Report on Interdepartmental Teaching Session on “Al-Biruni’s Observations on Indian Society and Culture”

As part of the ongoing interdepartmental teaching initiative, the Department of English, C.K.B. College, Teok, organized a special class for English Major students on 25^th  March 2025 (Tuesday). The session began at 10:15 AM and was held in Room No. 1 with active participation from students and faculty members.

The topic of the session was “Al-Biruni’s Observations on Indian Society and Culture”, which offered an interdisciplinary perspective linking historical and literary understanding. The session was graced by Dr. Bikash Nath, Assistant Professor, Department of History, who attended the programme as the resource person.

Dr. Nath delivered an insightful and engaging lecture highlighting Al-Biruni’s scholarly contributions during the 11th century. He provided a detailed account of Al-Biruni’s travels to India, his observations on Hindu religion, caste system, education, language, customs and science. The lecture emphasized how Al-Biruni’s work, especially his text Kitab fi Tahqiq ma li’l-Hind, served as a significant source for understanding early Indian society from an outsider’s viewpoint.

The session helped students to gain a new perspective on the cultural diversity, social practices and intellectual traditions of ancient India. Dr. Nath also encouraged critical thinking by drawing comparisons between historical narratives and literary representations of society.

The students found the class intellectually enriching and participated actively in the interactive discussion that followed the lecture.

The Department of English expressed gratitude to Dr. Bikash Nath for his valuable contribution for the interdepartmental initiative. The programme concluded on a positive note with a vote of thanks by Dr. Junti Boruah, Head of the department.