Group presentation of Rural sociology course. Done by '16 batch students of sociology discipline, Khulna University

1. Welcome to the presentation

2. Nature of village Samaj and Shalish

3. Presented by:
Group- G
ID: KHAIRUL ISLAM :161609,
KAZI ABRAR TARIK: 161621,
NUSRAT JAHAN MONIKA: 161631,
ABDUR RAHMAN :161641,
MD.UZZAL HOSSAIN :161651
First year, Second term
Khulna University
Khulna- 9208

4. Meaning of Village Samaj
oIn general the meaning of ‘Samaj’ is living together.
o‘Samaj’ is the Bengali form of ‘Society’.
o ‘Village Samaj’ means the Society that belongs to village or rural area.
o To the villagers the meaning of ‘Samaj’ is a platform from where socio-
economic activities are done as well as managing conflict within it.

5. Definition
o“Samaj is founded upon reciprocal relationship, common identity, and strong
neighborhood generated by the proximity of residence”
(Mashreque, 1985).
o Samaj is the unique social organization in peasant society of Bangladesh.

6. Structure of Village Samaj
Some social organizations like family, homestead and bangsha mainly consists in the village samaj.
Paribar/ Family: There are two types of families found in village samaj
o Joint family- Joint family system is the most traditional and formal family form in the village samaj.
Joint family means more than three generations of family members are living within a hearth, having a
family head (who generally is the grandfather).
o Nuclear family- Another form of family found in the village is the nuclear from of family, where
father, mother and children live within a hearth. These types of families are mostly seen in the village
who own less cultivable land or have secondary professions.

7. Structure of Village Samaj cont…
Bari/ Homestead: In Bangladesh villages Bari is considered as pioneer social
organization. The name of homestead is synonymous with the family name or occupation as
in common meaning bari is homestead. .
Status and position of some time vary from bari to bari. Thus the role of bari in social
formation in the village is very important. Especially in economic activities and in marriage
system bari is considered as a prime issue. Generally most of the people, though directly
related with agriculture, do not directly relate with agriculture or work in the field.

8. Structure of Village Samaj cont…
Gusti/ Bangsha: Gusti or Bangsha (lineage) is another important social organization
in village samaj. The Gosti is the basic organization related with kin group. In general,
Bangsha is blood related kin members generally living in a cluster of homesteads. The
term Bangsha originated from the term bamboo bush. The process of Bangsha formation
is very much similar with the growing of bamboo bush. In rural Bangladesh kinship
plays a vital role in social and economic activities. Bangsha is the formal representation
of kin group.

9. The Roles of Samaj
1. Conflict Resolution among the members of it;
2. Arranging social gathering;
3. Arranging social/cultural programs.

10. Factionalism
Factionalism: The term “factionalism” derived from the basic word “Faction”
which means grouping. Factionalism is the basic feature of social structure of
village samaj. Faction grouping can be seen in the peasant society in Bangladesh, .
In the decade of 1970s, American Anthropologist P.J. Bertocei identified faction
grouping in the villages of Comilla.

11. Power Structure
The word power is closely related with the word authority. The people who are
economically developed in the village samaj there, generally rule the society.
o Educated people are felicitated in the village samaj.
o The people who has more lands and properties rule the people who are not
economically well off and has to work under them.
o There are Chairman, Members, Chaukidars and so on who has a power to
operate the society.

12. Meaning of Salish
o The ‘Salish’ or ‘localized arbitration’ is administrated by rural elders often follow religious
edicts or ‘Fatwa’ or some rough interpretation of religious codes to arbitrate disputes.
o A traditional, informal or semi-formal adjudication process which survives in the rural society
that deals with issues related to social and cultural norms and practices.

13. Facts about Salish
o Solves conflicts with the help of ‘Matbars’ or elected representatives
o Solves disputes related to Social and Cultural norms.
o Solves civil or criminal matters adjudicated at para, village, inter village or union level.
o By contrast with the formal courts, the salish are voluntary, now-a-days controlled by the parties
themselves.
o Although land is the most common source of disputes but it also handles Dowry, Divorce, or the
resolution of issues arising in relation to extra-marital or other illicit male/female relationships.

14. Different levels of Salish
For Smaller issues:
Smaller issues are immediately resolved by neighborhood Salish which commonly takes place.
For Bigger issues:
Bigger issues are fairly resolved by Inter-village Salish or even Union level Salish with the
chairman in charge.

15. Who directs the Shalish
o People who are economically well off
o People with political power (Political leader)
o School teachers of that village
o The Chairman or Member of UP
o People who are religious leader (Moulovi, Brahmin etc.)

16. Punishment
Actually in shalish they judge very simple local problems and thus the punishment is
given by them is relatively lighter. Some punishments are marked here-
o Physical punishment is mainly for the thieves and robbers.
o If a family violets the rules of the Shalish then the family can be ostracized.
o If the guilt is more severe then the accused can be punished physically.
o The accused can be fined if his or her guilt is proved.
o Finally they mitigate the situation by uniting the two parties (Accused must say sorry
to the plaintiff).

17. Importance of Salish
o Decreases the pressure in courts
o It helps greatly in resolving little disputes of a locality
o Problems can be solved in a relatively short time at minimal cost

18. Drawbacks of Salish
o When the plaintiff is poor and the offender is rich, the later gets off lightly or may even ignore
the decision altogether.
o Tilt in judgment may occur in favor of peers of the bench members.
o In sexual matters, women are invariably treated harshly than men.
o Finally, the dominance of orthodox religious views can be a problem in certain areas

19. Thank you.
Do you have any question..?