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.