Old Bangla (Bengali) Prose

Cover of the book Purono Bangla Goddo (old Bengali prose)

Image courtesy: The Daily Star (Dhaka)

The Bengali-language book, Purono Bangla Goddo, by Professor Anisuzzaman has been published by the Mowla Brothers, Dhaka. It provides the development and examples of old Bengali prose. Lovers of Bengali language and literature would find it both handy and useful.

The writer of the book says: "The history of Bangla prose is generally described from the beginning of the nineteenth century. But most scholars agree that some examples of Bangla prose can be found from the sixteenth century. They say that prose from the sixteenth to the eighteenth century is scattered and limited to records and documents. The development of Bangla prose, on account of continuity and essence, is noticed from the nineteenth century." 

For additional details, please read the following: Old Bangla Prose

 

Bengali Language in Bangladesh Is Losing Its Importance

 A weekly 'Bangla Kagoj' article on the waning position of the Bangla (Bengali) language in Bangladesh (Click on the above images to read them in an expanded format)

Through struggle and blood, the Bangla (Bengali) language earned its rightful place as one of the two state language of Pakistan after 1952.

Salam Saleh Uddin, in his Bengali-language article, published in the weekly Bangla Kagoj (February 17, 2015), provides the background of this language movement in Bangladesh culminating in the independence of the country in 1971 and Bengali being its sole state language.

The writer then demonstrates with facts and reasoning how the preeminence of this language in the country is gradually being jeopardized by unfocused and unthoughtful government policies and decisions. He says among 114 universities in the country, only 18 have the Bengali as a subject in the curricula. This is all the more shameful because countries around the world in every February 21 observe the International Mother Language Day following Bangladesh's example of the Bengali language movement. 

In addition, the globalization with its free economy and incursion of the international communication media (Internet, TV and films), the Bengali language in Bangladesh is under aggression from both English and Hindi languages.

To read the complete article of the Bangla Kagoj in an expanded format, you may click on the two images above.

Today Is the Ekushey February: Bangladesh and World Honour Their Mother Languages

The Shaheed Minar (language martyrs' memorial) doodle by Jerome D'Costa

Today is the 63rd anniversary of the Bangladesh language martyrs' sacrifice of life for defending their mother language, Bangla (Bengali), against the encroachment of Urdu. 

On this day, the Bangladeshis all over the world pay their tribute to the language martyrs, called Bhasha Shaheed. Millions of Bangladesh citizens converge on their local Shaheed Minars to lay flowers, garlands and wreaths in honour of the martyrs. 

 In consonance with this day in Bangladesh, the world communities also observe this day as the International Mother Language Day.

To read more on the subject, you may visit our past blog posts at: Ekushey February.

 

Ekushey (21st) February

Central Shaheed Minar, Dhaka

 Artwork (Toronto: Feb. 26, 2011) © Jerome D'Costa

Ekushey February

By Jerome D'Costa

Ekushey February has a meaning

Only when Bangladeshis enjoy freedom,

Freedom from hunger, freedom of the speech

Freedom of the press including the other media.

Ekushey February has a meaning

Only when there’s justice in the country,

Justice in the nation’s law and administration,

Justice in education and business, justice in employment.

Ekushey February has a meaning

Only when there’s equality everywhere,

Equality of all irrespective of race, religion, gender, education and profession

Equality that will heighten the bond of brotherhood and cooperation.

Ekushey February has a meaning

Only when Bangladesh’s mother languages get their proper places,

Mother languages of Bangla (Bengali), mother languages of 40 other ethnic groups

Mother languages that bind individual groups with a solid glue.

If Ekushey February is observed annually without freedom, 

Without justice, equality, and proper places of country’s mother tongues,

It becomes empty, it becomes fake, it becomes a lie,

It becomes a mere yearly show for the show’s sake.

Ekushey February should be a conscience, a guiding light,

Ekushey February should be a measuring rod

For whatever we do in Bangladesh.

Bangla (Bengali) Calligraphy: WORD PLAY WITH 'BAW'

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A calligraphy on the word play with the Bengali consonant of baw.
From top to bottom, the consonant baw, bok (crane),
bokri (goat), and bokbokani (prattling)

Calligraphy (Dhaka: March 10, 1995) © Jerome D'Costa

Colloquialisms in Bangladesh Weave A Beautiful Tapestry

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(In the above image) this colloquialism, prevalent in the north
of Dhaka city, says: "Emra dia naa gia hemra dia jaao"
(Instead of going this way, go by the other way)

This colloquialism, prevalent in the south of the Dhaka city,
says: "Noor parbar noisos ke?" (Why are you running?)

Layout and design of the two images (Toronto: Feb. 28, 2011) © Jerome D'Costa

The examples in the above images are rustic colloquialisms prevalent in two areas of Bangladesh, which has a myriad of colloquialisms. Each district or region has its own peculiar conversational Bangla (Bengali). Some are understandable, others are not. Some sound foreign to others as these are coloured by Arabic accents influenced by Arabic-speaking sufis (mystics) and traders who came to those areas hundreds of years ago.

Colloquialism is a conversational or spoken language that is typical of a particular area. It varies from one locality to the other even though they speak the same main language. The British, Americans and Australians speak the same language -- that is, English -- but there’s a vast difference in their accents, pronunciations, and usages and meanings of words. Siminarly, in Bangladesh, we have Dhakaia (of Dhaka), Chittagainga (of Chittagong), Syleitta (of Sylhet), Noakhailla (of Noakhali), Dinajpuira (of Dinajpur), Kushtia (of Kushtia), Borishailla (of Barisal), and Faridpuira (of Faridpur) bhasha (colloquial languages). Colloquialisms are not acceptable in formal or written communication.

In Bangla (Bengali), we have a saying, “Ek desher buli, aarek desher gaali” (one locality’s lingo is another locality’s cursing). One such example will suffice: In a rural area, south of Dhaka city, they use the word ‘aara’ for a small and shallow pond. The same word, in the north of Dhaka, means certain male private parts!

In the mid-sixties, I had come across a Bengali dictionary by famous linguist Dr. Mohamamad Shahidullah. Its name was Bangla Ancholik Bhashar Ovidhan (Bangla dictionary of regional colloquialisms). Dr. Shahidullah used a story in formal written Bengali first, then he showed, by examples, how the same story is told in different district colloquialisms. It was a fascinating reading indeed.

The diversity in colloquialism gives the language an interesting colour and beauty. That’s how a language is enriched. None should be ashamed of his or her own colloquialism in comparison to any other's but should feel proud of his or her own heritage.

Ekushey February and Some Thoughts on the Suppression of Bangla (Bengali) Language in East Pakistan

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The Ahsan Manzil (also called Nawab Bari -- Nawab's palace)
at Sadarghat, Dhaka, as seen (in the middle) from a boat
on the flooded Buriganga River
Photo (Dhaka: July, 1995) © Jerome D'Costa

The Nawbabs or Nawabs, originally hailing from Kashmir of North India as Khwajas, were rich merchants who later acquired zamindaris (feudal estates) from the British on auctions and became influential in Dhaka. They were given the title of Nawbab or Nawab, similar to that of the British peerage, by the British who were pleased by their full support during the deadly days of the Shipahi Bidhroho (rebellion of the Indian soldiers). The Britishers named this rebellion "Sepoy Mutiny" that happened all-over India.

The Nawbabs were Farsi (Persian) and Urdu speaking elites who did not mingle with the ordinary Bangali (Bengali) population. During the Pakistan period (1947-1971) in East Pakistan, they gave support to the ruling elites of the West Pakistan who were also facile in Farsi and Urdu languages.

Khwaja Nazimuddin (1894-1964) was an influential politician of the Pakistan Muslim League party. He was the Chief Minister of East Pakistan when the question of having only the Urdu as the state language of Pakistan was raised in the Pakistan Constituent Assembly in Karachi. Khwaja Nazimuddin was very vocal in his opposition to the counter-proposal of East Pakistani member of the parliament Dhirendranath Datta to have also Bangla (Bengali) along with Urdu as the two state languages of Pakistan.

The West Pakistani ruling elite and their supporters in East Pakistan wanted to stifle the thinking of the East Pakistanis by suppressing Bangla (Bengali) -- their mother language. This new imperialism of the West Pakistanis gave rise to the language movement among the Bangalis of East Pakistan. The Bangla (Bengali) language movement against their efforts resulted in the indignation that ultimately in 1971 led to the independence of Bangladesh.

William Carey's Take on Bangla (Bengali) Language

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Dancing light
Photo (Toronto: February , 2011) © Jerome D'Costa

It's Time to Replace the Anglicized Place Names in Bangladesh with Bangla (Bengali) Names

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Map of Bangladesh
Map courtesy: www.maps.com/

Every year in February we observe the Ekushey February (Bangla Language Martyrs’ Day) and the International Mother Language Day with much fanfare. The goal of these two observances is to give importance to our mother languages. Yet, on our own backyard, we have some issues that need to be tackled.

We need to think deeply about replacing Anglicized place names in Bangladesh with Bangla names they had before the British changed them. These Anglicized place names are used when speaking or writing in English. Although the British left India 64 years ago, we are still carrying on the double standard of using Anglicized place names when speaking or writing in English, but using Bangla place names of the same when speaking or writing in Bangla.

When the British conquered different regions of India, they began to pronounce and write local place names completely different from their original ones. These Anglicized names might have been easy for them to pronounce or write, but they were totally a disgrace to the original pronunciation.

President H. M. Ershad was bold enough to officially change the Anglicized name of the capital city of Bangladesh. He got it corrected to ‘Dhaka’ in place of ‘Dacca.’

It is interesting to see that later, the Indian government, too, changed the names of ‘Calcutta’ to ‘Kolkata,’ ‘Bombay’ to ‘Mumbai,’ ‘Bangalore’ to ‘Bengaluru’ and ‘Madras’ to ‘Chennai.’

Bangladesh still has got a good number of Anglicized names that need to be changed according to local Bangla pronunciations. These Anglicized names along with their Bangla names are:

Astagram (Oshtogram)

Bandarban (Bandorbon)

Baraigram (Boroigram)

Barguna (Borguna)

Barisal (Borishal)

Bhedarganj (Bhedorganj)

Biral (Birol)

Bogra (Bogura)

Chittagong (Chattagram)

Comilla (Kumilla)

Habiganj (Hobiganj)

Ishurdi (Isshordi or Iswardi)

Jessore (Joshohor)

Jhenaida (Jhenaidoho)

Kalaroa (Kolaroa)

Kalmakanda (Kolmakanda)

Khagrachari (Khagracchori)

Lakshmipur (Lokkhipur)

Madhupur (Modhupur)

Maheshkhali (Moheshkhali) Island

Manpura (Monpura)

Maulvibazar (Moulobibazar)

Mohanpur (Mohonpur)

Mymensingh (Moymonshingha)

Nandigram (Nondigram)

Narail (Norail)

Narsingdi (Norshingdi)

Palash (Polash)

Saidpur (Syedpur or Soidpur)

Sandwip (Shondip) Island

Sarisabari (Shorishabari)

Satkhira (Shatkhira)

Savar (Shavar)

Sirajganj (Shirajganj)

Sonargaon (Shonargaon)

Sreemangal (Sreemongol)

Sunamganj (Shunamganj)

Sylhet (Silet or Srihotto)

Tungipara (Tongipara)

The name ‘Cox’s Bazar’ should remain the same because it is the name given after the British Captain Hiram Cox (died in 1799), who was in-charge of this place and earned a good name with the local population, because of his compassionate rehabilitation work among the Arakan refugees who came there from Burma.

The Bangladesh Jatiyo Parishad (parliament) needs to come up with a bill that will make the Anglicized place name changes a reality.

The Poem of the Month (February, 2011): EKUSHEY FEBRUARY (21st February)

The Central Shaheed Minar (Language Martyrs' Memorial, built in memory of the ones who gave their lives to defend Bangla -- or Bengali -- language from the onslaught of the West Pakistani rulers in East Pakistan on February 21, 1952) in Dhaka

Doodle (Toronto: February 26, 2011) © Jerome D'Costa

Ekushey February (21st February)

The Ekushey February would never be there,

If the rulers of Pakistan were real rulers.

The Ekushey February would never come to pass,

If there were no notion of domination and usurpation.

The Ekushey February would never be there,

If there were virtues of brotherhood, equality and sharing.

The Ekushey February would never be there,

If there were no hypocrisy between profession and practice of Islam.

The Ekushey February is there,

To assert the rights of the deprived people.

The Ekushey February is there,

To give equality to all.

The Ekushey February is there,

To think and act freely according to one’s conscience.

The Ekushey February is there,

To give freedom to one’s word.

(Updated on February 6, 2018)