Skip to content

Studies & Degrees in Bengali Language and Literature

Bengali, called Bangla by its speakers, is the language of Bangladesh and of the Indian state of West Bengal, whose capital is Kolkata. A degree in Bengali language and literature teaches students to speak, read and write the language and to study its literature, from pre-modern verse to the modern novel, short story and poetry. Rabindranath Tagore, who wrote in Bengali, received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1913. International Mother Language Day, observed on 21 February, was an initiative of Bangladesh; UNESCO approved it in 1999 and it has been observed since 2000.

Programmes differ according to who they are for. In Bangladesh and West Bengal the students are mostly native speakers, and the degree is a literature degree: literary history, criticism, linguistics and the reading of major authors. Elsewhere the subject usually starts with language classes and is part of South Asian studies.

Qualifications and levels

  • Bachelor's and master's degrees in South Asia. The Department of Bengali Language and Literature of the University of Calcutta dates from 1919. According to its page, as archived in January 2023, its syllabus began with pre-modern Bengali literature and now also covers modern Bengali fiction, modern Bengali poetry, Tagore, and comparative literature; staff also specialise in linguistics and lexicography. The page lists an M.A. in Bengali with 385 places, for which a B.A. (Hons.) in Bengali is required, and a Ph.D. for holders of the M.A. who have passed a national or state eligibility test (NET, SET or RET).
  • Bangladesh. The Department of Bangla of the University of Dhaka, the founding department of that university, offers a Bachelor of Arts, a Master of Arts, an M.Phil. and a Ph.D. in Bangla.
  • As part of South Asian studies. At The University of Chicago, Bangla is one of the languages of the Department of South Asian Languages and Civilizations (SALC), next to Hindi, Marathi, Sanskrit, Tamil, Tibetan and Urdu. The department offers a major leading to a BA, which requires three courses in a South Asian language at second-year level or above, and a minor of six or seven courses. Bangla is taught from a first-year sequence at novice level up to third-year courses.

Short intensive courses also exist, but offers change. The Critical Language Scholarship of the US Department of State, for example, offered Bangla from 2006 to 2023 and has since retired the language.

Where to study it

This directory lists two active schools for the subject: the University of Calcutta in Kolkata, India, and The University of Chicago in the United States. Tagore himself was associated with the Calcutta department as Ramtanu Lahiri Professor in 1932.

The choice depends on the starting point. Students who already read Bengali fluently and want a full literature degree will find it in India or Bangladesh; ask the department about the language of instruction and the entrance requirements for foreign applicants. Students who start from zero are better served by a South Asian studies programme such as the one in Chicago, where the first-year sequence develops speaking, listening, reading and writing from novice level and teaching is otherwise in English.

Careers

The subject does not lead to one profession. Graduates use the language and their knowledge of the region in teaching, translation and interpreting, publishing and journalism, academic research, libraries and archives, and in international organisations, development work and diplomacy concerned with Bangladesh and eastern India. The Chicago catalogue states that the area knowledge and the critical and linguistic skills of the degree may prepare a student for any number of careers. An academic career requires a doctorate.

Frequently asked questions

Is Bengali the same language as Bangla?

Yes. Bangla is the name of the language in the language itself, and universities use both names: The University of Chicago lists its courses as Bangla (Bengali).

Can I study Bengali without any previous knowledge?

Yes, in programmes designed for learners. The first-year Bangla sequence at The University of Chicago starts at novice level. Literature degrees in India and Bangladesh assume that students already know the language.

What do I need for a master's degree in Bengali at the University of Calcutta?

According to the department's page, as archived in January 2023, the M.A. in Bengali requires a B.A. (Hons.) in Bengali. Check the current admission notice, because requirements and places change.