A Bangladesh Village

Anwarullah Chowdhury's 'A Bangladesh Village' is an anthropological study based on intensive fieldwork in Meherpur, a village in the Dacca district. The book examines the social life of the community, focusing on how its stratification works. Chowdhury shows that the village is divided along three separate dimensions: class, status, and power. Class divisions stem from land ownership, while Hindu caste and Muslim status groups are ranked by social standing, and power is distributed unevenly among the residents. Interestingly, these three layers roughly overlap with one another.

Beyond describing the existing structure, the book traces the social changes this rural community experienced throughout the twentieth century. It offers a detailed, grounded look at how traditional hierarchies adapted and shifted over time. For students of sociology, anthropology, and anyone interested in rural Bangladesh, this remains a valuable academic resource. The author's careful fieldwork gives the study a rare depth and authenticity.