Civil Services Mains exam syllabus: Bengali

(Answers must be written in Bengali)

Paper I

Section A: Topics from the History of Bangla language

The chronological track from Proto Indo-European to Bangla (Family tree with branches and approximate dates).

Historical stages of Bangla (Old, Middle, New) and their linguistic features.

Dialects of Bangla and their distinguishing characteristics.

Elements of Bangla Vocabulary.

Forms of Bangla Literary Prose-Sadhu and Chalit.

Processes of language change relevant for Bangla.

Apinihiti (Anaptyxis), Abhishruti (umlaut), Murdhanyibhavan (cerebralization), Nasikyibhavan (Nasalization), Samibhavan (Assimilation), Sadrishya (Analogy), Svaragama (Vowel insertion)-Adi Svaragama, Madhya Svaragama or Svarabhakti, Antya Svaragama, Svarasangati (Vowel hormony), y-shruti and w-shruti.

Problems of standardization and reform of alphabet and spelling, and those of transliteration and Romanization.

Phonology, Morphology and Syntax of Modern Bangla. (Sounds of Modern Bangla, Conjuncts; word formations, compounds; basic sentence patterns.)

Section B: Topics from the History of Bangla Literature

Periodization of Bangla Literature: Old Bangla and Middle Bangla.

Points of difference between modern and pre-modern Bangla Literature.

Roots and reasons behind the emergence of modernity in Bangla Literature.

Evolution of various Middle Bangla forms: Mangal kavyas, Vaishnava lyrics, adapted narratives (Ramayana, Mahabharata, Bhagavata) and religious biographies.

Secular forms in middle Bangla literature.

Narrative and lyric trends in the nineteenth century Bangla poetry.

Development of prose. Bangla dramatic literature (nineteenth century, Tagore, Post-1944 Bangla drama). Tagore and post-Tagoreans.

Fiction, major authors: Bankimchandra, Tagore, Saratchandra, Bibhutibusan, Tarasankar, Manik.

Women and Bangla literature: creators and created.

Paper II

This paper will require first hand reading of the following text and the questions will be designed to test the candidate’s critical ability.

Section A

Vaishnava Padavali (Calcutta University)

Poems of Vidyapati, Chandidas, Jnanadas, Govindadas and Balaramdas.

Chandimangal Kalketu episode by Mukunda (Sahitya Akademi).

Chaitanya Charitamrita Madya Lila, by Krishnadas Kaviraj (Sahitya Akademi).

Meghnadbadh Kavya by Madhusudan Dutta.

Kapalkundala by Bankimchandra Chattarjee.

Samya and Bangadesher Krishak by Bankimchandra Chatterjee.

Sonar Tari by Rabindranath Tagore.

Chhinnapatravali by Rabindranath Tagore.

Section B

Raktakarabi by Rabindranath Tagore.

Nabajatak by Rabindranath Tagore.

Grihadaha by Saratchandra Chatterjee.

Prabandha Samgraha Vol. 1, by Pramatha Choudhuri.

Aranyak by Bibhutibhusan Banerjee

Short stories by Manik Bandyopadhyay: Atashi Mami, Pragaitihasik, Holud-Pora, Sarisrip, Haraner Natjamai, Chhoto-Bokulpurer Jatri, Kustharogir Bou, Jakey Ghush Ditey Hoy.

Shrestha Kavita by Jibanananda Das.

Jagori by Satinath Bhaduri.

Ebam Indrajit by Badal Sircar.