UPSC : Civil Services Exam Paper Pattern (Bengali)

NOTE : 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.