Mrs. Agnes de Sa,
Associate Professor and Head of Department.
ahdesa@rediffmail.com

Qualifications:
B.A.               University of Mumbai      1975      II Class Honours
M.A.              University Of Mumbai      1977      I Class
M.PHIL.         University of Mumbai       1989

Dissertation: East India Company Records; Surat 1675-1680.   
 
Diploma in Higher Education     1984
Diploma in Travel and Tourism      1976

SCHOLARSHIPS:
Heras Society Scholarship        2007.
Topic:   Socio-Religious Relevance of the Crosses in Bandra.

MEMBERSHIP
Joint Secretary:      Church History Association of India (CHAI).
Secretary:                Church History Association of India, Western India Branch.
Governing Body:    The K.R.  Cama Oriental Institute, Mumbai.
International Association for Asian Heritage (IAAH)
Bombay Local History Society.
Maritime History Society.
Oriental Conference of India.

PAPERS PRESENTED:   i)    ‘Aesthetic Memorials; St. Thomas Cathedral, Mumbai’,
                                               44th All India Oriental Conference, Kurukshetra, 2008.
                                      ii)    ‘The Portuguese Legacy’
                                             The K.R. Cama Oriental Institute International Seminar,
                                             2010.                                      
                                     iii)    ‘Indian Christian Art’
                                                45th All India Oriental Conference, Tirupati, 2010.
                                     iv)   ‘Indo-Portuguese Ivory Sculptures’
                                             National Seminar, Antiga Goa e Nova Goa, Mumbai, 2011.
                                     v)  ‘ Social and Religious Significance of Christian Shrines in
                                           Mumbai’.  
                                           1st Conference, International Association for Asian
                                           Heritage (IAAH), Colombo, 2011.
    
RELATED EXPERIENCE:

Has been associated for a decade with the Heras Institute of Indian History and Culture, Mumbai, guiding under-graduate students at the ‘Research Methodology and Reconstructing History’ programme.
Since 2006-2007 and in collaboration with the Heras Institute, has organized an annual Certificate Course on ‘Indian Art Appreciation’.
From 2010-2011, this course has been conducted in collaboration with The K.R. Cama Oriental Institute, Mumbai.
Have organized a National Seminar for CHAI at Goa in 2005.

Other activities of the Department

The department conducts the  ‘Indian Art Appreciation Course’annually. The numbers have kept on increasing, 140 registered and regrettably we had to turn back some students. The resource persons this year are all well known in their respective fields of research. They were able to capture the attention of the participants and every session saw a lot of interaction. The programme included the following :
Ms Shilpa Chedda --- Indian Art ; Maurya - Gupta.
Dr. Joan Dias --- Indian Christian Art,
Dr. Vandana Prappana ---Miniature Paintings.
Dr. Suraj Pandit --- Cave Temples in Mumbai.
Dr. Anila Verghese ---Vijayanagara-Nayaka Temple and Courtly Architecture, Sculpture and Painting.
Dr. Kirit Mankodi --- Stepwells.
This course generated a tremendous response from the History students of L. S. Raheja College.
They participated in many courses and seminars during the year. `Mithurani Bhunia and Evania Gomes of the TYBA enrolled for the Research Methodology Programme conducted by the Heras institute and were both awarded an ‘A’ grade for the assignments they wrote. Evania Gomes went further and successfully completed the ‘Maritime History Course’, conducted jointly by the Heras Institute and the Maritime History Society. The first year students were equally enthusiastic . Neelam Pandey and Akhila attended a workshop on ‘Dance as reflected in Art and Architecture’. Ten students attended an International Seminar conducted by the K.R.Cama Oriental Institute on, ‘Architecture as Social History: Reflections on Bombay/Mumbai’. The students showed an even greater enthusiasm when it came to outdoor activities. A trek up to the Gharapuri (Elephants) Caves did not tire them out and next they visited the Fort at Sion. A walk was conducted around Horniman Circle, visiting Town Hall/Asiatic Society and St. Thomas cathedral.

Along with the members of the Bombay Local History Society they also visited the Shivdi Fort and were fascinated by the visiting ‘Flamingos’ on the shore.

Mrs. A. De Sa once again was a Guide to the participants of the Research Methodology Programme. She participated in many seminars, workshops and lecture series, putting her free time to good use during the strike period. She presented a paper, ‘The Portuguese Legacy’ at the International Seminar organized by the K. R. Cama Oriental Institute. This received wide and appreciative coverage by the media.
The K.R.Cama Oriental Institute has invited Mrs. De Sa to be on their Governing Body.


REPORT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY   2010-2011:

     The Department of History has had an activity filled 2010-2011. The year started out on a very pleasant note with the TYBA students doing well at the University examinations held in April 2010.
The aim of the Department has been to empower students with knowledge beyond the scope of the regular syllabus. With this in mind, students are encouraged to participate in seminars/workshops organised by various colleges/ institutions of Mumbai.
One student registered for the ‘Research Methodology’ programme of the Heras Institute. 
Some students attended the Bombay Local History Society  seminar on “Underground Mumbai”, and the International Seminar on “Shahnameh” organised by The K.R. Cama Oriental Institute.
Of course, they participated in large numbers in the Certificate Course on “Indian Art Appreciation”  organised by the Department.
Finally, six of them enrolled for the workshop on “ Culinary Art of India”  conducted by Dr. Mohsina Mukadam, and have prepared fascinating assignments on related topics.
The Department collaborated with the Malti Jayant Dalal Library of our college in a new programme for students. Four students worked with and under the guidance of the Librarian, Ms Parita Desai for three months, after lectures. They were introduced to a world of classification, cataloguing and arrangement of books. We are hoping that this sort of practical work experience will make them more aware of the intricacies of Library Science as a career. 
This year a paper entitled ‘History of Mumbai’ was introduced at the FYBA.  So each time the students attended  seminars in south Mumbai, they were also introduced to the architectural styles and monuments of the early Mumbai. The KalaGhoda Festival attracted students and they have put together a fascinating collage of the event. They seem to enjoy outdoor activities and the Department plans some more after the second term examinations. 
 Mrs A. de Sa continues her research on Indian Christian Art and presented a paper at a National seminar. Being on the Governing Body of The K.R.Cama Oriental Institute and the Joint Secretary of the Church History Association of India, she is actively involved in organising seminars and competitions.
By invoking the past and involving the present, the Department hopes to inspire the future!


               INDIAN ART APPRECIATION COURSE 2010-2011.

The  2010-2011 certificate course in ‘ Indian Art Appreciation’  was the first collaborative venture between the L.S.Raheja College of Arts and Commerce and The K.R.Cama Oriental Institute, Mumbai.
 Indian art is animated by India’s religious, literary, cultural and mythological traditons. Various foreign and indigenous styles mingled in India to form an art culture of kaleidoscopic beauty. The purpose of the course is that participants learn not only to admire the work of the Indian artists but also understand and appreciate the rich symbolism and colourful diversity of Indian art.
 The course was conducted from the 8th December 2010 to 10th December 2010. There were six sessions  in all, four of which were held in the auditorium of L.S.  Raheja College. The final two sessions were held in the Seminar hall of the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangralaya .
The resource persons made their presentations on the following topics:
Dr. Suraj Pandit----Cave Temples in Mumbai.
Mrs. Agnes de Sa---- Indian Christian Art.
Dr. Manjiri Thakoor----Stylised and Simple forms in Indian Art.
Ms. Shristi Iyer----The Twin Journey of Sculpture and Dance.
Dr. Vandana Prappana----Interpreting Art: A Case Study of Krishna and Miniature Paintings Galleries
                                               In CSMVS.
Dr. S. Mukherjee----Art and Architecture of Mirpurkhas Buddha Stupa.
There were 65 participants and they were students  from Sophia College,Jai Hind College, Patkar College, V.G.Vaze College, R.D. National College, Abhinav College,Ramnarian Ruia College and L.S.Raheja College. They were highly appreciative of the effort of  the resource persons in making their power point presentations a visual delight.They asked questions enthusiastically and  enjoyed putting up skits on the Krishna themes. The visit to the museum allowed them to explore the world of sculpture and painting at close quarters.
A special word of thanks to the Director, CSMVS, Dr. S. Mukherjee for being part of the course and accomodating us in the Seminar hall. This course would not have seen the light of day without the encouragement and support of Mr. M. N. Cama and Dr. Nawaz Mody. We remain indebted to them.