Introduction: The Department was established to enable the ethnic society of Uttarakhand region to avoid cultural jingoism by a syncretistic adaptation of Western learning; teaching of foreign languages designed to mix different religions, philosophies and ideas of humanistic nature to cut through the deadwood of obscurantist layers usually found in multi-ethnic societies. Such a view manages to combine philanthropic support of loyal undergraduate alumni with growing support from sate and central governments for the more esoteric and hitherto unexplored branches of scholarships. This also foster the spirit of liberalism and cosmopolitanism into the provincial and self-preoccupied traditional window of the Himalayan hill-dwellers’ society which has not yet found immersion into a world culture.

The Department came into being at a crucial juncture when the educational non-profit sector of the region was suffering from a climate of depression, both psychological and budgetary. Ever since, through pragmatic activism and inter-disciplinary programmes the Department has carved out a niche for itself.