Department of English

About the department

The Department of English at St. John’s College is one of the oldest centres of English studies in North India. English studies grew under the guidance of Rev. Thomas Valpy French, an Oxford scholar in English and the first Principal of the college. The Department was first affiliated with the University of Calcutta in 1862 and later with the University of Allahabad in 1888. Rev. J.P. Haythornthwaite (1890–1911) was a legendary figure who oversaw the department’s transition when it became a “First Grade College” in 1891. He was a prolific writer and historian of the college himself. The department achieved postgraduate status in 1893, a rarity for a non-presidency college at the time, making it one of the oldest postgraduate departments of English. The early postgraduate students were often groomed for the Provincial Civil Services (PCS). The English curriculum was so rigorous that St. John’s M.A. English graduates were exempted from certain qualifying language exams for government service. The college became known for its literary societies, Shakespearean drama, debates, and academic excellence. The Literary Association and Debating Society was formed in 1894, Prof. Joseph J. Ghose was the first Secretary of the association. Rev. A.W. Davies (1913–1928), a scholar from University College, Oxford, not only led the college but was instrumental in drafting the English curriculum for the newly formed Agra University. Rev. A.W. Davies, was awarded the Kaiser-i-Hind Medal in 1921 for his contributions to education before becoming the University’s first Vice-Chancellor. In 1893 the college opened classes in Telegraphy and Signalling to help English-proficient students secure jobs in the expanding Indian Railways. Rev. Canon T.D. Sully (1933–1948) a scholar of Wadham College, Oxford, oversaw the department during the critical transition years leading to Indian independence. Mr. C.V. Mahajan (1948–1954) a Keble College, Oxford scholar became the first Indian Principal and helped modernize the English literature syllabus to include post-colonial perspectives.

Vision & Mission

Vision

To be a quality-driven and inclusive centre of English studies that promotes academic excellence, critical inquiry, ethical values, and global competencies in alignment with national priorities and societal needs.

Mission

Academic Excellence: Deliver a dynamic, learner-centric curriculum aligned with contemporary developments and national education policies.
Innovative Teaching–Learning: Foster critical thinking, creativity, and communication.
Research & Extension: Promote research, publications, seminars, and community engagement through literary and outreach activities.
Student Development & Employability: Equip students with transferable skills for higher education, careers, and competitive examinations.
Inclusivity & Support: Ensure an equitable, inclusive, and supportive learning environment for diverse learners.
Values & Social Responsibility: Instil ethical values, gender sensitivity, and environmental consciousness through academic and co-curricular initiatives.
Quality Assurance & Governance: Uphold transparency, participatory governance, and continuous improvement through feedback and academic review.

Programmes and Courses offered by the department

(a) Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)

(b) Master of Arts (M.A.)

Achievements of the department (since its existence)

(a) Research Publications:

The current faculty members have to their credit nearly 40 research papers published in reputed national and international journals, reflecting their strong commitment and scholarly engagement with emerging and frontier areas of research in English Studies.

(b) Conferences, Workshops, and Seminars/Webinars:

The Department has consistently promoted a vibrant culture of research and academic excellence by organizing a wide range of academic and co-curricular activities aimed at fostering research aptitude, critical thinking, and holistic development among students. A few notable initiatives and activities organized by the Department are listed below:

Successfully organized a Two-Day International Conference (online) titled Human Resilience in Times of Crisis in May 2020, fostering insightful academic discussions on resilience, society, and contemporary global challenges.
Organized a workshop on How to Write a Research Paper? by Dr. Melva Pope in October 2021, aimed at enhancing students’ academic writing and research skills.
Organized a Workshop on Creative and Content Writing in English in March 2023, conducted by Dr. Radhika Bansal, Associate Professor at the Jaipuria Institute of Management, focusing on developing students’ creative expression, content development, and professional writing skills.
Organized a Webinar on Ecofeminism: From Myths to Contemporary Times by Dr. Shyaonti Talwar in December 2021, exploring the interconnections between gender, mythology, ecology, and contemporary environmental concerns.

(c) Literary Activities:

The Department conducts a diverse range of literary activities organized under The English Association which was formed in September, 1977 and it continue to encourage the students to develop their creativity, critical inquiry, intellectual engagement, and literary appreciation among students. Listed below are some of the prominent literary activities.

An interactive Book Reading Session on The Last Boga Sahib with noted author and academician, Dr. Chanda Singh in December 2019.
The book launch of Sabina – A Novel, the latest work by Shri Narendra Taneja, a renowned energy policy expert and author in January 2026.
A Lit Meet aimed at fostering literary engagement through enriching author interactions followed by a stimulating discussion on a timeless classic of literature in March 2026.
The Department launched its first magazine, Aurora, providing a creative platform for students to showcase their literary, artistic, and intellectual talents in December 2025.

(d) Students’ Activities:

The department organizes a wide range of academic and co-curricular activities throughout the year such as creative story writing competition, debate competition, photography competition, and literary quizzes to enhance learning, creativity, and collaboration among students.

Successfully staged plays such as Overtones, He Said, She Said, and The Forest of Arden, with students earning several accolades, including awards for Best Actor and Best Production.
Organized film screenings of The Pursuit of Happyness, Mrs Dalloway, Pride and Prejudice, Tess of the d’Urbervilles, and The Elephant Whisperers to encourage literary appreciation, cinematic interpretation, and critical discussion among students.
Organized an interactive session with Mr. Hemvant Tiwari – actor, writer, director, and master of one-take films – in October 2025, offering students valuable insights into filmmaking, performance, and creative storytelling.
Organized a Special Lecture under the aegis of Mission Shakti in November by Prof. Vinny Jain, focusing on empowerment, awareness, and the holistic development of students.

(e) English Association:

The Department revived the English Association in March, 2025. A vibrant student body dedicated to fostering literary engagement, academic collaboration, and extracurricular participation among students. Under its aegis, several student-led clubs have been initiated under the guidance of faculty in-charges.

“Orator’s Vox” for debating and presentation skills, Dr. Suresh Babu Aremanda, faculty in-charge.
“Inkspire” for creative writing and poetry, Dr. Madhulika Das, faculty in-charge.
“Drama Club” for stage performance and to encourage creativity, Ms. Atisha Srivastava, faculty in-charge.
“The Film and Photography Club” for critical reviews and film appreciation skills, Dr. Abraham Varghese, faculty in-charge.

These initiatives provide students with valuable opportunities to nurture their talents, enhance communication and creative abilities, and contribute to their overall personality development.

(f) Students’ Achievements:

Students of the Department of English consistently demonstrate academic excellence and remarkable research potential. Many alumni have successfully qualified prestigious national-level examinations such as the Civil Services Examination and UGC-NET examination, securing eligibility for Assistant Professorship and Junior Research Fellowship (JRF). They have gone on to serve in significant capacities, including diplomatic services and academia, bringing distinction to the department through their professional achievements and scholarly contributions.

The Department takes immense pride in its distinguished alumni who have successfully qualified the UPSC Civil Services Examination and have gone on to serve the nation as officers in the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) and Indian Foreign Service (IFS). Listed below are the students who have brought laurels to the Department through their remarkable achievements:

Mr. B. P. Bagchi, I.C.S., Secretary to the Ministry of Finance, Government of India
Mr. Mangal Behari, I.A.S
Mr. George Jacob, I.A.S
Mrs. Depali Nag, Indian Classical Singer
Mrs. Meera Shankar, an IFS officer of the 1973 batch, was the second Indian female to serve as the Indian Ambassador to the United States of America.
Mr. Nagendra Kumar Saxena, an IFS officer of the 1982 batch.
Dr. Satbir Bedi, an IAS officer of the 1986 batch.

The achievements of the Department’s students stand as a testament to its enduring tradition of academic excellence, with many successfully qualifying the UGC-NET examination. A few of these achievers are listed below:

Mr. Brijesh Upadhyay
Ms. Atisha Srivastava (2019)
Mr. Steve Antony (2022)
Ms. Tanya Shroff (2025)
Mr. Rajat Raj (2026)

(g) Events and Activities

Inauguration and Investiture Ceremony of the English Association of the college was held on 14th October 2025.
Interactive session with Mr. Hemvant Tiwari (writer, actor and director) on 29^th October, 2025.
Creative Story Writing Competition on 30th October, 2025.
Debate Competition on on 8^th November, 2025.
The Department of English in collaboration with Imarticus Learning Group organized an Orientation Programme on 19th November, 2025.
On 22^nd January, 2026, the English Association of the college, in collaboration with LitAgra, organized the book launch of Sabeena – A Novel, the latest work by Shri Narendra Taneja, a renowned energy policy expert and author.
Interview with scholar and author Prof. Ravindra Pratap Singh and Dr Alka Singh
LitMeet – An intellectually engaging literary event was organized by the English Association and LitAgra on March 28th, 2026.

Head of the department

Dr. Isaac A.K. Ghosh

M.A., Ph.D., CELTA

Head, Department of English

E-mail: isaacghosh@gmail.com

Faculty Members (Present)

Name	Dr. Isaac A.K. Ghosh
Designation	Associate Professor and Head
Education	M.A. English (University of Allahabad in 2002) Ph.D. (Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Agra in 2009) CELTA (Cambridge University in 2015)
Research Experience	2005 – 2009 Research Scholar (Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Agra)
Teaching Experience	2008 – 2009 Lecturer (Mount Carmel College, Bangalore) 2005 – 2008 Guest Faculty (St. John’s College, Agra) 2011 – till date (St. John’s College, Agra)
Email id	isaacghosh@gmail.com

Name	Dr. Suresh Babu Aremanda
Designation	Assistant Professor
Education	M.A. English (Acharya Nagarjuna University, Guntur in 2006) PGDTE (English and Foreign Languages University, Hyderabad in 2008) M. Phil. (Maulana Azad National Urdu University, Hyderabad in 2010) Ph.D. (Acharya Nagarjuna University, Guntur in 2021)
Research Experience	2014 – 2021 Research Scholar (Acharya Nagarjuna University, Guntur)
Teaching Experience	2010 – 2012 Assistant Professor (TURBO Engineering College, JNTU, Hyderabad) 2021 – 2025 Assistant Professor (VFSTR University, Guntur) 2025 – till date (St. John’s College, Agra)
Email id	suresh@sjcagra.ac.in

Name	Dr. Madhulika Das
Designation	Assistant Professor
Education	M.A. English (Gold Medallist) (DDU Gorakhpur University, Gorakhpur in 2010) B.Ed. (St. Andrew’s College, Gorakhpur in 2012) Ph.D. (DDU Gorakhpur University, Gorakhpur in 2017) PGDT (IGNOU in 2020)
Research Experience	2013 – 2017 Research scholar (DDU Gorakhpur University, Gorakhpur)
Teaching Experience	2018 – 2021 Guest Faculty (Delhi Technological University, Delhi) 2021 – 2025 Assistant Professor (Ajay Kumar Garg Engineering College, Ghaziabad) 2025 – till date (St. John’s College, Agra)
Email id	madhulikadas@sjcagra.ac.in

Name	Ms. Atisha Srivastava
Designation	Assistant Professor
Education	M.A. English (St. John’s College, Agra in 2018)
Research Experience	2021 – till date Research Scholar (UGC-NET) (St. John’s College, Dr. B. R. Ambedkar University, Agra)
Teaching Experience	2019 – 2025 Guest Faculty (St. John’s College, Agra) 2025 – till date (St. John’s College, Agra)
Email id	atishasrivastavasjc@gmail.com

Name	Dr. Abraham Varghese
Designation	Assistant Professor
Education	M.A. English, Aligarh Muslim University in 2012) Ph.D. (Aligarh Muslim University in 2020) PGCTE (EFL University, Hyderabad in 2017)
Research Experience	2014 – 2020 Research Scholar (Aligarh Muslim University)
Teaching Experience	2021 – 2021 Visiting Faculty (Community College, Aligarh Muslim University) 2021 – 2025 Guest Faculty (Isabella Thoburn College, Lucknow) 2025 – till date (St. John’s College, Agra)
Email id	abrahamvarghese.amu@gmail.com