The Special Lecture by the Department of Sociology

The Department of Sociology had organised a special lecture on “Status of Bengali Language in the Medieval Period”  with students of semester 5 and 3 (CCF). The lecture was conducted in relation to the Core Course based component in the Core paper (CC-12) – ‘Sociology of Society in Bengal’, to understand the historical evolution of language as a social institution. The lecture was delivered by Dr.Susmita Bhattacharyya, Associate Professor, in The Department of Sociology, University of Calcutta. Her lecture emphasized how language both shapes and reflects social, cultural, religious, and political transformations. Bengali, as a regional language, played a significant role in the social life of medieval Bengal and contributed to the formation of collective identity among the people.

The lecture aimed to introduce students to the historical development of the Bengali language during the medieval period (c. 1200–1800 CE), it also explained the relationship between language, society, and power. Her lecture also touched upon few explanations of the ancient and modern period with regard to the evolution of Bengali language. The lecture also highlighted the role of literature, religion, and patronage in language development. From a sociological perspective, the medieval Bengali language functioned as a medium of cultural transmission, helped construct regional identity and social cohesion,challenged elite dominance of Sanskrit by empowering vernacular expression, and reflected social inequalities, religious pluralism, and cultural synthesis.

Through this lecture students were able to understand the historical status and evolution of the Bengali language in the medieval period, analyze language as a social institution rather than merely a means of communication, recognize the role of religion, literature, and power in shaping linguistic development, develop a sociological perspective on regional languages and identity formation, and appreciate vernacular languages as tools of social inclusion and cultural resistance.

Last, but not the least, the special lecture highlighted the importance of the Bengali language in medieval society and its relevance to sociological studies. By examining language in its social context, students gained deeper insight into how cultural practices and social structures evolve over time.