1. What do you understand by Renaissance ?

Discuss the role of Raja Ram Mohun

Roy in this connection.

It is believed that the Nineteenth Century Bengal had witnessed an intellectual

awakening that deserves to be called a Renaissance in the European style . It is also
believed that under the impact of British Rule the Bengali intellect learned to raise
questions about life and beliefs . This new outlook is said to have affected
contemporary life very materially.
English Education through which Indians came into contact with such knowledge as
philosophy, history, science and literature. Although the new movement initially
affected a small portion of the upper stratum of Bengal Hindu Society only, especially
in Kolkata, it eventually spread to Muslims and others as well as to other parts of the
subcontinent before the end of the 19th century.
The leading member of this movement was Raja Rammohun Roy. He was the greatest
Hindu reformer of his time. He is also described as the first modern man of India.
Other leading members of Renaissance were Derezio, Vidyasagar, Debendra Nath
tagore, Rabindra Nath Tagore etc.
Early Life Born in 1772/74 in Radhanagar, Hughly, West Bengal.
Studied in village pathsala
Went to Patna for learning Persian and Arabic. He also learnt English, French,
Hebrew, Greek, Latin and many other languages.
He became well versed in Hindu religious scriptures
He also gained considerable knowledge of Islamic theology and jurisprudence
through his association with Muslim scholars and officials.
Through education Rammohun learnt all the tenets of different religions and acquired
a somewhat revolutionary approach towards the traditional religion.
He gradually became convinced that all the religions have the same view in end that is
the existence of one Universal God.
He also became convinced that Hindu Idolatory is the victim of superstitions and
hence Hindu religion must be reformed.
In order to express his views on religious and other social issues and to carry out
reform activities Rammohun decided to write books and publish them.
His first treatise entitled Manazaratul Adyan was devoted to discourses on various
religions.
His second work written in Persian was titled Tuhfat-ul-Muwahhiddin. These two
books basically aimed at preaching oneness of God.
Even before the publication of these books Rammohan had become critical of Hindu
religion and had given up traditional Hindu worshipping of God.
He was often critical of the age-old Hindu customs and rituals.
Rammohun did many small jobs before he settled down in Kolkata. He was the
Banian of Collector of Rangpur, Digby.
About this time he inherited some property which prompted him to give up his job
and settle down in Kolkata to carry out his mission.
Moved to Kolkatta in 1815 which heralded the dawn of a new age in India. Soon he
gathered many likeminded people to discuss his views . He also had many European
friends through whom he learned the radical thoughts of Europe and heard about the
French Revolution
Rammohun placed his movement entirely upon logic and purity of work.

To propagate his ideas he founded in 1815 Atya Sabha, a private association of likeminded people. At this Sabha people who gathered discussed the religious and social
problems of the day.
Two among these were Zamindars Dwarakanath Tagore and Prassana Kumar Tagore
who throughout their life supported Rammohun in his social and educational reforms.

2. Review the place of women in Bengal Society till the British Period.

Gender history is a sub-field of history and gender studies, which looks at the past
from the perspective of gender. It is in many ways, an outgrowth of women's history.
The discipline considers in what ways historical events and periodization impact
women differently from men.
Historians of earlier periods did not refer much to women except names of certain
queens and some royal female members. That even in connection with male power.
Information about women began to come increasingly from the twelfth century with
the coming of the Sena rulers. These were mostly found in the literary sources.
Though details are missing but references in connection with pre-puberty marriage of
brides with bridegrooms three times their age, pregnancy, birth, tonsure and naming
are found. It appears that some women of upper class families were literate but they
had little autonomy in the family.
From various sources it appears that women during this period not only did not have
any freedom, but they did not have even any legal right or social status, and could not
inherit property except widows in special cases. However, it was only the women of
upper class who maintained purdah but women of common class did go out for
working in various places especially in the field. However, no information is available
about womens participation in economic production and the impact of changes in
crops and commerce on their life.
Widows were considered inauspicious, prohibited from attending ceremonies and
encouraged to perform Sati.
During the early rule of the Muslims the women remained caste- bound. From the
sixteenth century women figured with some prominence in the literature especially in
connection with the stories of Ramayana and tales of Krishna. In these literary works
and devotional songs women were portrayed as heroines as well as objects and
subjects of desire.
Sri Chaitanya initiated both men and women and historians have interpreted this as a
period when the status of woman improved. Women from respectable families took
part in Kirtan performances, some traveled long distances as pilgrims and a few
women initiated disciples. The Mangal kavya of this period tell us something about
womens life.
The Mughal rule did not change much the life of woman of Bengal. A change came
when the Mughal rulers and their followers married local girls as well as kept female
slaves for household works. Abduction of Hindu woman featured in historical works.
Violence against women continued and girl child marriage was a normal
phenomenon.
Education Although there were some Hindu girls who attended Pathsalas and
literate women were known for their erudition, any formal education for women was

absent. Superstitions stopped educating girl child. Widows in many cases young girls
continued their long life in great misery without proper food or dress.
Between 16th and 18th century the Hindu women began to practice purdah for fear of
abduction and greater emphasis on chastity. Muslim women also suffered from
customs such as polygamy and seclusion.
The British rule brought changes in all walks of life in India. Early in the 19th century,
the woman question became central to discussions about Indian civilization and
influential British writers referred to the treatment of women in condemning Indian
religions, culture and society as inferior.

3. Trace the origin and development of English education in India. What was its
impact upon the Society ?
4. Briefly discuss the evolution of Bangla Language and Literature.

Bengali is spoken by 250 million people in Bangladesh West Bengal Assam Tripura
and expatriates all over the world
Origin of bangla lang
Indo European Family of Languages
Prakrit and Apabhramsa stages of Indo-European Branch of the Family
Dr. Shahidullah Bengali Developed from Gaudi Prakrit and Gaudi Apabhramsa in
7th CE.
Sukumar Sen Maghadi Prakrit and Maghadi Apabhramsa in 10th CE.
Oriya Bengali and Assamese belonged to the same stream.
Evolution of Bengali lang
Bengali lot of changes Sanskrit and Aryan and Pre Aryan languages
Foreign words Persian, Arabic, Portuguese, English, French
Sadhu, Chalti, Dialects
Bengali script derived from an eastern variety of Brahmi script
Old ( 7th to 12th Century), Middle (13-18th Century) and Modern ( 19th c to-date)
Till 18th century and then 19th Cen. Printing Press
Charyagiti - Buddhist mystic songs- provides glimpses of social life and a guide to
Tantric Buddihism.
Krishna and Radha early fifteenth century.
Evolution of Bengali literature
Various genres Translation Ramayana etc.
Translation from Persian, Hindi and Awadhi
Mangal Kavya-Narrative Poems in praise of local deity- depicts social cultural
economic life.
Manasa, Chandi and Dharma Mangal
Vaisnav Literature Sri Chaytanya ( 1486-1533)- Devotion to Radha Krishna,
repudiation of caste system and equality of all men and women.
From 18th century Kabiwalas Dobashi
Eastern Bengal Ballads Mymensing Gitika- eternal human love and weals and woes
of simple folk told in unadorned language and style.
Baul Songs Buddhisim, Vaisnavasim and Sufism
Until the end of 18th century the vehicle of Bengali literary works was poetry and this
was meant to be sung in accompaniment of musical instruments. Although religion

played a major part there were also secular poetry and poetry that bore the mark of
religious syncretism.
There is much in pre-modern Bengali literature which we can take pride in.

5. Give an account of architectural heritage of Bangladesh.

Archaeological sites Pre-history

Scholars did not know the existence of pre-historical sites Excavations helped to
trace them
Architecture shows style and quality of builders including architects and engineers
Early archaeological activities relate to early historic and early medieval periods.
Paharpur Mahasthan Mainmati
Paharpur is the largest Buddihist monastery and temple
Sir Alexander Cunningham identified it with the city of Pundranagar on the basis of
Huen Tsang.
The biggest city of ancient time- a fortified city.
Its suburb extended for miles and their impressive remains can be traced even today.
Its remains show its continuous history of more than 1500 years-3bce-15ce.