Choudhuri Patra

Qualifications: M.A, M.Phil

Mrs. Sayoni Choudhuri Patra has served as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Political Science since 2008.On July 1, 2023, she assumed the role of Head of the Department. Mrs. Choudhuri Patra is currently pursuing her Doctoral thesis at the University of Calcutta, focusing on the critical issue of ’Problem of Child Labour in Kolkata: Conditions and Continuity.’

Her academic journey began at Presidency University, where she completed her Graduation with distinction and achieved recognition as a National Merit rank holder. She furthered her studies at the University of Calcutta, earning her Post-Graduation degree in Political Science and subsequently her M.Phil in Political Science, all indicative of her dedication to academic excellence.

Her areas of specialization encompass Political Theory (with a focus on Marxism and Feminism), Contemporary Indian Politics, and Indian Foreign Policy. Mrs. Sayoni Choudhuri Patra is a committed educator with a strong academic background, extensive research experience, and active participation in National and International seminars, Invited lectures and Publications. Her contributions extend to the realm of book editing, having successfully edited the book ’Indian Oceans: Geopolitical and Geostrategic Dimensions’ in 2014.

Mrs. Sharmila Mitra Deb

Qualifications: M.A., B.Ed. ,M.Phil

Mrs. Sharmila Mitra Deb is an Associate Professor with 29 years of teaching experience. Her area of specialization is Indian politics and she also has extensive experience in teaching Comparative Politics and Western Political Thought. She has co-edited a book titled ’Indian Democracy: Problems and Prospects’. She has been the Head of the Department from 2003-2008 and 2013-2018; Bursar of the College from 1998-2013 and served as Academic and Administrative Officer (AAO) from 2019-23. She has also been the Staff Advisor to the Debating Society and the Political Science Society for several years and is on the Editorial Board of the College newsletter, Glimpses. She is part of the National Advisory Board of Asia in Global Affairs (AGA), a non profit, independent forum for research set up in 2017.

Ms. Sreeparna Dasgupta

Qualifications: M.A.

Ms. Sreeparna Dasgupta is Assistant Professor and currently the Head of the Department of Political Science. She is pursuing her Doctoral Thesis on "India’s China Policy in the 21st Century" from University of Calcutta. Her area of specialisation is India’s foreign policy response to the emerging geo-strategic environment of the Asia Pacific region with special reference to China. She also has a special interest in areas such as Western Political Theory, Indian Politics and Marxism. Ms. Dasgupta has presented papers in a number of national and international seminars and conferences. She also has a number of publications to her credit, both national and international.

Dr Sumedha Verma

Qualifications: Ph.d., M.A., B.A

Ms. Sumedha Verma is an Assistant Professor in the Department. An alumna of Loreto College, she ranked Second in B.A Honours, Political Science at the University of Calcutta. She is a gold medalist from Presidency University, where she completed her Masters in Political Science with a specialisation in Civil Society and Democracy and was awarded the UGC NET Junior Research Fellowship in 2016. She completed her Ph.D. at The West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences. Areas of academic interest include Indian politics and Indian political thought.