Bhadralok an elitist social class that emerged under the impact of colonial rule. In pre-modern times, the word Bhadra, a Sanskrit term, denoted many values including property, particularly homestead property. It was also used for behaviourally refined people. From early nineteenth century, a bhadralok class began to emerge as a social category and became practically an institution in the mid-nineteenth century. In its institutional sense, the term was first used by bhabanicharan bandyopadhyay (1787-1848) in his works. Native clericals and petty officials serving the British colonial state, the noveau riches, new zamindars, and entrepreneurs were made the themes of satirical works like Kalikata Kamalalaya (1823), Naba Babu Bilas (1825), Naba Bibi Bilas (1831), etc. Bhavani Charan ridiculed them as bhadraloks. The nabya-bhadralok, according to him, amassed wealth after coming in contact with the Europeans, and being influenced by them, they became indifferent about religion and culture of their ancestors.

By the mid-nineteenth century, the bhadralok seemed to have received social recognition. From that time onward, the administrative and the landed middle classes of the nineteenth century came to be known in general as bhadraloks, whose hallmarks were education and wealth. Until the second decade of the twentieth century, the bhadralok class was socially identified with Hindu elite groups, because most zamindars and educated elite were Hindus. Members of the Muslim elite were called Ashrafs. However, vast changes took place in the Bengali social structure during the Crown's period (1858-1947) and in the process, all educated and respectable people, irrespective of religions, were recognised as bhadraloks. As a social category, bhadralok does not exist now. People are at present apt to be socially classified according to their profession, societal and political affiliations, and individual achievements. [Sirajul Islam]