Bangladesh Culture, Economy and Society

Bengali Literature, Classical Poetry and Modern Masters

25 practice questions, each with the answer and an explanation.

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Random questions from this topic, one at a time. You see the answer and the explanation straight after each one.

All 25 questions

  1. Which collection of Buddhist mystical songs was rediscovered by Haraprasad Shastri in the Nepal Royal Court Library and published in 1916?
  2. Which scholar discovered the palm-leaf manuscript of the Charyapada in the royal court library of Nepal in 1907?
  3. Which 19th-century epic poet pioneered blank verse (amritakshar chhanda) in Bengali literature with his masterpiece Meghnad Badh Kavya?
  4. Which Bengali literary giant wrote the patriotic novel Anandamath in 1882, which contained the song 'Vande Mataram'?
  5. Which prominent poet, celebrated as the 'Pallikabi' (pastoral poet) of Bangladesh, wrote the renowned narrative poem Nakshi Kanthar Math?
  6. Who wrote the famous modern poem 'Banalata Sen', celebrating romantic mystery against ancient historical landscapes?
  7. Which fiery poem published in 1922 earned Kazi Nazrul Islam the lasting designation of the Rebel Poet?
  8. Which Bangladeshi poet, described as the 'unofficial poet laureate' of Bangladesh, wrote 'Asad-er Shirt' in response to the 1969 mass uprising?
  9. Which classic sonnet sequence and poetry collection was written by poet Al Mahmud in 1973, celebrating rural eros and folklore?
  10. Which versatile playwright and author wrote the classic verse plays Payer Awaj Paoa Jay and Nuruldiner Sara Jibon?
  11. Which intellectual and playwright, martyred on 14 December 1971, designed the revolutionary Munier Optima Bangla typewriter keyboard?
  12. Which acclaimed novelist and filmmaker directed Stop Genocide (1971) and wrote the political allegory novel Arek Falgun on the language movement?
  13. Which epic novel by Manik Bandopadhyay depicts the hardships and boat culture of fishermen along the Padma River?
  14. Who authored the classic novel Titas Ekti Nadir Naam, chronicling the Malo fishing community along the Titas River in Brahmanbaria?
  15. Which premier literary and linguistic research institution, founded on 3 December 1955 at Burdwan House in Dhaka, promotes the Bengali language?
  16. What is the month-long national book fair held every February on the grounds of Bangla Academy and Suhrawardy Udyan in Dhaka?
  17. Which Bengali linguist and philologist, who spoke 24 languages fluently and wrote Bangala Byakaran (Bangla Grammar, 1936), earned a Sorbonne PhD in 1928 on the dialects of the Charyapada?
  18. Who wrote the iconic memoir Ekattorer Dinguli (The Days of 1971), earning her the revered title of 'Shaheed Janani' (Mother of Martyrs)?
  19. Which prominent woman writer and activist authored the oral-history collection Ami Birangana Bolchi, recording the trauma of wartime rape survivors?
  20. Which Bangladeshi author (1948-2012) wrote the popular fictional series featuring Himu, in 21 novels, and Misir Ali?
  21. Which feminist utopian story, written in English by Begum Rokeya and first published in 1905 in the Indian Ladies' Magazine, describes a land called Ladyland?
  22. Who was the first Muslim female physician and pioneer social worker of Bengal, honored alongside Begum Rokeya?
  23. Which woman revolutionary led the armed raid on the Chittagong European Club in September 1932 alongside Masterda Surya Sen?
  24. Who organised the peasant-Santhal uprising of 5 January 1950 in Nachole Upazila, Chapai Nawabganj, and was often called 'RaniMa' by peasants and Santhals?
  25. Which Bangladeshi poet and feminist leader headed the women's organisation Bangladesh Mahila Parishad for many years?

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