In the past, Bengali philosophy was humanist to a great extent. Beginning in the philosophical writings of Buddhist scholars, it has displayed itself in the mystic-humanist lyrics of BAULs and Vaisnavas, in Brahmanism, in the liberal thinking of the Muslim thinkers of the BUDDHIR MUKTI ANDOLAN, in the secular humanism of GOVINDA CHANDRA DEV. While there has been some extreme religiosity, it has often been an unexceptional way.

In the trait of Bengali life, there was secularism. Religion had position into the philosophy in the Middle Ages, when Bengalis wanted to have an easy solution of their problems from deities and sages.

But this mental want was not driven only by spiritualism. The Bengali praying of CHANDI, MANASA, SHITALA, Laksmi and other deities was not completely for having something in the hereafter, but for earning worldly affluence and comfort. This explains why in Annadamangal the boatman Ishwar prayed to the goddess that his children might have proper food.