The history of geography in J.B. College is as old the history of the college itself. After the establishment of the college in 1930 , Commercial Geography was taught in the intermediate course in 1933 and the subject got affiliation in the same year from the Calcutta University. General Geography has been taught at Higher Secondary level since 1972.
With the increase in number of Students and responding to the demand of time, the subject of Geography was opened at the Degree level in 1979 as a core subject. The relentless approach of Prof. H. N. Borah, the founder of the Department has made it possible to open Honours (now Major) in the subject in 1986.
The first batch of the students came out successfully in the year 1988. Since then, quite a good number of students have been offering Geography as a Major subject. The department also takes pride in producing four Best Graduates under Dibrugarh University (DU) in the pre-autonomous period.
It was upgraded to a Post-Graduate Department in 1995 and was the only post-graduate Department under Dibrugarh University. Of late, Dibrugarh University has opened a Post-Graduate Study Centre in its campus since 2008. Post-graduate program in Geography has been continuing as a self-financing program since its inception. Now, it is offering three different special (optional) papers in the PG level and these are – Geoinformatics, Regional Planning and Political Geography. Department of Geography of this college has been recognised by the Dibrugarh University as a Research Centre for Doctoral degree.
Excellent results with 90 percent and above in undergraduate and nearly 100 percent success rate in post-graduate level have traditionally been a matter of glory for J. B. College in general and the Department of Geography in particular. This is why the Department of Geography has a good position not only in the college, but well-known throughout Upper Assam.
Observed over the years that students from every part of Assam and also from the neighbouring states of North East India have shown their interest to enrol themselves in this Department. Several post-graduate students of this Department topped among the universities of North east India. Similarly, several Best Graduates of Dibrugarh University were products of this Department. Pass outs from this department or alumni are well placed in and outside Assam.
The Department of Geography is pioneer in the college to conduct National and Regional level seminars. So long it has conducted and organised several National and Regional level seminars, workshops, training programmes, coaching programmes. The Department also has good relation with several state and central Government organizations of Jorhat and its surrounding. Scholars from these organizations take classes and deliver lectures in the Department from time to time.