CHAPTER 3: History and Culture 3.1 History of Bangladesh Bangladesh is a new state in an ancient land. On the face of it, the recent twists and turns of its history are often inconsistent. It is neither a distant geographical entity, nor a well-defined historical unit. Nevertheless, it is homeland of the ninth largest nation in the world, whose groupings for a political identity were protracted, intense and agonizing. The key to these apparent contradictions lies in its history. The word Bangladesh is derived from the cognate “Vanga” to linguists, the roots of the term Vanga may be traced to languages in the adjoining areas. One school of linguists maintains that the word “Vanga” is derived from the Tibetan word “bans” which implies “wet and moist”. According to this interpretation, Bangladesh literally refers to a wetland. Another school is of the opinion that the term “Vangla” is derived from Bodo adorigines of Assam) words “Bang” and “la”, which connote “wide pains”. Geological evidence indicates that much of Bangladesh was formed 1 to 65 million years ago. Human habitation this region is, therefore, likely to be very old. They are likely to be 10,000 to 15,000 years old. The history of Bangladesh is as old as it is eventful. In the ancient age, an Austro-Asian race first inhabited this area. Then there was the Dravidians from west India and later on the Aryans from central Asia to establish small settlements. There was also an influx of Mongolians and some Arabs, Persians, Turks and Afghans. Bangladesh began the process of peaceful conversion to Islam in the 11th century. By the 14th century the area was predominantly Muslim and Muslim rule continued until the British took over after the defeat of the last sovereign ruler Nawab Sirajuddowla, at Battle of Plassey on 23rd June 1757. The British ruled the sub-continent for 190 years from 1757 to 1947. During the British rule Bangladesh was a part of the British Indian Provinces of Bengal and Assam. In August 1947, it gained independence with the rest of India and formed a part of Pakistan and was known as East Pakistan. It remained in Pakistan for about 24 years i.e. from 14th August 1947 to 25th March 1971. After the war of liberation from 25th March to 15th December 1971, Bangladesh emerged as an independent and sovereign Republic on 16th December 1971. Bangladesh is a unitary, independent and sovereign country known as the people’s Republic of Bangladesh. The official language of Bangladesh is BANGLA. The nation flag of the Republic consists of a circle colored red throughout its area resting on a bottle green background. The national emblem of the Republic is the national flower “SHAPLA” (nymphoes nouchali) resting on water having on each side an ear of paddy and being surmounted by three connected leaves of jute with two stars on each side of the leaves. The Capital if the Republic is DHAKA. The citizens of Bangladesh are known as BANGLADESHI. 3.2 Architecture Factors of climate and geography and indigenous building materials such as timber and bamboo conditioned the development of architecture in Bangladesh. The predominantly brick tradition in architecture can be called its own. Both the pre-Muslim temple and monastic architectures followed an indigenous style through strongly imbued with contemporary foreign pattern. The Mughals brought about a fundamental change by totally discarding the traditional terracotta art of the region. At the turn of the Nineteenth century a new hybrid Mughal and European style emerged. Modern architecture, characterized by the use of reinforced concrete for multistoried buildings with straight horizontal and vertical lines dominating the elevation, appeared after the partition of the sub-continent in 1947. 3.3 Literature More than 95% of the people speak Bangla, which originated from the Eastern Prakrit of the Indo Aryan family of languages. Early Bangla in its lyrical form, originated in the Seventeenth century. Since the early decades of this century, modern Bangla literature swept into the mainstream of world culture through the works of such geniuses as Michael Madhusudan Dutt, Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyai, Mir Musharraf Hussain, Kazi Abdul Wadood, Rabindranath Tagore and rebel poet Kazi Nazrul Islam. While poet Jasmuddin’s austere lyrical anecdotes depicting runal life kept alive the link with the toiling masses. 3.4 Art Bangladesh has a rich tradition of painting and terracotta art. Episodes from mythologies, legends, and love lures, above all, natures’ beauty found artistic expression in terracotta, pottery, clay dolls, handicrafts and embroidery. Artists like Zainul Abedin, Qamrul Hasan, Anwarul Haque, Shaifuddin Ahmed, Shafiqul Amin, Rashid Chowdhury and SM Sultan pioneered Modern painting. Zainul Abedin earned worldwide fame by his stunning sketches of the Bengal Famine in 1943. Most of our modern painters are steeped in this tradition. Dhaka has turned into an important centre of art in the region through regular holding of Asian Art Biennial. 3.5 Music The rich tradition of music in Bangladesh can be divided into three distinctive categories:classical, folk and modern. The tradition of classical music, whether vocal or instrumental, is rooted in the history of this sub-continent. Folk music, nurtured through the ages by village bands, is the most popular form of music in Bangladesh. The best known forms are Bhatiali, Ba-ul, Marifoti, Murshidi and Bhawaya. Modern Bengali music originated from two distinct schools. The first is essentially a blend of East and West initiated by Rabindranath Tagore; the second, experimented with the synthesis of classical, folk and Middle Eastern Strains, was spearheaded by rebel poet Kazi Nazrul Islam. The contemporary adherents of both the schools have been widening their depth and vista with new experiments. 3.6 Dance Dancing in Bangladesh draws freely on the sub continental classical forms as well as the folk, tribal, ballet and Middle Eastern strains. Of the tribal dances, particularly popular are Manipuri and Santal. 3.7 Drama Theatre in Bangladesh has a tradition, which is more than a century old. In the early days, openair theatrical performances, known as Jarta (rural operetta), used to be held on festive occasions. Popular love lore’s, historical or legendary, acts of valour heroes against invading forces and mythological anecdotes alongside the legends of the Arabian of Persian Nights provided the basic themes of popular jatra plays which still the most popular form of most entertainment in the country. 3.8. Religion Bangladesh is traditionally a land of communal harmony. The constitution guarantees full and equal religious freedom to all communities. The government has set up different trusts for the welfare of Hinduism, Buddhism and Christianity. the religious profile of the population is: Islam 89.7%, Hinduism 9.2%, Buddhism 0.7%, Christianity 0.3% and others (such as Animists and non-religious) 0.1%. The majority of the Muslims are Sunni consisting of 95% of the Muslim population, and the remaining are Shi'a and other sects. Hindus constituted 18.5% of the population in 1961, but their population declined significantly during the Bangladesh Liberation War due to the 1971 Bangladesh atrocities carried out by the Pakistan Army. As a result, millions of Hindus fled to India and their population in Bangladesh fell to 13.5% by 1974. Since then, the Hindu population has not grown as much as the Muslim population. 3.8.1 Islam Bangladesh is the second largest Muslim country in the world. About 86.6% of its 120 million people are Muslim. Dhaka, the capital, is known as the city of mosques. It has nearly 2,000 mosques. There are about 200,000 mosques all over Bangladesh. By the end of the first century of Islam the Arab traders and Muslim missionaries brought Islam to this deltaic region. Its message of equality and fraternity drew the masses toward it. Embracing Islam meant salvation from social tyranny and elevation in social status. Islam came as a relieving force in which the people found and easy opening to success. Perhaps because of this Islam is so deep-rooted in this region. 3.8.2 Hinduism In Bangladesh, 9.2% of the whole country belongs to the Hindu community. After the partition of India in 1947, many Hindu landlords and members of the educated middle class left for India from this part of the then Pakistan. The Hindus in Bangladesh today are active in agriculture, fishing, business, teaching, journalism, engineering, medicine and law, politics etc. Many Hindus are also employed in government and autonomous bodies. It is said the Hindus worship many gods and goddesses. The puja (worship) of Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, Durga, Kali, Laksmi and Saraswatti are more popular. Though they worship many gods and goddesses Hindus do not worship many creators. In the Vedas it is said that the different gods are manifestations of one Supreme Being. 3.8.3 Buddhism: Scholars are divided in their opinion about the origin of Buddhism in Bangladesh, Its influence here, as in other parts of the sub-continent, is generally attributed to Emperor Asoka, the greatest patron of Buddhism, and it is believed that Buddhism came to Bangladesh in the third century BC. But the close proximity of this country to Magadha (Present Bihar), the birthplace of Buddhism, suggests earlier contacts, which seems to support pre-Asokan traditions. Thus Buddhism found a strong base in Bangladesh from the very beginning and flourished in many parts of the country afterwards during the reigns of the Buddhist Khadga, Deva, Pala and Chandra kinds till the twelfth century AD. Indeed, in the whole of the sub-continent it is on the soil of Bangladesh that the religion of the Tathagata found its last shelter and took firm roots. The Buddhist population of Bangladesh is approximately 70,000, which is less than 1% of the total population. They comprise Barua Buddhists living in the plainlands and Maghs living in south Chittagong and Khepupara of Barisal and the tribes of the Chittagong Hill Tracts. 3.8.4 Christianity: The Portuguese missionaries brought the Christian faith to Bengal in the early sixteenth century. The oldest church situated in the city of Dhaka, dates back to 1677. There are no less than 225 churches in the country. The number of native-born Christians in Bangladesh is about half a million. About the half of them are tribal’s. The religious leadership is entirely in the hands of the local people. They are well integrated into the mainstream of the society. For centuries they have lived together in peace and harmony with the people of other religions. 3.9 Customs and Traditions of Bangladesh Bangladesh has its customs and traditions-some rooted in its prehistory and others, relatively recent. The indigenous customs, being an integral part of the life cycle of the people, have a universal appeal. Bangladesh has been predominantly agricultural ever since man arrived there and started domesticating animals and practicing rudimentary forms of tillage. The indigenous customs have, therefore grown round agricultural practices. 3.9.1 Naming Ceremony The birth of a child is celebrated with the distribution of sweets, swandesh or swandesh pita. The naming ceremony, akika, amongst the Muslims, is observed with a feast and invitees bring the presents. 3.9.2 Nabanna (New Rice): The festival of the next harvest, it takes place in the Bangla month of Agrahayan (Nov-Dec). People in the rural areas celebrate harvesting of the corn as farmers come back home with lots of golden paddy on their heads ringing like new bells. In the yard, the cattle goes around and around, thrashing the paddy separating it from the stalks. The women make pita, cheera, and serve to all the neighbors, there is joy everywhere. 3.9.3 Pahela Baishakh (Bengali New Year): Bengali’s New Year’s Day is indigenous and has been part of its folk’s tradition for a long time. The day starts with the partaking of a heavy breakfast of cheera, gur and yogurt. The fairs take place every sort, food of every variety and sweets of endless kinds. Businessmen and traders observe this day with due solemnity. They start a new cash register, which is known as halkkhata. In the cities there are cultural functions and Baishakhi Mela (fairs) take place. 3.10. Religious Customs: 3.10.1 Akika (Islamic): After the birth of a child, Muslim people sacrifice an animal in the name of Allah. When a boy is born two goats are sacrificed, for a girl on goat is sacrificed and the meat is distributed to the poor, relatives and neighbors. The people who can afford to buy a goat will do the Akika. In Hadith, Hazrat Mohammed (SAW) said the child or his parent who has not done the Akika and if the child has died, at the time of Akhirat, he or she couldn’t request anything to Allah for his or her parents. Therefore Imam Shafei, Ahmed and Malik (RA) Akika as emphasized Sunnah and according to Imam Abu Hanifa (RA) Akika was less emphasized Sunnah. 3.10.2 Mussalmani or Khatna (Circumcision) This is common among the Muslims; it is an occasion of happiness. In the rural areas, the child is given a ride on the palanquin or a horse or donkey before he is brought before the hajam (the men who do the operation). 3.10.3 After Death The Muslims and Christians bury the dead, the Hindus perform cremation. Muslims observe a Kulkhani (distribution of food) after the third day of death, while a Chehlam (plenty of food for the poor & relatives) is held on the Fortieth day. The Hindus, likewise, hold a Sraddha (respect) as the sons of the deceased shave of their hair in mourning. 3.11. Religious Celebrations: 3.11.1 Shob-e-Barat: It means the night of fortune. The Muslims believe that on this night Allah determines human destiny for the rest of the year. Most Muslims spend the nights in doing prayers and Zikirs hoping Allah would forgive all the people. This takes place on the fourteenth of Shaban according to the Arabic calendar. 3.11.2 Ramadan: The ninth month of the Islamic calendar, a full month of fasting for all the Muslim adults and it is compulsory for everyone. No food is allowed during the day from sun rise to sun set. It teaches us fellow-feeling, sacrifice and temperance and most of all restrain. People pay Zakath (a compulsory contribution to the poor). 3.11.3 Shob-e-Qadar: Shob means night and Shob-e-Qadar is a night of special significance. It takes place on the night the 27th day of Ramada. The holy Quran is revealed on this night but according to the hadiths, there is a lack of certainty about the precise date of this occasion. The hadiths point at the odd night after the 20th Ramadan, namely the 21st, 23rd, 25th & 27th. Bangladeshi people observe the 27th Ramadan as a Shob-e-Qadar and they spend all night praying to Allah. 3.11.4 Eid-ul-Fitr: Eid-ul-Fitr comes at the end of the month-long fasting during Ramadan and sighting of the new moon of Shawal, the 10th of the Arabic calendar. The Muslim people wear new clothes, eat delicious dishes and male members go to the Edgah or the mosque to make a special prayer. The people embrace each other and the poor are given Fitra (a certain amount of money per head). The people enjoy the occasion most as they visit their friends and relatives. 3.11.5 Haj (Pilgrimage to Makkah) Hajj is the Fifth important pillar of Islam, which has gotten a historical background, without which one cannot fully understand and appreciate its importance and real objective. The pilgrimage to Makkah the Hajj is an obligation only for those who are physically and financially able to do so. Nevertheless, over two million people go to Makkah each year from every corner of the globe providing a unique opportunity for those of different nationality to meet one another. The annual hajj begins in the 12th month of the Islamic lunar year. Pilgrims wear special clothes: simple garments that strip away distinctions of class and culture, so that all stand before God. The rights of the Hajj, which are of Abrahamic origin, includes going around the Ka’bah seven times, and going seven times between the hills of Safa and Marwa as did Hagar (Abraham’s wife) during her search for water. The pilgrims later stand together on the wide plains of Arafat (a large expanse of desert outside Makkah) and join in prayer for God’s forgiveness, in what is often thought as a preview of the Day of Judgment. The close of the Hajj is marked by a festival, the Eid-ul-Azha, which is celebrated with prayers and the exchange of gifts in Muslim communities everywhere. The Eid-ul-Fitar is a festive day celebrating the end of Ramadan. 3.11.6 Eid-ul-Azha Eid-ul-Azha takes place on the 10th of Zilhaj; it is the next important occasion for the Muslims. Those who can afford it, go to Makkah to perform Hajj. But most people celebrate it with devotion offering prayers and the sacrifice of either a cow or a goat. This is done in memory of Hazrat Ibrahim (SM) who out of love for Allah, was about to sacrifice his dearest son Ismail (SM) but ended up sacrificing as stood blindfolded, a sheep. People distribute meat amongst the poor and the poor relations and there is joy and happiness all around. This too is observed as an occasion of national importance. 3.11.7 Eid-e-Miladunnabi This signifies the birth anniversary of Hazrat Mohammed (SM), the prophet of Islam. He was born on Monday 12th of Rabiul Awwal, an Arabic lunar month, In 570 AD. The Muslim of the sub-continent celebrates the birth anniversary of the prophet with great respect, enthusiasm and passion for several days including the 12th. 3.11.8 Durga Puja The Hindu has a number of religious festivals amongst which the Durga Puja is the most important. The Hindu localities either collectively of individually have the images of goddessDurga killing Mahishasura made in clay, daub the idols in paint and make them wear bright clothes. This festival starts in Aswin, when the moon appears in the sky. On the 10 th day the image is immersed in water, usually in a river or a pond then the devotees come back home. This is a great occasion of joy and merriment for Hindus. They wear new clothes and lots of dainty dishes are prepared on this occasion. 3.11.9 Christmas In tune with the rest of the world the Christians of Bangladesh observe their most important religious festival, X-mas, on the 25th December to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. 3.12 Shaheed Day (Language Day) On 21st February 1953 the youths (especially the students) rose in protest against the imposition of Urda as the only state language of Pakistan. This was taken as a conspiracy against the Bangla culture and as the students brought out a procession in violation of official prohibitory order, the Police fired on the demonstrators killing many of the students and also killing some members of the public. Barkat, Salam, Rafiq and a number of unknown others had lost their lives. After Independence February 21st had been officially declared the Shaheed day (the martyrs day), also called Omar Ekushey (the immortal 21st). The day observed with great solemnity, beginning from the midnight. Streams of people come and pass the steps of Shaheed Minar laying wreaths on the steps. The UNESCO has proclaimed February 21st as the International Mother Language Day to be observed globally in recognition of the sacrifices of the martyrs for establishing the rightful place of Bangla. The proclamation came in the form of a resolution unanimously adopted at the plenary of the UNESCO at its headquarters in Paris in November 1999. In this resolution the UNESCO said the 21st February should be proclaimed the International Mother Language Day throughout the world to commemorate the martyrs who sacrificed their lives on this very day in 1952. The Bangladesh Government initiated this resolution. It is a great tribute and glowing homage paid by the international community to the language martyrs of Bangladesh. The genesis of the historic Languages Movement ensued that since September 1947 the students in the vanguard would be backed by intellectuals and cultural activities. The patriotic elements were the first spurt of Bengali nationalistic upsurge culminating in the sanguinary events of February 21st, 1952 and finally leading to the Liberation War in 1971. The sacrifice if the martyrs received global recognition and this is a rare honor for Bangladeshis. This recognition was used to promote the dissemination of mother tongues will not only encourage linguistic diversity and multilingual education. It is also developing fuller awareness about linguistic and cultural traditions throughout the world, and to inspire solidarity based on understand, tolerance and dialogue. In the new millennium about 188 countries around the world had observed 21st February as the International Mother Language Day. The history 21st February has, thus assumed new dimension. The sacrifice of Rafiq, Salam, Jabbar, Barkat and other martyrs as well as those tortured and repressed by the then authoritarian government of Pakistan for Campaigning the cause their mother-tongue had received now a glorious and new recognition by November 1999 resolution of the UNESO. 3.13 Independence & National Day Following the Pakistani army crackdown on 25th March 1971, the independence of Bangladesh declared on March 26th. Since then the day is observed as the Independence and National day. 3.14 The Victory Day On 16th December 1971, the Pakistan army, an estimated 90,000 surrendered to the allied forces. The valiant freedom fighters entered the city of Dhaka with arms in their hands. As they marched along the streets, the people welcomed them with rejoice. The jubilant crowd stood by the Pakistani army marched in silence with their heads drooping low. The day is observed with due solemnity-the first rays of morning sun being heralded with 31 gun shots. 3.15 Conclusion There are also other public holidays that are observed on the following occasions: May Day: 1st May, Buddha Purnima, Juma’s-tul-bida. The dates these occasions are determined are according on sightings of the moon. Official holidays are observed on the following occasions under executive order of government: Shob-e-Barat, Shob-e-Qadar, Asura (10th Muharram, the first month of Hijri, Islamic calendar year) and 3 days each of the two Eid occasions. In Britain we observed the following days, such as Ramadan, two Eid days, Shob-e-Barat, Shobe-Qadar, Durga Puja, National day, Independence Day, Language day etc. View publication stats