Keywords
Mughal
nobles
composite culture
syncretism
How to Cite
Abstract
The expansion of the Mughal rule into Bengal coincided with the changing courses of rivers. This culminated in the migration of the population from the west to the east witnessing an expansion of settlement from West Bengal to East Bengal (present Bangladesh). With Mughals, came socio-political and economic and cultural changes which were seen in their royal courts and in Bengal province as well. Even the local masses showed signs of syncretism. Thus, the topographical history of medieval Bengal assumed a different position from the rest of the provinces in the country. Besides contributing significantly to the royal purse, Bengal also synchronised different cultures and its practices, and promoted composite cultures. This diffusion can be seen in their lifestyles, foods and literary works giving an identity to a person and community living in the society. The seventeenth century Bengal society represented itself as a milieu of composite cultures. This paper traces how Mughal nobles and native population in Bengal assimilated each other’s cultures. The aim of the article is not to tread the beaten track but to revisit the cultures of seventeenth century Bengal with the intention to witness the changes or continuity. This study includes the study of the primary sources including the Bengali literature and foreign travelers’ accounts, besides existing modern works.
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