Comparative Literature is an interdisciplinary area of studies that has gained importance in the academic programmes of Humanities in the last few decades. As a subject it has great relevance to a multi-lingual society like India. Comparative Literature allows students to explore research areas in the core subjects of thematology, genealogy, literary history, literary influence, and reception, besides related fields of performance studies, theatre studies, film studies etc. It goes beyond mere comparative study of texts to include issues of nation, caste, race, gender, region, culture etc. in the analysis of texts. The relation between orality and literacy as well as issues related to the history of print and publishing also form topics studied under the rubric of Comparative Literature.
The M.Phil. programme comprises two semesters of course work followed by one semester for dissertation (extendable by one more semester without fellowship).
The Ph.D. programme comprises two semesters of course work followed by six semesters for thesis (extendable by one more semester without fellowship).