[Assam] Assam (Pragjyotishpur/Kamrup) connection with present-day geographical Bangladesh and realisation that Assamese is the root language of Bengali (amongst others) is gaining momentum. Wonderful !

Mon Oct 16 03:05:32 PDT 2006

*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:
ferdous3820 at yahoo.co.uk<http://uk.f271.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=ferdous3820@yahoo.co.uk>

* *

* *

*A rejoinder on Bangladesh: Where culture embraces ancient history*

*
http://www.bangladesh-web.com/news/view.php?hidDate=2006-10-16&hidType=OPT&hidRecord=0000000000000000131859
*

Friday October 13 2006 12:41:46 PM BDT

<ferdous3820 at yahoo.co.uk>

*by Khan Ferdousour Rahman.* <ferdous3820 at yahoo.co.uk>

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

<drchoudhury at hotmail.com>

*Mahmood Hasan Choudhury, USA* <drchoudhury at hotmail.com>

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
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.assamnet.org/pipermail/assam-assamnet.org/attachments/20061016/6f51ca6f/attachment.htm>