Oxom and Bangla will have to suvive always together in Synergy--the same River to the Sea which connects all peoples of this small planet.
mm
From: "Bartta Bistar" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: AssamNet <[email protected]>
Subject: [Assam] Assam (Pragjyotishpur/Kamrup) connection with present-daygeographical Bangladesh and realisation that Assamese is theroot language of Bengali (amongst others) is gainingmomentum. Wonderful !
Date: Mon, 16 Oct 2006 11:05:32 +0100
Bangladesh: Where culture embraces ancient history
Khan Ferdousour Rahman
10/3/2006
BANGLADESH was liberated three and a half decades ago on December 16, 1971 after nine months of bloody war with Pakistani occupation forces. The majority of the present generation in Bangladesh was born after this war. Most of them who are not aware about the history of their motherland will be facinated to know that the name of Bangladesh basically originated from the Sultanate Bangala. It was named as Bengala in 1498 by the Portuguese when Vascodagama came in this land. It was named as East Bengal and Assam in 1907. In 1947, it was known as Bengal. It was called East Bengal from 1947 to 1956. It was renamed as East Pakistan in 1956 after the adoption of the constitution of Pakistan and continued as such up to 1971. The name was changed to Bangladesh in 1971 with the declaration of independence.
The area which is now Bangladesh, has a rich historical and cultural past, combining Dravidian, Indo-Aryan, Mongol/Mughul, Arab, Persian, Turkic, and west European cultures. Among residents of Bangladesh, about 98 per cent are ethnic Bengali and speak Bangla. Urdu-speaking, non-Bengali Muslims of Indian origin, and various tribal groups, mostly in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, comprise the remainder of its population. Most Bangladeshis -- about 83 per cent -- are Muslims, but Hindus constitute a sizable section -- 16 per cent. There also are a small number of Buddhists, Christians, and animists. English is spoken in urban areas and among the educated.
Basically, Bangladesh has three distinct to graphical features -- named as Pundra comprising greater Pabna, Rajshahi, Bogra, Rangpur and Dinajpur; Bango comprising greater Dhaka, Faridpur, Momenshahi, Jessore, Khulna, Barisal and Moulovibazar; and Samotot comprising the eastern side of Meghna, i.e. greater Comilla, Noakhali and Chittagong. Neighbouring West Bengal of India is has two topographical features -- as Rar comprising area up to north of Murshidabad, Birbhum, Bakura and 24 Porgona, and Gour comprising area from Maldah District up to Sona Masjid of our Chapainababgonj. Bango is basically the land in front of both the tides -- Bhagirothi and Padma -- of the river Ganges. Modhupur-Bhawal-Boteshwar area is comprised of old land. Barind, Modhupur trap and Lalmai are geologically very old landmarks. But Chalan Bill to Bay of Bengal is comparatively low land.
Bangla language is comprised of 3 languages outside of Bangala, i.e. Mogodh (west inhabitant on the south of Ganga), Mithila (north of Ganga at Bihar beside Nepal) and Oria (Orissa). It is comprised of 90% Aryan and 10% of local Astroloid language. Dialect has originated in Bango and Samatot area dictated by the geographical location, as there was less communication due to flood and inundation, whereas in North Bengal movement across land is possible from Murshidabad to Dinajpur.
As a nation we are basically mixed. According to Anthropologists there is no other 'melting pot of culture' anywhere other than the people of Bengal. Few indigenous societies are still alive in this area. Ancient people of Bangladesh belonged to two groups, i.e. Proto-Austroloid/Austric -- Saotal, Sri Lankan, South Indian from north to west up to Maori of Australia and New Zealand, and Mongoloid -- in eastern side, i.e. Mongolia, China, Tibet, Myanmar, Chittagong Hill Tracts up to Indo China. Aryan -- Germans are the oldest pure Aryan as claimed by Hitler was the first foreign influence in Bangladesh. Females were the energy behind the creation as Hindus gives main puja/prayer to Durga amongst all other gods and goddesses. Use of banana tree during 'Gaye Halud' festival by Hindu community was originated from indigenous society. 'Milad' a religious practice of Muslims is only seen so widely in this area, nowhere else. Human beings are basically accustomed to accept new things but use them as per own requirement, which is also applicable for Bangladesh.
Horshobordhon, Chandragupta Mourja captured seven Sindhus in 1500 B.C., those who fled to South India they are Drabir. Aryan took another 1000 years to reach Bangladesh.
In North India they established new generation by occupying vacant new land, but in Bangladesh they did not rather they mixed up with them. As per Nihar Ranjan Roy, the Aryan put them on in their own body. Again, Goutom Buddha brought Buddhism in opposing Hinduism, which could not grow in North India. Tantrik Buddhism -- mixing of Hinduism and Buddhism -- originated with their mixing keeping a lot of differences. The English established East India Company here to establish only market and to extract raw materials at cheap prices. Only the Nizams family of Hyderabad opposed Tipu Sultan to favour the English.
Culturally Bengal got due recognition in the third century B.C. In artistic heritage Maslin -- originated from Masul of Iraq, a very thin cotton clothing remained very popular up to 16th century. Terracotta plaque of Birbhoom, Bordwan, Bakura of 1500 B.C. and Kantgir Mandir of Dinajpur of the 18th century are few examples of architectural art. Buddha Bihars, as in Mynamati and Paharpur in Bangladesh, enclosed with crucified plan inside, do not exist in anywhere in India but are existing in the region from Myanmar to Indonesia. Hill was the centre of attraction for the Buddhists of this region, South East Asia is the example.
Bengal School of Art of Kolkata became very famous for sculptural art. Quality statues of Bishnu and other gods and goddesses were made by Black Basalt. New Boishnob religion -- Chaitanism -- was created by Sree Chaitanno when Hinduism was facing a threat due to expansion of Islam. Brammo religion -- believing in one creator, was preached by Raja Ram Mohan Roy drawing inspiration from Islam. The Buddhists -- Pal dynasty -- ruled Bengal for 400 years, followed by Sens. Bollal Sen, son of Lokkhon Sen (1st Sen King) established 'Koulinn Protha' in Karnataka by bringing 5 Kulin Brahmins from Kanouj for conducting puja/prayer. He thereby established fundamentalism by driving back the Buddhists from this region. Islam began to spread here when Ikhtiar Uddin Bakhtiar Khilji captured Bengal from the Sen dynasty.
Sufi religious teachers succeeded in converting many Bengalis to Islam, even before the arrival of Muslim armies from the west. About 1200 AD, Muslim invaders established political control over the Bengal region. This political control also encouraged conversion to Islam. Since then, Islam has played a crucial role in the region's history and politics, with a Muslim majority emerging, particularly in the eastern region of Bengal.
The presence of sea trade existed from ancient time in the culture of Bangladesh. Huge business was conducted with SE Asia from the ports of Bengal, i.e. from 'Tamrolipti Port' at Tamluk of Hugli district. The horses of Tibet (Himalayas) used to be exported through Bengal to SE Asia and SE Frontier Province (Central Asia). The graveyards of businessmen of Gour were found in Indonesia; Atish Dipanker of Tibet went also to Indonesia through Bangladesh. The Buddhists of Bengal fled away to Nepal and Tibet, a lot of pandulipis or written manuscripts of Bengal was found there. It was even found in Myanmar. The ninth century onward, Arabs took very prominent role in trading here via water route as they were very good navigators; they used to call Chittagong port as 'Samander'.The King of China sent a rappoteur/interpretator named Mahuan (means muslim) to Sultan Giasuddin. Horse, salt, black alloy wood, salt pitters (soda), rice, fine cotton were the main exportable items of Bengal.
The ancient history of Bangladesh was basically influenced by mixed experiences. With her very rich culture she could very well attract people from all over the world due to her strategic location, resourcefulness and people's acceptance.
................................................
The writer is a freelancer who
can be reached on E-mail:
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A rejoinder on Bangladesh: Where culture embraces ancient history
Friday October 13 2006 12:41:46 PM BDT
With reference to, " It was named as East Bengal and Assam in 1907. In 1947, it was known as Bengal" in his piece by Khan Ferdousour Rahman , I felt that I have to respond due to the ambiguity of the above statement carries. The 1907 reference in the line seems to suggest that he is referring to returning of Assam to the previous Chief Commissionership of Assam status after the short lived period of reorganisation of Bengal when Assam was made a part of the Bengal by the British.
However, the above reference by K.F.Rahman can make a reader believe very easily that Assam region has been for a long time if not always, a part of Bengal and a part was separated from it naming it as Assam in 1907. But the relevant region was known Assam for few hundred years before that.
Actually, what time in the past the word Assam was coined the jury is still out there to come up with a certainty. It is surely not 1907. I give you the following references here proving earlier dates: "One of the first unambiguous references come from Thomas Bowrey in 1663 about Mir Jumla's death: "They lost the best of Nabobs, the Kingdome of Acham, and, by consequence, many large privileges".[3] Tavernier's "Travels in India", published in 1676 uses the spelling "Assen" for Assam in the French original. The official chronicler of Mir Jumla too calls the place "Asam".[4] Most scholars accept that the first known mention of the word Assam today is in a stanza from the Bhagavat of Sankardeva[5] composed/translated in this region about the middle of the 16th century" Abul Fazi and Ahmadan Razi of the Mogul court too recoded the name Assam in one form or another.
The hills and vales of Brahmaputra and Barak valley known as Assam in1907, is a part of one time Kamrup/ Pragjyotishpur. The reference of Pragjyotishpur is found even in Periplus of the Erythraean Sea (Periplus Maris Erythraei) written in 1st century and in the writings of Chinese travellers to the region and other substantial write ups in Indian texts.
I do not know if Mr K.F.Rahman is aware that many parts of Bengal he mentions in his piece was part of Kamrup/ Pragjyotishpur in ancient times and also during the golden period of the Kingdom Of Assam . King Siladitya (HarshaBardhana) sought an alliance form Pragjyotish-Eswar Kumar Bhaskar Varman of Kamrup/Pragjyotishpur to defeat Sasanka of PoundraBardhan and Poundra was split in half and was divided between the conquering emperors. Hence, historically speaking most of East Bengal was part of Assam in the broadest sense rather than the other way round. Towards the zenith of the Kingdom of Assam it is true that Nabobs of Bengal managed to infringe the lower Assam region.
Mr. K.F Rahman has very rightly has touched upon the indigenous customs still colouring the culture of Bangaldesh. Most of these rituals now days have been erroneously labelled as Hindu rituals. But, if one is to look slightly deeper, it is not difficult to see that those are basically followed in Assam, KochBehar and in Bangladesh and have been adapted from indigenous tribal customs.
These customs are NOT seen to be in vogue amongst the Hindus of India. I would like to suggest that these similes are a definitive pointer of the whole region being graced by the very well developed and long lasting influence of the Kamrup/ Pragjyotishpur civilisation. The migrant Aryan influence became apparent here after the 7th Century and dominant after the demise of Buddhism.
The home of Tantrism is Kamrup. This Tantrism is not part of Hinduism. The original Kamrupi Tantra, a harmless philosophy, was an attempt to get closer to god through public sexual rituals. Aryans mixing with some tribal beliefs degenerated it into a dark cult for their ulterior motives. But Buddhist adopted some of the Kamrupi Tantrism into BojroZan Buddhism which is seen in Bhutan with its phallic symbol boldly displayed doors and walls of many Bhutanese homes even today.
He touched upon the linguistic heritage of Bangladesh . Many in Bangladesh may not be aware that the 'Gramya Bangla' of various regions of Bangladesh, use words which are totally alien to West Bengali tongue.
Linguist of yester years, Suniti Kumar Chattarrjee and Sukumar Sen has been trying to prove that Buddhist Carjapadas are written in Bengali. It is established beyond doubt that the Carjapadas recovered in Nepal were the works of three Kamrupi Biddhist monks. Modern Bengali linguists are beginning to attribute those verses as being Kamrupi Bangla. However, people who are well versed in both Bengali and Assamese should have no difficulty in stating that the verses are closest to even modern day Assamese. No wonder Sylheti speakers are beginning to find their linguistic roots in the Carjapadas; as, Sylheti is far removed from the Bengali of Bengal as a whole.
My appreciation of hearing words in Bangladeshi speech which are not used now a days by Assamese speakers but found in old Assamese dictionaries lead me to a logical conclusion that the language of ancient Sri Hatta, Samatata, Poundra, Gour, Barendra had little difference with early Assamese . Assamese do not have many of the Indian palatal sounds like the Nordic people.
This is also true for Tibet. From my limited exposure to Bangladeshi Bengali, I have heard some Bangladeshi speakers in their off guard moments also use the dental sound like the Assamese(native Assamese do this all the time) where the lexicon is palatal in the written language.
The single voiceless velar fricative sound for the 3 consonants in Assamese is a distinctive characteristic of the Assamese language. However, I have recordings of these sounds (or close to it) in Bangladeshi speech too.
Theses facts are strongly suggestive of failure of erosion of an indigenous tongue totally coming in contact with newer sounds. In this case, a Kamrupi(ie. Assamese) language root meeting the articulated sounds of West Bengal, which obviously has been heavily influenced by Indian languages.
Therefore, my humble submission is that the language of Bangladesh(East Bengal) has been forced into become closer to West Bengal Bengali in the upper middle and middle class societies of Bangladesh to become a so called ' Suddha Bhasa' . This 'Suddha Bhasa' is becoming far removed from the Bangladeshi regional variations as well as from Assamese of yester days and current one. Assam and Bangladesh working together can perhaps save this indigenous heritage from Indianisation before it is too late.
by Khan Ferdousour Rahman.
REF : Where culture embraces ancient history- Shuddha Bhasa,
http://bangladesh-web.com/view.php?hidDate=2006-10-16&hidType=OPT&hidRecord=0000000000000000132323
Monday October 16 2006 14:38:21 PM BDT
REF : A rejoinder on Bangladesh: Where culture embraces ancient history
Thanks for your comments, I enjoyed your thoughts, I do clearly agree with your conclussion about the loss of true and indegenous folk languages, including the ancient roots and connections to our ancestral languages whatever they may be. I used to put people on the spot by asking them to tell me what is the equivalant word for " Tawrani " which in the colloceal language of Brahmanbaria implies unsteadyness or loss of balance on locomotion / gait!. Usually they would be speechless.! Thanks again. Hasan.
Mahmood Hasan Choudhury M.D.
Springfield, Mo,
USA
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