The Somaiya School of Civilisation Studies at Somaiya Vidyavihar University on April 12 announced introduction of two new degree programmes—BA in Liberal Arts and MA in Liberal Arts. Four research projects by its 4 research centres and launch of its peer-reviewed journal Transarea, was also part of this announcement. Reflecting Somaiya School of Civilisation Studies’s commitment to fostering intellectual crossovers across regions and disciplines, Transarea is a peer-reviewed journal offering scholarly engagement across history, international relations, political science, sociology, anthropology, philosophy, literature, and area studies.
The announcements were made at a special event held on the university campus, attended by Shri Samir Somaiya, Chancellor of Somaiya Vidyavihar University; Prof. V. N. Rajasekharan Pillai, Vice Chancellor; Prof. Satish Modh, Pro- Vice Chancellor, Prof. Ganesh Devy, Dean, School of Humanities and Social Sciences; and veteran journalist Mr. Kumar Ketkar, along with several scholars and members of the academic community.
The research centres—Centre for Kachchh & Desert Studies, Centre for Himalayan & Mountain Studies, Centre for Asian & Area Studies, and Centre for Indian Ocean & Transoceanic Studies, have announced a series of research projects focusing on themes such as educational dynamics in Kachchh, maritime shipbuilding, seafaring knowledge and nautical science, as well as Asian history, culture, economy, polity, and philosophies. Together, these centres aim to shape conversations around cultural continuity, transregional exchanges, and indigenous epistemologies.
Prof Ganesh Devy, Dean School of Humanities and Social Sciences, said, “What began as a simple idea has grown into the School of Civilization, an ambitious initiative bringing together passionate researchers from across disciplines and countries. With a shared vision and collaborative spirit, scholars from around the world are shaping a series on the rise and fall of civilizations, with global publishers involved and regional editions planned in multiple Indian languages.”
Reflecting on the origins of Somaiya Vidyavihar, Chancellor Shri Samir Somaiya shared, “Somebody once asked my grandfather, ‘Why build a College of Arts and Science on this barren land?’ That first building later became the K J Somaiya College of Arts and Science. But he simply said, ‘It’s VidyaVihar.’ He imagined more than just buildings; he imagined Socrates here. Because it was about civilizations, values, and giving back.”
