Comparative literature

In keeping with Rabindranath Thakur’s motto ‘yatravisvam bhavatye ekanidam’, Visva-Bharati established Centre for Comparative Literature in 2013. The Centre has conferred a total of four PhD and twelve MPhil degrees since its inception. At present, the Centre offers MA and PhD programmes in Comparative Literature. Minor and Multidisciplinary courses in Comparative Literature are also offered in the UG level.

Major thrust areas of the Centre include Rabindranath: Texts, Contexts and Intertexts, Translation Studies, Journey of the Rama Narrative, Bhakti and Sufi Trajectory; Forms of Colonies, with special focus on Latin America, Africa and Canada; Indigenous Studies, Literature and the Other Arts, with special focus on Dance, Film and Theatre. Elements of Indian Knowledge Systems have always been a core part of our programmes at all levels. Students from other states of India, such as Bihar, Kerala, Odisha, as well as foreign countries like Bangladesh, have chosen CCL as their preferred institute. A healthy teacher-student ratio enables the faculty members to pay individual attention to each student.

Comparative Literature, with equal emphasis on basic literary concepts and tools, as well as cutting-edge literary theory, has enormous scope in today’s world, as the NEP 2020 has also recognised. Students who have completed their Masters, MPhil or PhD from the Centre have received placements in various prestigious educational institutions and universities such as Amity University in Tashkent, Madhupur College in Jharkhand, Durgapur Institute of Advanced Technology and Management, Sehwag International School, Sidho-Kanho Birsa University, Swami Vivekananda Institute of Science and Technology etc. Many former students are serving in private sectors like Amazon, Learning Mate, Han Digital, Crimson Interactive, and such other. 

As part of its academic activities, CCL has organised several academic events, such as seminars, conferences, symposiums, invited lectures, research scholars’ talk etc. Renowned scholars from various parts of India, and countries like Costa Rica, Panama, China, Bangladesh, Canada, England, and the USA have delivered talks at the Centre and interacted with our students.