The Centre for English Language Studies (CELS) is proud to highlight the recent international academic milestones achieved by PhD scholar Ms. Solanki Chakraborty, who completed a three-week research trip to the United Kingdom supported by a prestigious data collection grant from the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR).

Primary Archival Research in London & Birmingham

Solanki’s doctoral thesis examines the history of English Language Teaching (ELT) practices in select educational institutions within the 19th-century Bengal Presidency and their broader impact on historical educational policies.
During her visit, she gathered crucial primary data at two world-renowned research centers:
  • The British Library, London
  • The Cadbury Research Library, Birmingham
Her archival work focused on primary records from key foundational institutions under study, including Hindu College, the General Assembly Institution, and the Sanskrit College.

Conference Presentation at the University of Nottingham

In addition to her archival work, Solanki presented a paper at the annual colloquium of the Henry Sweet Society for the History of Linguistic Ideas, held at the University of Nottingham from September 2–4, 2026.
  • Theme: (Non-)Native Speakers in the History of Linguistic Ideas
  • Paper Title: “Transformation from Non-native to Native-English Speakers: A Case of Hindoo College Pupils in the Bengal Presidency (1825-1888)”
To support her participation at the colloquium, Solanki was also awarded the Martin Burr Travel Bursary.

Acknowledgements

Solanki extends her heartfelt gratitude to her supervisor, Prof. P. Sailaja (Retd.), co-supervisor Prof. Sunita Mishra, Department Research Committee (DRC) member Prof. Sowmya Dechamma CC, and the entire CELS department for their invaluable mentorship, guidance, and encouragement throughout the grant application and travel process.