Bengal

Bengal is a geographic and ethno-linguistic area in the Eastern area of the Indian subcontinent.

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Values

Given the great cultural, religious, and social diversity of the Bengal Region, it is difficult to declare any single trait as representative of all Bengali people. They are a heterogeneous group representing a wide range of traditions and values.

In general, Bengal society is organized hierarchically. Age and position are important factors in determining one’s relative status. In family life as well as business, the most senior male is expected to be the decision maker.

The Bangladeshi calendar is marked by numerous festivals and celebrations. Among the official celebrations is Language Movement Day, which marks a series of protests in 1952 to protect Bengali as the national language of Bangladesh. This month long celebration commemorates the Bangla Language Movement, a response by Bangladeshis to the government of Pakistan (which governed Bangladesh at the time), which had attempted to establish the supposedly elite language of Urdu as the sole national language of Bangladesh. Numerous Bangladeshis were killed by Pakistani forces during protests. Eventually, the Pakistani government relented, giving Bengali equal status as a national language.

Important holidays:

1. Eid ul-Fitr: this is the most important Muslim holiday, a celebration of the end of Ramadan, falling on the first day of the 10th month of the Islamic calendar. The Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar, such that its calendar year is 11-12 days shorter than the solar calendar. Thus, this holiday does not fall on consistent days according to the Gregorian calendar.

2. Eid ul-Adha: this is a celebration of sacrifice during which people offer animal sacrifices, occurring around 70 days after Eid ul-Fitr.

3. Pohela Boishakh: this is the first day of the Bangla Calendar, typically celebrated on April 14.

4. Language Movement Day: annual celebration of Bangla Language Movement, celebrated on February 21.

Social communication considerations

• Bengali people tend to be indirect communicators. For example, if invited to a meal, it is considered rude to simply decline. Rather, one may say “I will try” or “I will have to see” . In addition, language use is highly contextualized, depending on body language and other non-verbal factors to convey meaning.

• Personal space is less of an issue for Bengalis than for Westerners.

• Men do not initiate handshakes with women, unless the woman extends her hand.

• Newly acquainted individuals do not address each other on a first name basis until some degree of familiarity emerges.

• Communication in general is formal, based on a hierarchical structure of respect for the eldest male.

• Smiling occurs with less frequency in general, as a serious face is believed to demonstrate maturity.

Cultural considerations

• Because 90% of Bengali people identify as Muslim, it is important to bear in mind the values espoused by Islam.

• Given the use of a lunar calendar in Islam, Muslim holidays fall on different days on the Gregorian calendar. It will be important to note when these holidays occur each year, as they are central to the values of Bengali people who are Muslim.

• Common greetings in Bengali have been incorporated from Islam: salaam aleykum (peace be unto you) and khoda hafez (God bless you) are frequently used greetings (17).

Original Contributors: Carlin V. Kenagy and Daniel R. Kenagy, Winter 2012