V.G.Vaze College of Arts, Science and Commerce, Mulund, Mumbai            
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History Department( Degree College)

Name : Dr. Sonali S. Pednekar (Head)
Department : History
Qualification :
  1. Ph. D: University of Mumbai, March 2008 Topic: 'Maratha Presence in Thane: A Study of Political, Socio- Economic and Cultural Aspects (1739 – 1818) Research Guide: Dr. Euguene D'Souza
  2. M.Phil: History in 1990 (University of Mumbai) Dissertation: Age of Consent Bill (1892) – Controversy in Bombay and Poona Research Guide: Dr. L.B. Kenny
  3. M.A.: History in 1985, I Class
  4. B.A.: History in 1983, II Class
Designation Associate Professor and Head
Specialisation Maratha History
Research Experience
  1. Commissioned by the Gazetteer Department, Maharashtra State Government to write the history of Ahmednagar district, 2009
  2. Completed a Minor Research project entitled "The Study of Architectural Styles of Some Buildings in Thane" in 2009 – 2010 funded by the University of Mumbai
  3. Principal investigator for a UGC funded Minor Research Project on "Responses of Linguistic Communities to the socio-cultural development of the suburb of Mulund in independent India".
Membership in University 1. Member of Board of Studies of History & Archaeology, University of Mumbai from 2010
Membership in College
  1. Coordinator, IQAC from 2009
  2. 2. Convener, Steering Committee for Re- Accreditation
Membership of Professional bodies
  1. Life member of Bombay Local History Society
  2. Life member of Heras Society
  3. Life member of the Asiatic Society of Bombay
  4. Member of Mumbai History Teachers Association
Other Contributions I am one of the very few persons possessing the ability to read documents and records written in Modi script. Modi script was used extensively by the Maratha rulers and administrators from the 17th century for the maintenance of records. It is a highly specialized script that requires special training.

Have utilized my expertise in this highly specialized area by offering consultancy to numerous individuals and corporate offices that are in possession of such 18th, 19th and 20th century documents written in modi.

Have designed a curriculum to impart training in Modi script to students of various c olleges in Mumbai.

This curriculum is taught through a ten week certificate programme at Vaze College and Heras Institute of Indian History and Culture, St. Xavier's College, Mumbai. Several batches have successfully completed this course.

Have been invited as resource person to several colleges to deliver a talk and/or conduct a workshop on the Modi scriptX Awarded the Teacher Fellowship for two years from 2005 - 2007 under the X Plan of the U.G.C.

Awarded a Minor Research Grant from the University of Mumbai,. 2009 - 2010
Awards Received Awarded the Teacher Fellowship for two years from 2005 - 2007 under the X Plan of the U.G.C.
Seminars/Colloquium/Workshop/ Conferences attended / participated Attended
  1. National level seminar on "Dynamics of Educational Quality" organized by Education Management Services and Christ College, at Bangalore, 22nd – 23rd February 2008.
  2. Visited the Universities of Toronto and Vancouver as a member of the Indian delegation for an International Conference India Calling organized by the Indian Merchants' Chamber in July 2008
  3. 31st Historians' Workshop organized by Heras Institute of Indian History and Culture, St. Xavier's College on "Regional Language Sources for the History of Maharashtra", January 2009.
  4. National Seminar on NAAC sponsored "Third Cycle of Accreditation", organized by Birla College, Kalyan, 12th February 2011
  5. Workshop entitled "Beyond Boundaries: Unconventional Sources for the History of Mumbai - II" organized by The Asiatic Society of Mumbai, 30th March 2011.
  6. Attended a summer workshop on 'Teaching History with Technology' at Harvard University, June 2011
  7. Attended a summer workshop on 'Primary Sources 2.0' at Harvard University, June 2011 Papers presented:
  8. Paper presented on "Student Quality Literacy Index" at U.G.C. sponsored National level seminar on "Institutionalization of IQAC" oraganised by A.S. Patil College of Commerce, Bijapur, 7th – 8th March 2008
  9. Paper presented on "Migration: A Case Study of Eighteenth Century Thane"State level Conference on "Transposing Images: History and Tourism of Konkan as an Aid to Socio-Economic Development", University Department of History, Mumbai, 13th – 15th October 2008
  10. Presented a paper on "Reflections of Local History through Powadas" at the conference of Indian Historical Studies, LJNJ College, Mumbai, October 2009
  11. Invited to present a paper on "From Pagadi to Gandhi Topee" at a workshop entitled "Beyond Boundaries: Unconventional Sources for the History of Mumbai" organized by The Asiatic Society of Mumbai, 17th February 2010
  12. Presented a paper on "Vaze College: A Case Study of Self-generative Endeavours in Academic – Industry Linkages" at a National Seminar on IQAC organized by R. Jhunjhunwala College, Mumbai, 15th & 16th Dec. 2010
Publications
  1. Jointly compiled a reference book entitled "Panch Kala Rooplipi" September 2005
  2. Article entitled "Road Connectivity between Salsette and Thane in the early nineteenth century" published in The Explorer, June 2008
  3. Article entitled "Thane Fort and City: An Eighteenth Century Perspective" Journal of the K.R. Cama Oriental Institute, No. 70, 2010, Mumbai (ISSN 0970 – 0609)
  4. Text book entitled History of the Marathas for T.Y.B.A. (revised in 2009)
Consultancy
  1. Offered consultancy service to Ms. Godrej & Boyce for transliteration of 20 pages of documents in Modi script pertaining to years 1907 and 1914
  2. Offered consultancy to Ms. Bharat Impex Corporation for transliteration of 360 pages of documents in Modi script pertaining to the financial year 1909 – 10.
Invitations & Presentations
  1. Delivered a talk on "Maratha Presence in Thane (1737 – 1818") at the Annual General Body Meeting of the Bombay Local History Society, 2nd August 2008.
  2. Invited to deliver the inaugural address of the History Association of Joshi – Bedekar College, Thane on "Career options in History", 14th August 2008.
  3. Invited to deliver a lecture on "Thane Fort and City: An Eighteenth Century Perspective" at the K.R. Cama Oriental Institute, Mumbai, 27th August 2008.
  4. Resource person at a workshop on Manuscriptology at Heras Institute of Indian History and Culture, December 2008.
  5. Delivered a talk on "Careers In History" in Vaze College, September 2009
  6. Resource person for a talk on "Sources of Maratha History" at Elphinstone College, 20th November 2009
  7. Resource person for a ten week course on Modi Script at Heras Institute of Indian History and Culture, October - December 2009
  8. Resource person at a workshop on Manuscriptology held by St. Xavier's College, 15th January 2010
  9. Resource person for a ten week basic course on Modi Script at Heras Institute of Indian History and Culture, July – September 2010.
  10. Invited as a Guest Speaker by S.I.E.S. College to talk on "Relevance of History", September 2010
  11. Invited as a Guest Speaker by Dept. of Tourism, Govt. of Maharashtra on the 'Relevance of Historical Sites in Tourism' at a Workshop organized by Gogate College, Ratnagiri, October 2010.
  12. Invited as Resource Person to deliver a talk on "Modi – the unique script of Maharashtra" by the Department of Philosophy, University of Mumbai, 27th February 2011.
  13. Resource person for a ten week advanced course on Modi Script at Heras Institute of Indian History and Culture, December 2010 – March 2011.
Co – curricular activities
  1. Member of the Core Committee for an UGC and ICSSR sponsored State level Multidisciplinary Conference on "Maharashtra 1960 -2010: Imaging the Past and Envisioning the Future", 22nd – 23rd January 2010. The Conference was organized to commemorate the 50 years of the state of Maharashtra.