BD Sociological and Anthropological Perspectives 04.pdf

culture

1. Bangladesh:
Sociological and Anthropological
Perspectives
Md. Alamgir Hossain
Lecturer, Department of Development Studies
Daffodil International University, Dhaka

2. Chapter Objectives
•Exploresocio-anthropologicalperspectivesofBangladesh
•Makeyourunderstandingaboutthesocialstructure,stratification,andits
relevancetoBangladesh
•Deliberatetheculturalevaluation,variousculturalelements,andpracticesof
Bangladesh
•DiscusstheindigenouscommunityofBangladesh
•ExploretheimpactofglobalizationonBengalicultureandsociety

3. SOCIOLOGICAL AND ANTHROPOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE
⮚Sociologyandanthropologyinvolvethesystematicstudyofsociallifeandculturein
ordertounderstandthecausesandconsequencesofhumanaction.
⮚Theyexaminehowculture,socialstructures(groups,organizationsand
communities)andsocialinstitutions(family,education,religion,etc.)affecthuman
attitudes,actionsandlife-chances.
⮚Sociologyandanthropologycombinescientificandhumanisticperspectivesinthe
studyofsociety.Drawinguponvarioustheoreticalperspectives,sociologistsand
anthropologistsstudyareassuchasculture,socialization,deviance,inequality,health
andillness,familypatterns,socialchangeandraceandethnicrelations.
⮚Thiscombinationalsohelpsstudentstounderstandeverydaysociallifeasablendof
bothstablepatternsofinteractionandubiquitoussourcesofsocialchange

5. Sociology VS Anthropology
Sociology is scientific study of human society,
social relationships, and patterns of social
behavior, examines how individuals and
groups interact
Sociology aims to understand issues of
inequality, power, culture, and social change
Sociology was initially viewed as a synthesis
of several other fields of study, such as
economy, politics, family life, and religion.
Originated from western civilization(historic)
Natural Science
Qualitative data come to conclusion
•Anthropology is the study of humans,
past and present in their cultural and
biological contexts.
•It seeks to understand the diversity
of human cultures, beliefs, practices,
and behavior across time and space
•Anthropologists employ methods
such as participant observation,
ethnography,and archaeology to
explore human culture
•Originated from primitive groups
(pre-historic)
•Social Science
•Quantitative Data

6. ANTHROPOLOGY DEALS WITH CULTURE & SOCIOLOGY
DEALS WITH SOCIETY
There can be no culture without society
and there can be no society without culture

7. SOCIETY AND ITS TYPES
⮚Societiesaresocialgroupsthatdifferaccordingtosubsistence
strategies,thewaysthathumansusetechnologytoprovideneedsfor
themselves.Anthropologiststendtoclassifydifferentsocieties
accordingtothedegreetowhichdifferentgroupswithinasocietyhave
accesstoadvantagessuchasresources,prestige,orpower.
⮚Sociologistsplacesocietiesinthreebroadcategories:
•Pre-industrial;
•Industrialand
•Postindustrial.

8. Pre-industrial Society

9. Industrial Society

10. Post-Industrial Society

12. Industrial Society

13. Industrial Society

14. SOCIAL STRUCTURE OF BANGLADESH
Socialstructureistheorganizedpatternofsocialrelationshipsandsocial
institutionsthattogethercomposesociety
RuralSociety
UrbanSociety
✔Bangladeshdidnotexistasadistinctgeographicandethnicunityuntil
independence.IthadbeenapartofIndianEmpires
✔EstablishmentofPakistanin1947
✔EstablishmentofBangladeshin1971

15. The rural economy in Bangladesh has been a powerful source of
economic growth
3.17%
Agriculture
growth high
between
2020-2021
. .
87%
Rural
household
receive
income from
agriculture
65%
Household
rely on both
farm and
non farm
incomes
.
2%
Rural non
farm relative
to urban
employment
Agriculture growth stimulates
nonfarm income
SOCIAL STRUCTURE OF BANGLADESH (CONT.)

16. SOCIAL STRATIFICATION
SocialStratificationistherankingofpeopleorgroups
accordingtotheirunequalaccesstoscarceresources.Basesof
socialstratificationinclude:
•Poweristheabilitytocontrolthebehaviorsofothers,withor
withouttheirconsent.Itcanbebasedonforce,particularsocial
status,personalcharacteristics,orcustomsandtraditions.
•Prestigeistherespect,honor,recognitionorcourtesyanindividual
receive.Occupation,property,education,familybackground,areaof
residencearecommondeterminantsofprestigeinBangladesh
•Socioeconomicstatusisaratingthatcombinesbothsocialfactors
suchaseducationallevel,occupationalprestigeandeconomic
factorssuchasincome.

17. Theestatesystemisa
politicallybasedsystemof
stratification
characterizedbylimited
socialmobilitythatisbest
exemplifiedinEuropean
Feudalsociety.
FORMS OF STRATIFICATION
CasteSystemisasystemof
stratificationcharacterizedby
hereditarynotionsofreligious
andtheologicalpurityand
generallyoffersnoprospects
forsocialmobility.The
“Varna”systeminIndiaisthe
bestexample.
ClassSystemisaneconomically
based stratification
characterizedbysomewhat
loosesocialmobilityand
categoriesbasedonrolesin
productionprocessratherthan
individual characteristics.
Example:Capitalistclasssystem

18. SOCIAL STRATIFICATION IN BANGLADESH
Social Stratification
in Present Society
Onthebasisofincomeand
wealthwecandividethe
societyofBangladeshintothree
broadcategoriesthoughthere
aredifferentsubgroups.
UPPER CLASS
Industrialist, Businessman and
Top Professionals etc.
MIDDLE CLASS
Professionals, Bureaucrats and
Skilled Workers
LOWER CLASS
Rickshaw puller, Labor, Poor
farmer and Fisher man etc.
Social Stratification
In Hindu Society
IntheHindusocietyin
Bengalwegottwocaste
divisionwhichare:
Brahmans
Upper class people
Non-Brahmans
KayasthaBaidya,
Swarnakar
Social stratification
In Colonial Period
Wenoticedanotherdifferenttypeof
socialstratificationinthecolonialperiod
whichwascenteredownershipofland.
Likeas:
Zamindars
Themostpowerfulclassintheagrarian
structure.
Rich Peasant Class
Duringthecolonialtimewewitnessedthe
emergenceofarichpeasantclasswho
occupiedanimportantposition.
Poor peasants
workingclasscomingfromthelandlessand
marginalpeasants.

19. •Cultureis“theexpressionofournatureinourmodesoflivingandourthinking,inour
literature,inreligion,inrecreationandenjoyment."Language,religion,cuisine,socialhabits,
music,&andartsareexamplesofculture
•Traditionisabelieforbehaviorpasseddownwithinagrouporsocietywithsymbolicmeaning
orspecialsignificancewithoriginsinthepast.Publicholidays,NationalAnthems,Traditional
nationalcuisine
•Socialnormsaresharedexpectationsorrulesabouthowindividualsshouldbehaveina
givensocialgrouporsociety.Greetingpeople,givingupseatsontrains/buses,openingthe
doorforothers
•Valuesareassumptions,largelyunconscious,ofwhatisrightandimportant.Honesty,respect,
freedom,responsibility
•Civilizationsarelargehumansocietiesthattypicallyconsistofmanycitiesandsharecommon
culturalandtechnologicaltraits.MacIverremarks,“Civilizationiswhatwehave,cultureis
whatweare."Mesopotamia,AncientEgyptians,Inca,Maya
Different Concepts: Culture, Traditions, Norms and Values

20. Major Cultural Shift of Changes in Bangladesh
PeriodFood Habit Religion Dress Language
Education &
Literature
Mughal
Bengal
∙‘Kabab’
‘Rezala’,
‘Korma’ and
other Mughal
foods took
their places
beside the
usual fish, rice
and
vegetables of
the Bengalis.
∙The concept of
Islam in the worship
of Allah, equality
and brotherhood
greatly influenced
the people of the
country
∙The influence of
Visnu (Krisna)
Movement of Sree
Chaitanya reflected
in the social and
religious life of the
Hindus
∙Ornamented and pearl-
studded glittering, dress,
‘salwar’ and ‘kamiz’
adorned the Hindus and
the Muslims alike
∙The poor wore normal
dresses and wooden
sandals.
∙The rich and middle-
class women wore
attractive dresses with
muslin
∙They used to go out
sometimes in
Palaanquins
∙Persianwas
the dominant
and “official”
language of
the empire
∙Urdu
∙Mughal-
Pathan kings
nourished
the Bangla
language
remarkable
Development in
education and
literature
Gazalsand Sufi
literature

21. Major Cultural Shift of Changes in Bangladesh
PeriodFood Habit Religion Dress Language
Education &
Literature
British
period
∙The British
adapted
several of the
food choices
to their taste
and
developed the
“curry”.
∙Emergence of
certain “Raj”
traditions like
that of “tea”
∙Main religions were
Hinduism, Islam,
Christian
∙British tried to cast
Christianity in the
light of a better
religion and with
economic
inducements
convinced the poor
Indians into
Christianity
∙The British Raj
brought with it a
changing trend in
draping the sari.
Earlier way of draping
a sari without a blouse
was seen as
inappropriate, so
Bengali women
started wearing a sari
with a blouse or an
undershirt (Jama) and
petticoat (Shaya)
∙Men wore pant shirt
Dhoti Panjabi
∙English was
made the
official
language
∙People of
British Bengal
talked in
Bangla and
other local
languages.
British
established
the Christian
missionary
School to
increase the
Christianity in
India.

22. Major Cultural Shift of Changes in Bangladesh
Period Food Habit Religion Dress Language
Education &
Literature
Pakistan
period
∙Rice,
pulses,
fish, meat
and
vegetables
∙Main religions
were Islambut
other religion
including Hindu,
Christian,
Buddhism
existed
∙‘Lungi’,
sharee,
salwar-kamiz,
dhuti, Panjabi,
Fotuaetc.
∙“Without one
state language,
no nation can
remain solidly
together and
function."-
Jinnah
∙Urdu was the
state language.
∙After 1952,
Bangla was
established as
state language of
East Pakistan.
Before
independen
ce in 1971,
there were
only 6
universities

23. Major Cultural Shift of Changes in Bangladesh
Period Food Habit Religion Dress Language
Education &
Literature
Independent
Bangladesh
∙PantaIlish
∙Mache vathe
Bangali
∙Main
religions
were Islam,
Hinduism,
Christian
∙Religious
harmony
∙Bangladeshi women
habitually wear Sarees
made with Jamdani
∙A common hairstyle is
Beni (twisted bun)
∙Traditionally males wear
Panjabis, Fatuasand
Pajamas
∙Hindus wear Dhutyfor
religious purposes.
∙Now-a-days common
dresses of males are
shirts and pants
∙98% of the
population can
speak Bengali
∙Bangla is the
state language
of Bangladesh
∙Ethnic people
speak in their
mother tongue
After
independence
in 1971, First
Education
commission was
formulated.
Dr. kudrat
eKhuda
Commission

24. TheculturalbackgroundofBangladeshis
diverse.Theoriginalinhabitantsofthis
areawerepre-Aryan.Afterwords,they
wereinfluencedbyAryanthoughts.
Again,thiscultureisinfluencedbythe
ingredientsofMuslimcultureofTurkey,
Arab,IranandMiddle-Asia.Lastly,with
thearrivaloftheEuropeansespecially
theBritish,Adifferentculturaltrendwas
set.Inthisway,incourseoftime,our
culturegraduallydevelopedwiththe
essenceofdifferentcultures
Culture of Bangladesh

25. Bangladeshhasarich,diverseculture.Its
deeplyrootedheritageisthoroughly
reflectedinitsarchitecture,dance,
literature,music,paintingandclothing.
ThethreeprimaryreligionsofBangladesh
(Islam,HinduismandBuddhism)havehad
agreatinfluenceonitscultureandhistory.
Ourcultureismanifestedinvariousforms,
includingmusic,dance,anddrama;artand
craft;folklore;languagesandliterature;
philosophyandreligion;festivalsand
celebrations;aswellasinadistinctcuisine
andculinarytradition.
Cultural Diversity in Bangladesh

26. Festivals of Bangladesh
Cultural Festivals
Festivalsandcelebrationsareanintegralpartof
thecultureofBangladesh.Festivalshavealways
playedasignificantroleinthelifeofthepeopleof
Bangladesh.MuslimpeoplesareobservedEid-e-
Miladunnabi,Eid-ul-Fitr,Eid-ul-Azha,Muharram
etc.HindusobserveDurgaPuja,SaraswatiPuja,Kali
Pujaetc.ChristmasisobservedbyChristians.
Buddha’sPurnimaisafestivalcelebratedbythe
Buddists.

27. Secular/Common Cultural Festivals of Bangladesh
International Mother Language Day (21st February)
PahelaBaisakh(the first day of Bangla year)
Independence Day (26th March)
Victory Day (16th December)
Rabindra Jayanti
Nazrul Jayanti
PahelaFalgun
NobannoUtshob
ShakrainFestival

28. Indigenous Community of Bangladesh
•TheIndigenousPeopleofBangladesharelivingmostlyinthe
ChittagongHillyareas.Thecommunitiesaredefinedasdistinct
peoplesocially,economically,andpolitically.Theyarealsoknown
asTribalPeopleorEthnicGrouporMinoritiesinBangladesh.
•Bangladeshisacountryofculturalandethnicdiversity,withover
54indigenouspeoplesspeakingatleast35languages,alongwith
themajorityBengalipopulation.
•Mostofthetribalgroupsareformedconsistingoftribalkings,
villageheadmen,andaself-sustainingnaturallifestyle.The
situationinthelifestyleisnotsatisfactoryatall.Theyarevery
simple,honest,hospitable,andfollowthetribalkings.

29. Indigenous (Tribal/Ethnic) People of Bangladesh
•Bangladeshisacountryofculturalandethnicdiversity,withover54
IndigenousPeoplesspeakingatleast35languages,alongwiththemajority
Bengalipopulation.ThemostpopulousindigenouspeoplesinBangladesh
aretheSantal,Chakma,Khasia,MarmaandMandi.
•Ofthesethefirstandlastareconsideredplains-dwellingAdivasis,withthe
Mandilivinginnorth-centralBangladeshandtheSantalinthenorth-west.
Theyhaveastrongrelationshipwiththelandandthereisadeep
interrelationshipbetweentheirreligiousbeliefsandtheirsocialstructure.

30. IMPACT OF GLOBALIZATION ON BENGALI SOCIETY

31. •Music:Western,Indian,Koreanpop/rock
songs.
•Dance:Hiphop,Bollywooddancesaregetting
morepopular.
•Movies:newmovieshaveBollywood,
Hollywoodtouch.Theatredramasaregetting
rare.
•Festivals:Valentines'day,friendshipday,
father’sdayetcwesternfestivalsarebeing
celebrated.
•Dresses:westerndressesbecomemore
popular.
GLOBALIZATION’s IMPACT ON BENGALI CULTURE
❑Widerandeasieraccesstointernet
❑Advancementofsatellitechannels
❑Lackofknowledge/respecttoownculture
❑Tendencytoimitateforeignculture
❑Identitycrisis
❑Degradingvaluestructure
❑Irregulararrangementofculturalprogram
❑Lackofculturalorganization
❑Culturalconflicts

32. Reference
s
•VanSchendel,W.(2020).AhistoryofBangladesh.CambridgeUniversityPress.
•EconomicReviewReport-2021,GovernmentofBangladesh.
•BangladeshPopulationcensus,BBS2022Report
•BBS.2011.StatisticalPocketBook-2010.Dhaka:BBS,GovernmentofBangladesh.

33. THANK YOU