Bengali Cultural Identity in Post-Colonial Era: An Analysis of Bengali Cultural Re-presentations (original) (raw)

In pursuit of the ‘authentic’ Bengali: impressions and observations of a contested diaspora

2014

This article examines the commonalities and differences constructed among different Bengali diasporic communities in London that purport to determine the authenticity of an ethnic Bengali identity. I argue that the ‘dominant’, homogenous discourse of multiculturalism fails to take into account the contestations of Bengali identity based on religion and class. Overall I seek to focus on the processes of objectification whereby various aspects of the Bengali identity are evoked situationally. The role of history, memory, fantasy, narrative and myth is also explored in an attempt to show that difference and commonality is relational.

Inventing the New, Re-defining the Old: Bengali Identities in post-1947 Bangla Stories

A study of the history of the Bengal region proves the fact that it is a record of creation and recreation of several identities. These identities had constantly divided and united the people residing within the region. Class, language and region have been the major factors which have conceptualized these identities. However, the Partition of 1947 had rendered its people with identities which were communal in nature and superseded all other identities which had existed in Bengal, so far. Post-1947, the two parts of Bengal, i.e. West Bengal in India and East Pakistan in the newly created Pakistan either redefined their earlier identities or invented new identities. The present paper attempts to trace these identities through available historical accounts and also studies them through the Bengali short stories which deal with the Partition of 1947 and Partition of 1971. The ultimate objective is to conclude that the continually redefined identities and the new invented identities have resisted the formation of identities on the basis of religion. The paper has four sections. The Introduction proposes the aim of the paper and discusses the other works done in the area in brief. The second and the third sections, titled 'Redefining the Old…' and 'Inventing the New…', trace the various Bengali identities which have existed in the region through historical accounts and by analyzing the Bengali short stories based on the Bengal Partitions of 1947 and 1971.

The Identity Crisis of Bengali Muslims in Indian Subcontinent (1000 CE -2000 CE): A Critical Approach to Bengali Ethnicity

International Journal of Advanced Research in Islamic and Humanities e-ISSN: 2682-8332 | Vol. 4, No.3, 35-47, 2022 http://myjms.mohe.gov.my/index.php/ijarih, 2022

Abstract: This article explores the various discourses on forming Muslim Bengali identity from the Eleven century to the twenty century. It becomes hardened and used in multiple politically mobilizable forms in Bengal politics. This study engages numerous articulations of the Muslim Bengali identity to show the changing representations of what qualifies as Muslim Bengali and who played role as major key figures of Muslim Bengali Nations from 1200 CE to 1999 CE. It also critically engages with new knowledge production. For instance, the different forms of non-fictional Bengali literature, and the views of the English-educated Urdu speaking and Sanskrit elites of Bengal. These writers wrote about the collaborative of forces acting upon the formation of a Muslim Bengali identity. While literature played an essential role in developing an initial awareness among Muslims, Bengali identity preparations' developments and processes diverse in different sites, thereby producing new shades on Muslim Bengali identity. This study uses qualitative and quantitative methods to see the identity crisis among Bengal Muslims. This article shows the historical traces that play vital role for identity crisis among Bengali Muslims. Keywords: Muslim Identity, Islam, language, Bengali Civilization

Bangabandhu, Bengaliness and Bengali Identity

Memorial Book, 2015

Recently, Bangladesh has witnessed debates on issues of identity politics with regard to the existence of IS activists and global link of terrorism in the context of the killing of two foreigners (one Italian national and another Japanese national). The politicisation of religion, especially Islam mainly by Jamaat-e-Islami and the patronisation of religious zealots by Western and Middle Eastern sources 1 seem to make the ground for political killing and the killing of the foreigners. Besides, several bloggers were recently murdered by such bigots who even do not know what blog and blogging are. While the country is undergoing a substantial progress in terms of economic advancement and political stability and attempting to move from a lower middle-income country to a middle-income country, miscreants behind the screen play a vicious game of subterfuge and unfortunately remain untouched. The recent attempt to thwart the image of Bangladesh as a peaceful nation at national and global levels seems to be connected to a long-term scheme of making the trial of war criminals controversial and ultimately scandalising the notion of a digitalised Bangladesh progressing with steady steps. In this context, it is worth tracing back the origin of debates centring on Bengali identity in relation to religion, nationality and ethnicity and pointing to the decisive roles that Bengali played politically under the leadership of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman during Pakistan era.

Nanabidho" (Myriad): A Rediscovery of Sundry Bengali Identities through Lenses

2021

One of the most contested arena of today's socio-cultural political scenario is the battle between several<br> identity formations, be that individual or microcosms of several individual identities. Hence, when we talk<br> about a Bengali identity per se, it becomes difficult to conjure up a monolithic set of features that is<br> congruous with the term "Bengali". Various strands of geographic, economic, political factors and their<br> push and pulls have continuously contributed to the carving out of a heterogeneous identity structure that<br> has been constitutive of an abstract "Bangaliana." But does this "Bangaliana" or the essence of being a<br> Bengali equally permeate to different strata of a society that inhabit in a territory that we precisely call<br> Bengal? As a way to comprehend the mobility of these diverse features that are collectively associated<br> with a somewhat homogeneous Bengali ...

Bangladesh 2001: The Myth of Bengali Culture

HOLIDAY, Weekly Magazine , Dhaka, Bangladesh , 2001

Culture, its strength, and far reaching implications in social, national and political life, has remained the most dangerously misunderstood human phenomenon in Bangladesh's aesthetic development. In our constant yearning for 'excellence' - culture in Bangladesh has by far remained a force that has rarely been cultivated and nurtured towards those basic human instinct's : understanding and appreciation, to the way forward. In Bangladesh culture always had the natural capacity and ingredients in huge bounties to enrich itself through exchange and 'fomenting', of newer trends and attitudes. Had we allowed only an iota of 'space' for sustained nourishment, it would have helped gel unique new dimensions, with far reaching implications. Instead we have chosen to restrict and restrain positive inclinations that time demanded, and have rejected them without enquiry or understanding, expeditiously tagging them that one all encompassing sinister label, 'threats from aliens' or 'alien culture'. We have traditionally shied off acquiring knowledge, more than what our 'text books' could offer.