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Bengali Optional Syllabus for UPSC 2025
Complete syllabus guide for Bengali Optional in UPSC Civil Services Examination. Master both papers with our comprehensive study material.
Important Note: Answers must be written in Bengali
Section A: Topics from the History of Bangla language
- 1. The chronological track from Proto Indo-European to Bangla (Family tree with branches and approximate dates)
- 2. Historical stages of Bangla (Old, Middle, New) and their linguistic features
- 3. Dialects of Bangla and their distinguishing characteristics
- 4. Elements of Bangla Vocabulary
- 5. Forms of Bangla Literary Prose—Sadhu and Chalit
- 6. 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 harmony)
- - y—shruti and w—shruti
- 7. Problems of standardization and reform of alphabet and spelling, and those of transliteration and Romanization
- 8. 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
- 1. Periodization of Bangla Literature: Old Bangla and Middle Bangla
- 2. Points of difference between modern and pre-modern Bangla Literature
- 3. Roots and reasons behind the emergence of modernity in Bangla Literature
- 4. Evolution of various Middle Bangla forms: Mangal Kavyas, Vaishnava lyrics, Adapted narratives (Ramayana, Mahabharata, Bhagavata) and religious biographies
- 5. Secular forms in middle Bangla literature
- 6. Narrative and lyric trends in the nineteenth century Bangla poetry
- 7. Development of prose
- 8. Bangla dramatic literature (nineteenth century, Tagore, Post-1944 Bangla drama)
- 9. Tagore and post-Tagoreans
- 10. Fiction, major authors: Bankimchandra, Tagore, Saratchandra, Bibhutibhusan, Tarasankar, Manik
- 11. Women and Bangla literature: creators and created
PAPER—II: Prescribed texts for close study
Section A
- 1. Vaishnava Padavali (Calcutta University) - Poems of Vidyapati, Chandidas, Jnanadas, Govindadas and Balaramdas
- 2. Chandimangal Kalketu episode by Mukunda (Sahitya Akademi)
- 3. Chaitanya Charitamrita, Madhya Lila by Krishnadas Kaviraj (Sahitya Akademi)
- 4. Meghnadbadh Kavya by Madhusudan Dutta
- 5. Kapalkundala by Bankimchandra Chatterjee
- 6. Samya and Bangadesher Krishak by Bankimchandra Chatterjee
- 7. Sonar Tari by Rabindranath Tagore
- 8. Chhinnapatravali by Rabindranath Tagore
Section B
- 9. Raktakarabi by Rabindranath Tagore
- 10. Nabajatak by Rabindranath Tagore
- 11. Grihadaha by Saratchandra Chatterjee
- 12. Prabandha Samgraha, Vol. 1, by Pramatha Choudhuri
- 13. Aranyak by Bibhutibhusan Banerjee
- 14. Short stories by Manik Bandyopadhyay:
- - Atashi Mami
- - Pragaitihasik
- - Holud-Pora
- - Sarisrip
- - Haraner Natjamai
- - Chhoto-Bokulpurer Jatri
- - Kustharogir Bou
- - Jakey Ghush Ditey Hoy
- 15. Shrestha Kavita by Jibanananda Das
- 16. Jagori by Satinath Bhaduri
- 17. Ebam Indrajit by Badal Sircar
Recommended Study Resources
Essential Books
- • History of Bengali Literature by Sukumar Sen
- • Bangla Sahityer Itihas by Dr. Asit Kumar Bandyopadhyay
- • Bengali Language: Historical Grammar by Suniti Kumar Chatterji
- • Bangla Bhashar Itibritto by Dr. Muhammad Shahidullah
- • Adhunik Bangla Sahitya by Dr. Srikumar Bandyopadhyay
Literary Works
- • Critical works on Rabindranath Tagore
- • Bangla Nataker Itihas by Dr. Asit Kumar Bandyopadhyay
- • Selected Works of Bankim Chandra
- • Modern Bengali Poetry Collections
- • Contemporary Bengali Prose
Academic Resources
- • Bangla Academy Journal
- • Sahitya Akademi publications on Bengali literature
- • Bengali Literary Criticism
- • Research Papers on Bengali Language
- • Linguistic Studies of Bengali
Practice Materials
- • Previous Years' UPSC Bengali Papers
- • Model Question Papers
- • Bengali Grammar Exercises
- • Literature Analysis Worksheets
- • Writing Practice Materials