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BA-HONOURS in Bengali at Seth Soorajmull Jalan Girls' College
Kolkata, West Bengal
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About the Specialization
What is Bengali at Seth Soorajmull Jalan Girls' College Kolkata?
This Bengali Honours program at Seth Soorajmull Jalan Girls'''' College focuses on the rich heritage and contemporary trends of Bengali language and literature. It delves into the historical evolution of the language, literary forms, critical theories, and the works of eminent writers, providing a comprehensive understanding of Bengali''''s cultural significance in India. The program prepares students for various roles in publishing, media, and education.
Who Should Apply?
This program is ideal for fresh graduates from 10+2 with a strong affinity for Bengali language and literature, seeking entry into academic, media, or cultural fields. It also suits individuals passionate about preserving and promoting Bengali culture. Students aspiring for civil services or further research in humanities will find this program a strong foundation.
Why Choose This Course?
Graduates of this program can expect diverse career paths in India, including journalism, content creation, teaching, translation, publishing, and public relations. Entry-level salaries range from INR 2.5 - 4 LPA, with experienced professionals earning INR 6 - 10 LPA or more in senior roles. The program aligns with competitive exams and offers a pathway to M.A. and Ph.D. in Bengali.
Student Success Practices
Foundation Stage
Build a Strong Literary Foundation- (Semester 1-2)
Systematically study the history of Bengali literature and language, focusing on ancient and medieval periods. Maintain a detailed glossary of literary terms and historical figures. Participate in department-led introductory workshops on classical texts to deepen comprehension beyond classroom lectures.
Tools & Resources
University of Calcutta prescribed texts, Bengali literary encyclopedias, Departmental study groups
Career Connection
A strong foundation is crucial for advanced studies and any career involving Bengali literature, providing contextual knowledge for content creation or analysis.
Enhance Language Proficiency & Communication- (Semester 1-2)
Actively engage in improving written and spoken Bengali. Participate in debates, elocution, and essay writing competitions organized by the college or local cultural bodies. Regularly read Bengali newspapers and magazines to stay updated on contemporary language usage and current affairs.
Tools & Resources
Anandabazar Patrika, Bartaman, Desh magazine, Bengali literary journals
Career Connection
Excellent language skills are vital for journalism, teaching, content writing, and public relations roles, enhancing employability.
Explore Interdisciplinary Connections- (Semester 1-2)
Utilize Generic Elective courses to gain exposure to subjects like History, Political Science, or Sociology. Understand how these disciplines intersect with Bengali literature and culture, broadening analytical perspectives and research interests. Attend seminars on socio-cultural aspects of Bengal.
Tools & Resources
College library resources, University seminars and workshops, Online academic resources
Career Connection
Interdisciplinary knowledge provides a holistic understanding, beneficial for civil services, cultural research, and broad-based content development.
Intermediate Stage
Deep Dive into Literary Theories and Criticism- (Semester 3-4)
Engage critically with both Indian and Western literary theories. Form discussion groups to analyze how different critical lenses can be applied to Bengali texts. Write analytical essays applying these theories to specific literary works, developing a critical thinking approach.
Tools & Resources
University prescribed critical texts, Research papers on literary theory, Online academic databases
Career Connection
Critical analytical skills are essential for academic research, advanced content analysis, and literary criticism, opening doors to higher education and specialized writing.
Cultivate Creative and Functional Writing Skills- (Semester 3-4)
Actively participate in Skill Enhancement Courses (SEC) like Journalism & Creative Writing. Practice writing various forms—news reports, features, short stories, and essays. Seek feedback from professors and peers to refine your writing style and clarity. Explore opportunities for college magazine contributions.
Tools & Resources
SEC course material, Bengali creative writing workshops, College literary club
Career Connection
Strong writing skills are directly applicable to journalism, content marketing, publishing, scriptwriting, and creative industries, making graduates job-ready.
Engage with Performing Arts & Theatre- (Semester 3-4)
Attend Bengali theatre productions and literary festivals in Kolkata. Join the college''''s drama club or literary society to actively participate in stage plays, recitations, or literary discussions. This practical engagement enriches the understanding of drama and performance literature.
Tools & Resources
Nandan, Academy of Fine Arts (Kolkata), College drama club, Local theatre groups
Career Connection
Develops a deeper appreciation for literary performance, beneficial for careers in theatre, film, media, and cultural event management.
Advanced Stage
Undertake Research Projects & Dissertations- (Semester 5-6)
For DSE courses, choose options that involve research methodology or project work. Identify a topic of interest and work closely with faculty mentors to develop a research proposal, conduct literature reviews, and write a small dissertation or research paper. Present findings at departmental seminars.
Tools & Resources
JSTOR, Shodhganga (for Indian research), University library, faculty guidance
Career Connection
Essential for postgraduate studies (MA, MPhil, PhD) and careers in academic research, think tanks, and specialized content creation, demonstrating research aptitude.
Pursue Internships in Relevant Fields- (Semester 5-6)
Seek internships in publishing houses, media organizations, translation agencies, or cultural NGOs during semester breaks. Gain practical experience in editing, proofreading, content writing, reporting, or event management, applying theoretical knowledge to real-world scenarios.
Tools & Resources
Internshala, LinkedIn, College placement cell contacts, Direct outreach to organizations
Career Connection
Provides valuable industry exposure, networking opportunities, and often leads to pre-placement offers, significantly boosting career prospects post-graduation.
Prepare for Higher Education & Competitive Exams- (Semester 5-6)
Alongside regular studies, prepare for entrance exams for MA in Bengali, B.Ed., or competitive exams like WBCS (West Bengal Civil Service) and other government job exams where Bengali language is a key component. Focus on current affairs and general knowledge in addition to subject-specific preparation.
Tools & Resources
Previous year question papers, Coaching institutes (if required), Online learning platforms
Career Connection
Directly enables entry into advanced academic programs or secures prestigious government positions, offering stable and impactful career paths in India.
Program Structure and Curriculum
Eligibility:
- Passed 10+2 examination or its equivalent with Bengali as a subject. Minimum 45% marks in Bengali and 45% in aggregate OR 50% in Bengali if aggregate is less than 45% OR 50% in aggregate if Bengali was not studied at 10+2 level (as per University of Calcutta norms for BA Hons).
Duration: 3 years / 6 semesters
Credits: 140 Credits
Assessment: Internal: 25%, External: 75%
Semester-wise Curriculum Table
Semester 1
| Subject Code | Subject Name | Subject Type | Credits | Key Topics |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BNGA CC 1 | History of Bengali Literature (Ancient & Medieval Period) | Core | 6 | Charyapada and early Bengali literature, Mangalkavya tradition, Vaishnava Padavali, Translations of Ramayana and Mahabharata, Contribution of Sri Chaitanya |
| BNGA CC 2 | History of Bengali Language & Prosody (Ancient & Medieval Period) | Core | 6 | Origin and evolution of Bengali language, Phonetics and Morphology, Historical stages of Bengali, Introduction to Bengali Prosody, Different meters (Matravritta, Swarabritta, Aksharavritta) |
| AECC 1 | Environmental Studies / Bengali (Compulsory MIL) | Ability Enhancement Compulsory Course | 4 | Natural Resources, Ecosystems, Biodiversity and Conservation, Environmental Pollution, Social Issues and the Environment |
| GE 1 | Generic Elective - 1 | Generic Elective | 6 | Chosen from another discipline (e.g., History, Political Science, Philosophy) |
Semester 2
| Subject Code | Subject Name | Subject Type | Credits | Key Topics |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BNGA CC 3 | Literary Forms & Poetics | Core | 6 | Drama and its elements, Novel and Short Story, Poetry and types of poems, Literary Criticism - basic concepts, Rasa and Dhwani theories |
| BNGA CC 4 | History of Bengali Literature (Early Modern Period) | Core | 6 | Fort William College and early prose, Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar''''s contribution, Michael Madhusudan Dutt''''s epic poetry, Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay''''s novels, Development of Bengali Theatre |
| AECC 2 | English Communication / Bengali (Compulsory MIL) | Ability Enhancement Compulsory Course | 4 | Grammar and usage, Reading comprehension, Writing skills (essay, report, letter), Listening and speaking skills, Public speaking and presentation |
| GE 2 | Generic Elective - 2 | Generic Elective | 6 | Chosen from another discipline (e.g., History, Political Science, Philosophy) |
Semester 3
| Subject Code | Subject Name | Subject Type | Credits | Key Topics |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BNGA CC 5 | History of Bengali Literature (Mid-Modern Period) | Core | 6 | Rabindranath Tagore''''s poetry and short stories, Satyendranath Dutta and literary movements, Kazi Nazrul Islam''''s revolutionary poetry, Sharatchandra Chattopadhyay''''s social novels, Emergence of modern Bengali prose |
| BNGA CC 6 | Western Literary Theories | Core | 6 | Classical Literary Theories (Plato, Aristotle), Romanticism and Realism, Marxist Literary Criticism, Psychoanalytic Literary Theory, Structuralism and Post-Structuralism |
| BNGA CC 7 | History of Bengali Language & Rhetoric (Modern Period) | Core | 6 | Standardization of Bengali prose, Dialects of Bengali, Phonological and morphological changes, Figures of Speech (Alankar), Literary Devices (Rhetoric) |
| SEC A1 | Functional Bengali / Mass Communication in Bengali | Skill Enhancement Course | 4 | Official correspondence in Bengali, Report writing and editing, Journalism basics, News reporting and anchoring, Media ethics |
| GE 3 | Generic Elective - 3 | Generic Elective | 6 | Chosen from another discipline (e.g., History, Political Science, Philosophy) |
Semester 4
| Subject Code | Subject Name | Subject Type | Credits | Key Topics |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BNGA CC 8 | Indian Literary Theories | Core | 6 | Concept of Rasa (Bharata Muni), Dhwani theory (Anandavardhana), Alankara (Figures of Speech), Riti and Vakrokti theories, Impact on Bengali literary criticism |
| BNGA CC 9 | History of Bengali Literature (Late Modern Period) | Core | 6 | Post-Tagore era poetry, Kallol Yuga and its impact, Emergence of modern drama, Post-partition literature, Contemporary literary trends |
| BNGA CC 10 | Modern Bengali Poetry (Specific Poets) | Core | 6 | Jibanananda Das''''s poetic world, Sujata and contemporary poetry, Buddhadeva Bose and experimental forms, Influence of Western modernism, Themes of urban life and alienation |
| SEC B1 | Journalism & Creative Writing / Proof Reading | Skill Enhancement Course | 4 | Fundamentals of journalism, News writing and feature writing, Creative non-fiction, Proofreading symbols and techniques, Editing for print and digital media |
| GE 4 | Generic Elective - 4 | Generic Elective | 6 | Chosen from another discipline (e.g., History, Political Science, Philosophy) |
Semester 5
| Subject Code | Subject Name | Subject Type | Credits | Key Topics |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BNGA CC 11 | Modern Bengali Drama & Theatre | Core | 6 | Post-Tagore Bengali drama, Sombhu Mitra and Group Theatre movement, Utpal Dutt''''s political theatre, Contemporary playwrights and their works, Folk theatre traditions and modern adaptations |
| BNGA CC 12 | Modern Bengali Fiction (Novel & Short Story) | Core | 6 | Manik Bandyopadhyay''''s realism, Tarashankar Bandyopadhyay''''s regional novels, Bibhutibhushan Bandyopadhyay''''s nature themes, Short stories of Jagadish Gupta and Premendra Mitra, Emergence of feminist and subaltern narratives |
| DSE A1 | Discipline Specific Elective A - 1 (Choose 1 from options) | Discipline Specific Elective | 6 | Folk Literature of Bengal: Folk tales, ballads, proverbs, Linguistics in Bengali: Phonology, morphology, syntax, Bengali Dalit Literature: Themes, writers, socio-political context |
| DSE B1 | Discipline Specific Elective B - 1 (Choose 1 from options) | Discipline Specific Elective | 6 | Rabindranath Tagore''''s Works: Selected poetry, novels, essays, Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay''''s Works: Social novels, historical fiction, Bibhutibhushan Bandyopadhyay''''s Works: Novels based on nature and rural life |
Semester 6
| Subject Code | Subject Name | Subject Type | Credits | Key Topics |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BNGA CC 13 | History of Literary Criticism in Bengali | Core | 6 | Early forms of critical appraisal, Tagore''''s critical essays, Influence of Western and Indian theories, Major Bengali critics and their contributions, Modern trends in Bengali literary criticism |
| BNGA CC 14 | Essays & Non-Fiction in Bengali | Core | 6 | Early Bengali essays and prose, Rammohan Roy and Vidyasagar''''s prose, Vivekananda''''s writings, Tagore''''s philosophical essays, Contemporary non-fiction and intellectual discourse |
| DSE A2 | Discipline Specific Elective A - 2 (Choose 1 from options) | Discipline Specific Elective | 6 | Research Methodology in Bengali: Data collection, analysis, report writing, Translation Studies in Bengali: Theory, practice, challenges of translation, Publishing in Bengali: Process, editing, marketing, digital publishing |
| DSE B2 | Discipline Specific Elective B - 2 (Choose 1 from options) | Discipline Specific Elective | 6 | Contemporary Bengali Poetry: Major poets and their styles, Bengali Children''''s Literature: History, significant authors, genres, Modern Bengali Travelogue: Prominent writers, cultural insights, literary techniques |
