Independent University, Bangladesh

Department of Social Sciences and Humanities

Course Title: National Culture and Heritage
Course ID: NCH 101

This course deals with the contemporary relevance of Bengali culture and heritage. It discusses the ethnic
and racial origin of Bengali people as well as the formation and historical evolution of community and
peasants society. Students also learn how delta and rivers influences the shaping of Bengali culture and
behavior. Apart from this, NCH 101 also deals Sufism in Bengal and mystic practices of Bauls.
Syncretistic religion and practices are also an important component of the lectures and an emphasis is
given on the social context to show how the popular Islam continues to exist alongside of formal major
religions.

Course Policy
1. It is the student`s responsibility to gather information about the assignments, exam schedules
and covered topics during the lectures missed.
2. The date and syllabus of the class tests, midterm and final is already given here. However,
announcements will be given ahead of time. There is no provision for make-up tests.
3. The reading materials for each class will be provided by instructor.
4. Class participation is crucial for better understandings of anthropological issues. Students are
encouraged to raise questions and engage in intellectually stimulating conversations during
the class-facilitated by the instructor.
5. Students should take tutorials with the instructor during the office hours. Prior appointment is
required.
6. Students must maintain the IUB code of conduct and ethical guidelines offered by the school
of liberal arts and social sciences.

Audit
Students who are willing to audit the course are welcome during the first two classes and are
advised to contact with the instructor after that.

Important Note
Plagiarism-that is- the presentation of another person`s thoughts or words as though they were
the student`s own- must be strictly avoided. Cheating and plagiarism on exam and assignments
are absolutely unacceptable.
To gain the most from each topic of discussion, students are expected to complete all readings as
provided by the instructor in advance to attend all classes to participate in discussions and
activities.

University Regulation and Code of Conduct

Please see the Green Book for further information about the academic regulations and policies,
including withdrawal of grading, appeals and penalties for plagiarism and academic misconduct.
Students with Disabilities
Students with disabilities are required to inform the appropriate personnel of any specific
requirement for classes or examination as soon as possible.

Grade Conversion Scheme

The chart given bellow will be followed for grading. This has been customized from the
guideline provided by the School of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences.
A A- B+ B B- C+ C C- D+ D F
90- 85-89 80-84 75-79 70-74 65-69 60-64 55-59 50-54 45-49 0-44
100

Class Topics Reference

1 Course Introduction Handout
● Discussions on Course Outline
● Course Policy and rules
● General Introduction of
Bangladesh
2 Conceptual Framework-1: Handout
● Heritage and Heritage
Management,
● Definition of Culture,
● Cultural Pluralism (in
Bangladesh)
● Secularism (in Bangladesh).
3 Conceptual Framework -2 Handout
● Indigenous Knowledge
● Enclave (in Bangladesh)
● Refugee and Borderlands (of
Bangladesh)
4 Class Test-1
5 Heritage and History of Bengal Roy, N. (1994). History of Bengali People: Ancient
● Ethno-History Period. Orient Longman
● Colonization Handout
● Partition
● Political History (1947-1971)
6 ● The Local Culture: Concept of Kotalova, J. (1996). Belonging to Others: Cultural
Village, Community, Samaj: an Construction of Womenhood in a Village in Bangladesh.
Informal institution in the The University Press Limited (UPL) 
village
● Traditional Village Market
7 Introduction to Heritage in Ahmed, N. (2004). Archeological Sites and Monuments
Bangladesh: Archaeological in Bangladesh. In Ahmed A. F. S. And Chowdhury, B.
Evidence of the Lost Culture (An (eds) Bangladesh National Culture and Heritage:
Appraisal of Mainamati, Paharpur, Introductory Reader. Independent University,
Mahastangarh & Wari Bateswar) Bangladesh
8 ● Class Test 2 Handout
 ● The Intangible Cultural Heritage
of Bengal
9 ● Heritage Management of
Bangladesh
● Geographical Identification(GI)
product of Bangladesh
● Cultural Pluralism in Bengal
● Sufism in Bengal
1 ● Delta and Rivers: Physical
0 aspects of Delta
● River and Bengali Culture
● Country Boats of Bangladesh
and Boat Race Festival
Haq, M. E (1975). A History of Sufism in Bengal.
Asiatic Society of Bangladesh
Rashid, H .(1977).Geography of Bangladesh.
The University Press Limited (UPL)  
Jansen, EG et al 1989. The Country Boats of
Bangladesh: Social and Economic Development and
Decision-making in Inland Water Transport. University
Press Limited (UPL)   
Jansen, E. G. et al 1989. The Country Boats of
Bangladesh: Social and Economic Development and
Decision-making in Inland Water Transport. University
Press Limited (UPL) 
Alam. M. 1998. Nouka baich Utshab. Bangla Academy

1 Indigenous people and Cultural Hand out

1 Diversity
12 ● Sufism in Bengal Hand out
● Folk Culture
13 ● Agriculture and Peasant Society Hand out
of Bengal Bangla Pedia/ http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?
● Festivals in Bangladesh title=Folk_Festivals
14 Midterm Exam
15 Ecological and Social Origin of Biswas, H.(1998). Ganer Bahirana. Papiras. Kolkata
Bengali Folk Music
16 Class test 3 Sibananda, S. S. (1999) All about Hinduism, The Divine
Four Major Religions in Bangladesh Life Society, Uttar Pradesh,Himalayas, India,
Harvey, P. (2013) An introduction to Buddhism.
Religion based Stratification of Cambridge University Press,
Bengal: Case Dalit Kennedy, P . (2011). Christianity-- An Introduction. I.
B. Tauris,
Leaman, O. (2001). An Introduction to Classical Islamic
Philosophy. Cambridge University Press
17 Review
18 Ethnographic Movie –1 Titas Ekti Nadir Nam, Directed by Rittik Ghatak 1973
19 Ethnographic Movie-2 Ganga , Directed by Rajen Tarafder in 1962
20 Presentation Discussions from Students
21 Presentation Discussions from Students
22 Presentation Discussions from Students
23 Bangladesh: A Region of Multiple Eaton, R. M. (1997). The Rise of Islam and the Bengal
Frontiers Frontier. 1204-760. Oxford University Press: New
Delhi
24 Folklore of Bangladesh Khan, S. (1991), Folklore of Bangladesh. Bangla
Shamanism in Bangladesh Academy, Dhaka
 Summary Karim, A. k. (1988) Shamanism in Bangladesh. Asian
Studies, Vol 47
25 Final Exam

Marks Distribution

Attendance and class performance 10%

Class test 20 20%
Assignment and Presentation on Movie Group/ individual 10%
(Marks will provide individually)
Midterm exam 20% (Assignment 10+ Presentation 10)
Viva (A part of Final Exam) 20%
Final exam 20%
Total 100%
Instructor: Dr. Ranjan Saha Partha
Contact: parthoju@slass.iub.edu.bd