MUMBAI: The Somaiya School of Civilisation Studies at Somaiya Vidyavihar University announced significant academic developments, including the launch of its peer-reviewed journal Transarea, research initiatives from four centres, and two new degree programmes—BA in Liberal Arts and MA in Liberal Arts.
The four research centres have initiated projects examining diverse subjects, including educational patterns in Kachchh, maritime construction, navigation knowledge and nautical sciences, alongside Asian history, culture, economics, governance and philosophical thought. These centres collectively focus on understanding cultural persistence, cross-regional interactions and traditional knowledge systems.
The university organised a special event to announce these developments, with attendees including 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 senior journalist Mr. Kumar Ketkar, alongside academic community members.
Prof Ganesh Devy, Dean School of Humanities and Social Sciences, stated, “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.”
Chancellor Shri Samir Somaiya recounted, “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.”
He continued, “This is something we’re carrying forward together. It isn’t about any one person, it’s all of us. As trustees, our role is to enable and set guardrails to protect the institution as we move ahead.”
Transarea, published by the Somaiya School of Civilisation Studies, is a scholarly peer-reviewed publication encompassing history, international relations, political science, sociology, anthropology, philosophy, literature and area studies.
The journal demonstrates the School’s dedication to promoting academic discourse across geographical and subject boundaries.