HISTORY SOCIETY

The History Society, St. Stephen’s College

Introduction

The History Society plays a vital role in enriching the academic and cultural fabric of college. It provides a platform for students to explore and engage with history beyond the classroom, thus fostering a deeper appreciation for the past as well as its influence on the present. Through a variety of activities including cultural events, lectures, heritage walks, a blog– Historically Speaking, the annual journal– Tarikh, the bi-monthly periodical– Timelapse, a podcast– Rewind, and the annual festival– Kaalchakra, the Society encourages critical thinking and a nuanced understanding of historical narratives.

Over the years, the History Society has hosted numerous distinguished speakers, scholars, and historians, contributing to a vibrant intellectual environment on campus. The Society has expanded its focus from narratives of power and undertaken an active engagement with subaltern and marginalised narratives. The activities organised by the History Society are diverse and multifaceted, reflecting the broad spectrum of interests and specialisations within the field of history. The Society seeks to create an inclusive environment that nurtures intellectual curiosity, knowledge, and comprehensive engagement among its members. 

This ethos is a continuation of its legacy as one of the oldest societies in college. The Society began in 1916 with thirty members, headed by a five-member council, the members of which were then referred to as ‘officers.’ Mr. A.C. Sen, a Professor of History at College, founded the society. He also served as one of the Vice Presidents of the Society. Mr. P.N.F. Young was the President, Molvi Abdul Rahman, Mr. F.F. Monk and Mr. A.C. Sen served as its Vice Presidents, and Mr. Krishan Dayal, a final year student, was the elected member of the Managing Committee. The Society was initially patronised by the then Principal, Prof. S.K. Rudra. 

The History Society aims to offer to its members a platform to explore history via a multiplicity of perspectives, striving to embody the historical diversity of the spaces one inhabits by going beyond stereotypical and conventional narratives. In its quest to do the same, the Society aims to provide a safe environment for free expression, thought and learning, while also trying to make its work more accessible beyond the domain of academia. The History Society truly believes in the interdisciplinary nature of the subject itself and aims to emphasise the same across all its endeavours.

Executive Council (2025-2026)

The Third Year Council of the History Society for this academic year include: 

President – Vidit Srivastava

Vice Presidents – Aanya Herman and Eva Tewary

General Secretary – Arish Isa

Talks and Walks Supervisor – Mannah Verghese

The Second Year Council of the History Society for this academic year include: 

Publicity Heads – Niyati Annette Joshi and Michele Elsa Philip

Tarikh Editors- Srijan Srivastava and Rehan Singh

Timelapse Coordinator – Michelle Florence Ivon

Logistics Heads – Zoha Azeem and Suramya Kapoor

Talks and Walks Head – Minerva Digra

Joint Secretary – Tosif Alam

Treasurer- Ishani Nair

Activities of the History Society

Events: The History Society organises lectures, talks, seminars and workshops on diverse themes throughout the academic year to engage students in society activities. An engagement with broad themes aims to widen the horizons of the society’s members.

Satyam Jha Paper Presentation: The Satyam Jha Paper Presentation Series is dedicated to Satyam Jha, a student of History at St. Stephen's College, member of The History Society, who we lost to COVID-19 in 2021. The Series commemorates Satyam’s interest in critical engagement on themes in history and politics by inviting students pursuing their bachelor’s or master’s degrees to present their research on a given theme in a multi-day conference.

Kaalchakra: This is the annual festival of the History Society. It is a combination of several events which are both academic and cultural and is the culmination of society activities for the academic year.

Blog: The History Society routinely publishes student-authored articles to its online blog, Historically Speaking, which is managed primarily by the Tarikh editors in the Executive Council.

Annual Journal: Tarikh is the annually released academic journal of the History Society. It brings together comprehensively researched papers highlighting various aspects of a given theme. The themes are broad and multidisciplinary to invite different perspectives. 

Periodical: The History Society also publishes a bi-monthly periodical, Timelapse, which includes student-written reviews, and media.

Walks: Walks to museums and historical sites are comprehensively researched and led by the Talks and Walks Co-coordinators. They are often conducted in collaboration with the Department, where the faculty join to enhance the students’ understanding. These walks aim to inculcate a curiosity about the sites visited amongst the students.

Podcast: Rewind, the official podcast of The History Society, is a collection of conversations on diverse aspects of history featuring distinguished historians, writers, curators, and individuals working at the intersection of history and other disciplines. Some featured guests have been Prof. Irfan Habib, Tanika Sarakar and Prof. Patrick Olivelle.

Trips: The History Society revived the tradition of trips in 2024–25, organising two major excursions. These included a trip to Agra in October 2024 and one to Rakhigarhi in March 2025. These visits enriched classroom learning, offered direct engagement with historical sites, and encouraged independent observation and inquiry.

Archival Project: The History Society works on this project in collaboration with the IQAC, with the aim of documenting the experiences of the individuals who were present and active in the college community during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Web Links 

Email: historysoc@gmail.com 

Blog: https://historicallyspeakingssc.wordpress.com/ 

Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/07bW3GnptU16y0qT2kQQ2G?si=984800db0be14977 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/historysocssc 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-history-society-st-stephen-s-college/ 

YouTube: https://youtube.com/@thehistorysocietyssc?si=xpxHFc3k1B9Hh6Ba 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/historysocststephenscollege/