1-B -- General Background
Bengali Language Bengali Literature
1. Old Phase(1000 to 1350 AD) 1. Ancient Period(650 to 1200 AD)
• The Earliest example- Charyapada • The most famous specimen of poems was Charyapada
• Collection of Buddhist poems • 47 hymns were there
• Written by Buddhist monks • Language was known as Sandhya or twilight
2. Medieval Phase(1350 to 1800 AD ) 2. Medieval Period(1200 to 1800 AD)
• Mostly translation work included like Ramayana, • Various annecdotes, rhymes verses like Dak and Khana were
Mahavarata. done(rituals)
• Biography of Sri Chaitanya, Purbabongo Gitika, vaisnava • About Radha and Krishna, Translation of Baru Chandidas were
lyrics were done done
• Patronization of Sultans to Hindu and Muslim writers • Patronisation of Sultans
• Perso-Arabic words took place • Special poetic form ’Brajabuli’ was done
• Poetic form was there • Translation works were done from Sanskrit
• Muslim culture was developed with the translation of Arabic and
3. Modern Phase(1800 to till now) Persian work
• Started from 1800 AD with the influence of English
• Prose form started from this time 3. Modern Period(1800 to till now)
• Bangla borrowed words from Sanskrit, English, and other • Started during British Colonial period
European languages • Between 1800 to 1850, Christian missionarires and Sanskrit
• The further growth of Bengali language started with the writers made important contribution
contributors • Notable writings include- Translation of Bible by William Carrey,
• Raja Rammohon Roy, Bankim Chandra Chattopaddhya, Social reforms of Raja Rammohon Roy, Alaler Gharer Dulal, 1st
Iswar Chandra Bidyasagar, Michel Modhusudan Dutta, Mir novel of Peary Chand Mitra
Mosharraf Hossain, Rabindranath Tagore, Promotho • Between 1850 to 1900, Writers were influenced by Western
Chowdhury helped everyday spoken language to turn into thoughts, literature, poems, novels.Bankim Chandra wrote 14
written language novels, Dinabondhu Mitra wrote ’Nildarpon’
• 50 letters-39 consonants, 11 vowels • At the end of 19th, Rabindranath Tagore played significant
• Two forms of languages-Formal (Sadhu)and role.Then Kazi Nazrul, Sukanta Vattacharya.
informal(Chalita) • More recent writers were Dr. Mohammad Shahidullah,Kazi
• Regional Dielects- Drama Imdadul Haque, Jasimudin, Ahsan Habib, Farrukh Ahmed.
Importance of Music
• Bengali music has a rich and diverse tradition.
• It is the way of recreation or refreshment as well as it reflects the
culture, way of life, tradition.
• It is the presentation of lyrics, tunes with the instrument
like harmonium, tabla, guitar, esraj, violin, flute Setar etc
• Bengali culture, can be easily reflected through it.
• Music has been developed over a long period of time in different
patterns like Kirtan, Kavigaan, Pala or Ballads, Jatra song, classical
music, early modern song, modern song.
• In the earliest time music only conveyed the religious message .
• Then it started to flourish the social text,folk culture, historical
message, life of the ordinary people as well as others.
• Bengali music mostly developed with five music composers like
Rabindranath Tagore, Kazi Nazrul Islam, Dwijendralal Roy, Rajanikanta
Sen , Atul Prosad who reflected reality and meaning of life ,love,
nature, culture, emotions, joy and sorrow.
• Now a days music is developing in different patterns like band, rock hip
hop etc.
• It is the important part of our culture as it reflects our Bengali life ,
development of our culture in different way from past to till now.
Importance of Painting
• We have a rich tradition of painting .
• It reflects our culture, way of life, pitiable or miserable condition as well as
memorable events of joy and sorrow.
• Our traditional painting develops with the contribution of Zainul Abedin.
• Painting works as a bridge between past and present.
• Different historical events, archeological heritage, natural beauty, memorable
events, famine, rural text, progress of our culture and civilization can be
reflected through painting.
• Kamrul Hasan, Quaium Chowdhury, S.M.Sultan, Hasem khan are the notable
painters who taught us how to reflect culture through painting.
• Famine Sketch of 1943 is the real example of reflecting the culture of
Bangladesh by Zainul Abedin.
• Alpona and chitro are the important part of our culture.
• Alpona is the collection of motifs and designs which is done in wedding
ceremony, national day like Ekushey February to reflects the flora and fauna of
Bangladesh.
• Chitro is done in different occasion like sports, victory day, 21 st February, 26th
march named ongo chitro, pot chitro.
• After all. Painting represents our identity, our culture, social and national text,
as well as pros and cons of our Bengali life and it is the important part of our
culture.
Importance of Dance
• Dance is a presentation of body language with music.
• Bangladeshi dance is not yet developed, it is based on
classical pattern.
• It has an influence of tribal and middle Eastern dance, folk art.
• The great influence of Tribal dance and folk dance are
‘Monipuri’, Santal, Jari, Sari, Murshidi etc
• As dance is presented following song and song is based on our
Bengali culture, tradition, rural life, festivals so dance reflect
our culture .
• Now a days dance is becoming more developed following
Indian practice.
• Bengali dance is mostly enriched with few notable artists like
Munmun Haque, Sharmila Bandopaddhya.
• After all it is the important part of our culture to convey the
message to others.
• Dance drama , the concept of Rabindranath Tagore also
opened a new pattern of reflecting the culture.
Importance of Jatra
• Jatra or folk drama is another form of traditional culture.
• Just few decades ago it was the most popular entertainment
of rural people.
• It draws the mythological episodes of tragedy or comedy
following traditional plays, novels.
• It is a rural practice and stage performance of rural people.
• Rural people or sometimes the notable Jatra Dal perform it
with a long rehearsal.
• It is performed either in front of a temple or in a field during
Eid-Ul-Fitre or Durga Puja.
• It is an old form of drama through what people took
entertainment as well as it conveys the message of way of life,
tradition , social behavior, religion, history, love ,emotion etc.
• It also gives us a good lesson of real life with recreation
• Some notable playwrights were Sharot Chandra
Chattopaddhya, Falguni Mukherjee, Mir Mosharraf Hossain,
Munier Chowdhury.
Importance of Architecture
• We have a rich archeological heritage from ancient time to till now.
• Architectures includes all types of building constructions like mosque, temple,
monuments, tombs, administrative building, furnishings, roads and highways, memorable
sculptures.
• It reflects the development of a culture, civilization, administration and the way of life.
• These developments were done sometimes to gain popularity and sometimes to say
prayers.
• Different archeological development of different ages are-
• Ancient Time: In this time Buddhist monasteries , Hindu Temples, Muslim mosques, and
the earliest urban centre , Mahasthangarh of Bogra were built.
• Sultanate Period: The architecture of early modern period was characterized by mosques
and tombs.
• During Iliyas Shahi and Hussain Shahi dynasty, it got a style of its own.
• By the middle of the 15th century, architecture showed its independence from external
influence and flourished it in local form.
• The categories of mosques were square single, multi-domed, or rectangular multi-domed.
• The roofs were curved with 4 corner tower.
• There were other pattern of Arabic calligraphy, terracotta plaques, stone cutters art, new
brick style, Quibla Wall.
• The notable mosques were Adina mosque, Baro Sona and Choto Sona mosque, Kadam
Rasul mosque etc.
• Mughal Period: Mughal architecture o mostly developed under Shahjahan and
Aurangazeb
• During Shaista Khan’s time Bengal architecture Bengal architecture developed with
many monuments with imitations,.
• The materials they used were plaster brick, plaster paneling, ornamentation with
stone.
• Hindus erected temples following Sultanate style, do chala, Chouchala, terracotta
ornamentation.
• Notable mosques were- Sat Masjid, Dhanmondi Eidgah, Dara Begum’s mosques, Raja
Ram Temple, Lalbag Fort, Zinzira fort.
• Colonial period- British Colonial architecture represents both Indian and British
elements.
• It represents majestic buildings, for residential official purposes.
• Lofty domes, classical pillars, semi circular archs and pediments are followed.
• Notable constructions were –Ahsan Manjil, Curzon Hall.
• In Pakistan colonial period, there was no significant pattern.
• Few works were done like- Parliament building, Kamalapur Railway station.
• After independence, architectural pattern got its own freedom to represent the
patriotic feelings.
• National mausoleum, Shaheed Minar Aparajeyo Bangla are the example.
• Now- a- Days sky scrapers buildings, multistoried , steel glass furniture is done.
• As a whole architecture reflects our culture, civilization, tradition, way of life, so it is
the important part.
Importance of Drama
• Drama has an old tradition and popular to us.
• It is followed from traditional Jatra.
• It is the performance following short novels, play or play lets.
• It has very significant tradition and values in human life.
• Now a days it is the most popular form to have refreshment or recreation.
• Bengali drama is originated from Western culture which was started by
Shakespeare.
• It is mythological presentation of tragedy or comedy, love or affection.
• It represents our culture, religion, tradition, festivals, way of life, folk culture
etc.
• ‘Bailey Road’ is known as ‘Natok Para’ where drama is produced to perform.
• Famous drama producers of Bangladesh are Humayun Ahmed, Mostafa
Sarwar Faruki, Aronnoyo Anwar, Pantho Shahriar, Towkir Ahmed.
• In Dhaka city stage drama is performed in Shilpokala Academy, public library
auditorium, National Museum Auditorium,in front of Shaheed Minar.
• Drama represents our culture practically and that’s why this is the
important part of our culture.
Importance of folk culture
• Folk culture is interrelated with folk arts, crafts, festivals and games.
• It includes making of ornaments, clothes, toys, tapestry, utility items, utensils,
pottery etc.
• These are the inner creativity of rural people without any vocational training.
• Bengali art and crafts are the extra ordinary to carry the attraction all kinds of
people in home and abroad.
• It represents our culture, tradition, way of life, rustic life. Rural practice
practically.
• All these items of culture are made of shells, leafs, bamboo, clay, cane , grass,
horns, leather, seeds , wood etc.
• These fascinating items are also preserved in museum to represent our culture.
• ‘NakshiKantha’ is one of most adorable and important item of folk culture.
• It reflects the rural life, natural beauty, fact of life, peasant’s life etc.
• With the practice of these work, Bengali culture can be easily presented to other
nation.
• These works also help people to decorate the house with terracotta plaque and
clay paraphernalia.
• Artist, Kamar ,kumar, Patua also play a vital role to represent our Bengali culture
with their exceptional practice.
Importance of religious and cultural festivals
• Festivals are the life of Bengali people which brings refreshment.
• These are also interrelated with Bengali life.
• We can express our religious message, cultural dignity and Bengali
identity,
• Festivals mean ‘Utsab’ which means assembly of different kinds of
people.
• Bangladesh enjoys a variety of festivals.
• Traditional folk festivals have variety, color,fun and entertainment.
• Most of the festivals are seasonal and secular.
• Religious festivals are practiced to achieve divine blessings.
• Beauty of nature and philosophy of life are related with the festivals.
• After all we Bengali people can be known as ‘Bangalee’ with the
practice of theses celebration.
• Some religious festivals are- Eid-Ul-Fitre, Eid-Ul-Adha, Durga Puja,
Lakshmi Puja, Saraswati Puja, Buddha Purnima, Christmass Day, and
the cultural festivals are – Pohela Baisakh, Victory Day, Nabanno
Festivals, Ekushey BoiMela.
