Department of Botany
About The Department
The Department of Botany has 8 faculty members and two non-teaching staff. The highly experienced teaching staff have expertise in various fields such as Plant Biotechnology, Microbiology, Taxonomy & Biosystematics, Cytogenetics, Plant Physiology, Biochemistry, Plant Molecular Biology, Ecology, Mycology, Pathology, Algology etc. Teachers have noteworthy publications, books and book chapters to their credit and are ever -striving to keep themselves updated with the changing times. The department has an independent Seminar Library with selected copies of useful books of wide coverage, pertaining to the syllabus of University of Calcutta (CBCS and CCF). The department has two well-equipped laboratories with instruments, glasswares and other items for basic and advanced experiments in different spheres of Plant Science. A list of such instruments is given below for ready reference: UV Spectrophotometer, Laminar air flow, Colorimeter, Centrifuge, Incubator, Autoclave, Shaker, Water distillation plant, pH meter, Digital balance & Pan balance, Overhead projector, Hand microtome, Binocular microscope with digital camera analysis software, Camera, Desktop & Laptop computers.
We are impressed by the performances of several of our students of both Honours and General courses in Calcutta University Examinations. Among the notable alumni, the names of Professor Nirmalendu Samajpati, Professor Nanda Dulal Paria, Professor Partha Deb Ghosh are worth mentioning for their remarkable contributions in the fields of Mycology, Plant Taxonomy and Cytogenetics. Many of our students have secured First class marks in the University examinations and some have migrated overseas for higher studies. Many have got suitable placements in India, in academics, banking sectors, corporate sectors etc.
Besides conducting regular educational tour to different phyto-geographical regions of India with the students, the department hosts regular Seminars, poster presentations by students, exhibition of herbarium specimens etc. A departmental seminar would be organized by end of January and many other activities of academic interest are now in the pipeline. We are making all efforts to take matters onwards and upwards.
History of Department
The evergreen century-old Department of Botany was born in 1925 during the British Raj. The same year also witnessed the introduction of the intermediate classes in the department. A list of the Pre-independence faculty members is listed below chronologically.
- Raj Kumar Sen and Alok Kumar Sen 1925.
- Lalit Mohan Dhar 1926.
- Jagadindranath Basu 1932.
- Sushil Chandra Basu 1934.
- Amiya Ghosh 1935.
Post- independence, several new faculty members joined:
- Raja Binode Majumdar 1949.
- Ajit K. Ghosh 1955.
- Dilip Gupta & Dipak Gupta 1959.
- Pijus Ray 1864.
- Ramkanta Chakrabarti and Ranjit Lal de & Sunilendu Basak 1966.
- R.N. Sahoo 1967.
- Sajal Kumar Chakrabarti 1967
- Monoranjan Mondal 1969
- Sudarsan Maji.
While rummaging through the archives, we came to know that Science Society was founded on 27th march 1933 in our college. Prof Alok K. Sen, Prof Dhirendra Chandra Ray, Prof Haraprasad De took the initiative to set up the society. The department hosted its first seminar in 1937. The first Scientific exhibition was organized by Science Society from 29th July to 1st August 1940. Dr. K.S. Krishnan, Dr. Shyamaprasad Mukherjee attended the exhibition. The meetings of the Science society were addressed by eminent scientists notably Dr. S.K. Mitra (1937), H.K Nandi (1937), P.C. Mitra (1939), Dr. Meghnad Saha (1939), Dr. K.S. Krishnan (1940). The most spectacular exhibit at the exhibition was Phantom Flower- A masterpiece of Optical jugglery. This was also the centre stage of attention.
The Centenary block of the department was built much later in 1959 with financial assistance from The University Grants Commission. This was inaugurated on 25th December 1959 by Professor N.K. Siddhanta, the then Vice Chancellor of University of Calcutta.
Needless to state, our department can boast of a glorious past with its crew of erudite professors, whose academic excellence coupled with unmatched performance is quite something to be proud of.
Teachers' Profile
Sukanya Bhattacharya
Associate Professor, PhD,
Plant Physiology & Biochemistry
Jayanta Kumar Sen
Associate Laboratory Instructor, M.Phil
Environmental Science
Debisri Datta
Associate Professor, PhD
Cytogenetics & Plant Breeding
Swati Maitra (Sen)
Associate Professor, PhD,
Ecology of Angiosperm
Animesh Bose
Assistant Professor, PhD,
Plant Taxonomy
Kotisree Lahiri
Assistant Professor, PhD,
Plant Tissue Culture, Plant Biotechnology, Cytology & Molecular Biology
Sanoyaz Sekh
Assistant Professor, PhD,
Cytogegenetics & Plant Breeding (M.Sc), Phytoplankton taxonomy & ecology (Ph.D)
Paushali Roy
SACT (I), PhD,
Genetics, Cell & Molecular Biology
Departmental Activities
Seminar
Year : 2023-2024 (01/06/2023-31/03/2024) - NA
Year : 2024-2025 (01/06/2024-31/03/2025)
| Academic Year. | Name of the workshop / seminar | Collaborating Institute (if any) | Number of Participants | Date | 2024-25 | One-day Seminar on Plant Tissue Culture: A journey from the laboratory to the field” | - | 50 | 30.01.2025 |
|---|
Educational Excursion
Year : 2024-2025 (01/06/2024-31/05/2025)
|
Course name for which the excursion is held |
Duration |
Venue and objective |
Number of participants |
Semester |
Accompanying Faculty members & NTS |
|
Plant Diversity |
One Day (14.06.2023) |
Calcutta University Botanical Garden: To be acquainted with different interesting Pteridophytes and Gymnosperms and CUH visit. |
21 |
Sem. II (Major) |
Dr. Animesh Bose |
|
Plant Diversity |
One Day (28.06.2023) |
Subhash Sarobar, Kolkata; Study the local vegetation types and spot identification of some common plants. |
30 |
Sem. II (MDC) |
Dr. Animesh Bose, Mr. Jayanta K Sen and Mr. Partho Mondal |
|
Plant Systematics |
One day (05.07.2023) |
Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose Indian Botanic Garden (Shibpur, Howrah), To be acquainted with the Indian Botanic Garden and observe different interesting plants in it along with medicinal plant garden and CNH visit. |
30 |
Sem. II (MDC) |
Mr. Jayanta K Sen and Mr. Partho Mondal |
|
Economic Botany |
One Day (14.07.2023) |
Kalyani University Medicinal Plant Garden and Madanpur ; Study the diversity of medicinal plants along with the local plants with economic importance. In Madanpur area students observed the jute cultivation field, communicated with local farmers regarding the cultivation process. |
21 |
Sem. IV (Hons) and Sem. II (Major) |
Dr. Kotisree Lahiri, Dr. Sanoyaz Sekh, Dr. Paushali Roy and Dr. Animesh Bose |
|
Plant systematics, Diversity and Ecology |
One Day (16.10.2023) |
Subhas Sarovar; Study the local vegetation types and spot identification of some common plants. Collection of herbaceous specimens for Herbarium preparation. |
15 |
Sem. III (Hons) |
Dr. Animesh Bose and Mr. Mintu Ghosh |
|
Plant systematics, Diversity and Economic Botany |
6 Days (06.12.2023 – 12.12.2023) |
Long excursion to Pelling and Okhrey- Hilley-Barsey, Sikkim; Study the vegetation of Pelling and Okhrey-Hilley- Barsey area of West Sikkim with identification and collection of some significant plants. Get an idea of Tea cultivation. To be acquainted with the vegetation diversity of both lower and higher plant groups in a different phyto - geographical region in India. |
21 |
Sem. III (Hons) |
Dr. Paushali Roy, Dr. Sanoyaz Sekh and Dr. Animesh Bose |
|
Plant systematics, Diversity |
One Day (19.12.2023) |
Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose Indian Botanic Garden; To be acquainted with the Indian Botanic Garden and observe different interesting plants in it along with medicinal plant garden and CNH visit. |
18 |
Sem. III (Hons) |
Dr. Swati Maitra Sen, Dr. Animesh Bose and Mr. Mintu Ghosh |
|
Plant Tissue Culture |
One Day (23.12.2023) |
Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda Educational and Research Institute (RKMVERI), Narendrapur; Study of the different equipments and techniques followed in the Plant Tissue Culture Laboratory. Get an idea about the callus culture, embryo culture, acclimatization etc. |
18 |
Sem. V (Hons) |
Dr. Kotisree Lahiri and Dr. Paushali Roy |
|
Plant Diversity |
One Day (17.01.2024) |
Subhash Sarobar, Kolkata; Study the local vegetation types and spot identification of some common plants. |
30 |
Sem. I (Major, Minor & MDC) |
Dr. Swati Maitra Sen, Dr. Animesh Bose, Mr. Jayanta K Sen and Mr. Partho Mondal |
|
Pharmacognosy and phytochemistry |
One Day (19.01.2024) |
Kalyani University Medicinal Plant Garden; Study the diversity of medicinal plants along with the local plants found in Kalyani, Nadia with economic importance. |
30 |
Sem. V (Gen) |
Dr. Swati Maitra Sen, Dr. Sanoyaz Sekh, Mr. Jayanta K Sen and Mr. Partho Mondal |
|
Economic Botany |
Four Days (19.03.2024 – 22.03.2024) |
Long excursion to Darjeeling, Tiger Hill and Tinchuley; Study the vegetation of Darjeeling, Tiger Hill and Tinchuley area of West Bengal with identification and collection of some significant plants. Get an idea about Tea cultivation. To be acquainted with the vegetation diversity of both lower and higher plant groups in a different phyto- geographical region in West Bengal. |
30 |
Sem. V (Gen) |
Dr. Swati Maitra Sen, Mr. Jayanta K Sen and Mr. Partho Mondal |
Educational Excursion
Year : 2024-2025 (01/06/2024-31/03/2025)
|
Course name for which the excursion is held |
Duration |
Venue and objective |
Number of participants |
Semester |
Accompanying Faculty members & NTS |
|
Economic Botany and Plant Taxonomy |
One Day (26.07.2024) |
Kalyani University Biodiversity and Conservation Park and Madanpur, Nadia, To be acquainted about Medicinal Plant Garden; Study the diversity of medicinal plants along with the local plants found in Kalyani, Nadia with economic importance |
21 |
Sem. V (Hons.) & Sem. II Major |
Dr. Animesh Bose, Dr. Paushali Roy, Dr. Sanoyaz Sekh and Mr. Mintu Ghosh |
|
Plant Taxonomy |
One Day (14.08.2024) |
Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose Indian Botanic Garden; To be acquainted with the Indian Botanic Garden and observe different interesting plants in it along with medicinal plant garden and CNH visit. |
15 |
Sem. II Major & Sem II Minor |
Dr. Animesh Bose and Mr. Mintu Ghosh |
|
Plant Taxonomy |
One Day(28.08.2024) |
Subhas Sarovar, Beleghata; Study the local vegetation types and spot identification of some common plants |
30 |
Sem. II (MDC) |
Dr. Swati Maitra Sen and Mr. Jayanta K Sen |
|
Plant Taxonomy |
One Day (30.08.2024) |
Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose Indian Botanic Garden; To be acquainted with the Indian Botanic Garden and observe different interesting plants in it along with medicinal plant garden and CNH visit. |
30 |
Sem. II (MDC) |
Dr. Sukanya Bhattacharya, Dr. Swati Maitra Sen and Mr. Jayanta K Sen |
|
Pant tissue culture and biotechnology |
One Day (24.12.2024) |
Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda Educational and Research Institute (RKMVERI), Narendrapur; Study of the different equipment’s and techniques followed in the Plant Tissue Culture Laboratory. Get an idea about the callus culture, embryo culture, acclimatization etc. |
21 |
Sem. V (Hons) and Sem. III (Major) |
Dr. Debisri Datta, Dr. Kotisree Lahiri and Dr. Paushali Roy |
|
Plant Diversity |
One Day (11.01.2025) |
Subhash Sarobar, Kolkata; Study the local vegetation types and spot identification of some common plants. |
55 |
Sem. I (Major & Minor) and Sem. III Minor |
Dr. Animesh Bose, Dr. Sanoyaz Sekh and Dr. Kotisree Lahiri |
|
Plant Diversity |
One Day (15.02.2025) |
Subhash Sarobar, Kolkata; Study the local vegetation types and spot identification of some common plants. |
22 |
Sem. I (MDC) |
Dr. Swati Maitra Sen and Mr. Jayanta K Sen |
|
Plant Tissue Culture and Horticulture |
One Day (17.02.2025) |
Agri-Horticulture Society of India (AHSI), Alipore. To study about the cultivation methods of different horticulturally important plants. |
03 |
Sem. III (Major) |
Dr. Sanoyaz Sekh and Dr. Kotisree Lahiri |
|
Economic Botany |
One Day (17.03.2025) |
Madanpur, Nadia. To get an idea about rice cultivation process. |
30 |
Sem. III (Major, MDC) |
Dr. Sanoyaz Sekh, Mr. Jayanta K Sen and Mr. Partho Mondal |
Departmental Library
The seminar library of the Department of botany of Vidyasagar College is an essential resource hub for students and faculty, designed to promote in-depth learning in the field of plant sciences. It houses a vast collection of books (around 250) on various topics of botany, including algae, fungi, bryophyte, pteridophytes, gymnosperms, taxonomy, cell and molecular biology, plant tissue culture, ecology, and biotechnology, etc. The library provides a resourceful environment for students and faculty to study. It plays a vital role in supporting the academic and scientific endeavours of the department.
Herbarium
The department houses a herbarium which has more than 2000 specimens of Angiosperms, gymnosperms, and pteridophytes. The herbarium has century old collections that were collected by Prof. Alok Kumar Sen and Prof. Raj Kumar Sen, the founder professors of the department. Since its inception, the herbarium is providing valuable information of plants to the students in their undergraduate course, especially in plant taxonomy. Every year students submit their collections thereby enriching the herbarium gradually.
Departmental Lab
The department has two well-equipped laboratories with instruments, glasswares and other items for basic and advanced experiments in different spheres of Plant Science. A list of such instruments is given below for ready reference: UV Spectrophotometer, Laminar air flow, Colorimeter, Centrifuge, Incubator, Autoclave, Shaker, Water distillation plant, pH meter, Digital balance & Pan balance, Overhead projector, Hand microtome, Binocular microscope with digital camera analysis software, Camera, Desktop & Laptop computers.
Special Achievements (Co-curricular/Academic)
Year : 2023-2024 (01/06/2023-31/05/2024)
For Students
|
Year |
Event Name |
Name |
Semester |
Achievement |
|
June, 2023 |
World Environment Celebration at Shri Shikshatayan College |
Sk. Altamas Kabir, Subhajeet Ray |
VI |
1st prize for Slogan Presentation on Plastic and climate change at Shri Shikshatayan College |
|
February, 2024 |
BIOTEXPRESSION ’24 at Ureckon |
Susmita Nandy |
VI |
2nd position in poster presentation at University Of Engineering and Management, Kolkata |
|
February, 2024 |
BIOZINFORMATICA ‘24” at Ureckon ’24 |
Susmita Nandy |
VI |
3rd position in poster presentation at University Of Engineering and Management, Kolkata |
|
April, 2024 |
State Level Seminar on World Cancer Research Day |
Zeba Shamim and Susmita Nandy |
VI |
Abstract publication at THK Jain college entitled ‘oral squamous cell carcinoma: research and awareness’. |
Year : 2024-2025 (01/06/2024-31/03/2025)
For Students
|
Year |
Event Name |
Name |
Semester |
Achievement |
|
December, 2024 |
Gender Sensitization Workshop |
Paromita Adak, Bipasha Dan, Enakshi Laha, Dyuti Mukherjee, Rani Biswas, Saptaparna Dhar, Debangana Sur, Soumyajit Dasgupta, Nirojit Mukherjee |
V, III |
First prize in poster presentation at Vidyasagar College |
|
January 2025 |
One-day Seminar on Plant Tissue Culture: A journey from the laboratory to the field” |
Enakshi Laha, Payel Das, Jyoti Biswas |
V, I |
First prize in poster presentation at Vidyasagar College |
|
January 2025 |
One-day Seminar on Plant Tissue Culture: A journey from the laboratory to the field” |
Rani Biswas, Sunanda Goswami |
V, I |
Second prize in poster presentation at Vidyasagar College |
|
January 2025 |
One-day Seminar on Plant Tissue Culture: A journey from the laboratory to the field” |
Saptaparna Dhar, Aishi Sinha, Soumajit Naskar |
V, I |
Third prize in poster presentation at Vidyasagar College |
Research & Publication