States PCS: West Bengal GK Questions for WBPSC Examinations

Notes:
Bidhan Chandra Roy was the second Chief Minister of
West Bengal. He remained in his post for 14 years as an Indian National
Congress candidate, from 1948 until his
death.

Notes:
Bengali saw an increase in Sanskrit influence during middle Bengali era (Chaitanya
era) and also during Bengal renaissance. Middle Bengali literature can be divided into two literary divisions which are: 1. Pre-Chaitanya Vaishnava literature, and 2. Post-Chaitanya Vaishnava literature.

Notes:
Madhusudan ’s last book of poems,
‘Chaturdashpadi Kabitabali’, is a collection of 102 sonnets which he wrote
at Versailles, France in 1865. Dutt also wrote some plays ‘Sharmishtha’ (1859),
‘Padmavati’ (1859), ‘Krishnakumari’
(1860), etc and two farces (a comic dramatic work), ‘Ekei ki Bole Sabhyata’
and ‘Buro Shaliker Ghare Ro’. He died in Calcutta on 29th June, 1873.

Notes:
Couplets of the lyrics are sung in a chaste raga in slow Dhrupadic measure by the leader of a group of singers and
their significance is elaborated in
recitation or song. The musical
instruments, tanpura and khol are used
in this style. The Kirtan style is
distinguished by its elements of group singing and its use of complicated time measures (talas) belonging to the pre-Mughal School of Dhrupad.

Notes:
Gana Sangeet
was originated from the
Swadeshi movement and gained popularity
during the IPTA (Indian People’s Theatre
Association) years. It depicted the political
turmoil, the unsolved social issues, freedom, community strength, patriotism, etc. Gana Sangeet of Bengal got embroiled in the political turmoil of the society.
Jyotirindra Maitra, Hemanga Biswas, Salil
Chowdhury, Bhupen Hazarika, Praful
Mukhopadhyay, Kabir Suman wrote many
famous Gana Sangeet.

Notes:
Chhokra Dance featured youths playing the roles of women on alkap songs. This dance is
performed on a canopied stage in an open field. It is directed by a sarkar who leads a fairly large team of singers, musicians and players. Some parts of the alkap song and the Chhokra dance can be quite vulgar and this is why, performances are held late at night, for adult audiences.

Notes:
Some of the important films Bikash Roy acted in are Uttar Phalguni, Chaddabesi, Surjyo Toron, Neel Akasher Neechey, Baghini, Bindur Chhele, Devdas, etc. His
performance as a villain in the movie
‘Biyallis (42)’ was remarkably realistic.
He wrote a couple of books related to
films and acting. He died on 16th April,
1987.

Notes:
Sabitri Chatterjee was born on 21st February, 1937 in Comilla, now in Bangladesh. At an early
age, she joined a theatre group, ‘Uttar
Sarathi’. Her debut film was Pasher Bari
in 1952. Sabitri is an excellent actress both in cinema and in stage.

Notes:
Sharmila Tagore (born 8 December 1944) is a retired Indian actress. Primarily known for her work in Hindi and Bengali cinema, Tagore is the recipient of two National Film Awards, a Filmfare Award, and the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award for her contributions to Hindi cinema. In 2013, the Government of India, honoured her with Padma Bhushan, India’s third highest civilian honour for her contributions to the Indian culture through performing arts.

Notes:
Traditionally, the theatre of rural Bengal was an exclusively male dominated. Jatra, the most popular folk theatre was produced by men with a cast of men. Until the
advent of girls on stage the female roles had been played by men. Playwrights like Michael Madhusudan Dutt and Girish Chandra Ghosh introduced women to theatre. Madhusudan Dutt insisted on hiring women to act in his play ‘Sharmishtha’.
The first four professional women of Bengali theatre were Golap, Shyama,
Jagattarini and Elokeshi.