Name: Dhruvita Dhameliya
Roll no : 03
Semester : 3
Year: 2021 to 2023
Subject: Indian English Literature – Pre-Independence
Topic : Poems by Toru Dutt
E-mail ID:
dhameliyadhruvita24@gmail.com
Submitted to: S. B. Gardi Department of English Maharaja Krishnakumarsinhji Bhavnagar University
Introduction of Toru Dutt:-
Toru Dutt - poet, novelist, essayist, translator and polyglot – was an outstanding pioneer in the history of Indian literature. She was an Indian Bengali translator and poet from British India, who wrote in English and French. She is among the founding figures of Indo-Anglian literature, alongside Henry Louis Vivian Derozio, Manmohan Ghose, and Sarojini Naidu. She is known for her volumes of poetry in English, A Sheaf Gleaned in French Fields and Ancient Ballads and Legends of Hindustan , and for a novel in French, Le Journal de Mademoiselle d'Arvers . Her poems explore themes of loneliness, longing, patriotism and nostalgia. Dutt died at the age of 21.
Poetry is the representation of mental thoughts, it symbolises all the conflicts that dominate the poet's mind either from childhood memories or impressions laid down by the society which is always in the process of gradual change. Every writer has something beforehand in mind which acts as an inspiration for his/her writing. Every poet after being inspired needs to present his mental agony or bliss in a way that he is able to make his reader fathom the real and core meaning of the issues tossing in his mind. The poet revamps and tries to convey his message in the form of words which may or may not convey what he/she actually wants as at times vocabulary couldn’t find the appropriate word for a feeling. The poet cannot claim and remain adamant to only one meaning his own one for his writing, it is true to say that the writing of a poet doesn’t belong to him anymore after being exposed to the readers. Tour Dutt is a great poetess of India who from a very young age started to write. The love for learning was already in her blood which ultimately made her study & learn three languages. She learned English, French and Sanskrit languages and translated French poetry into English. Even though she was a Christian as the family had converted to Christianity when Toru was a small child her thoughts were never free from her origin & core. She never alienated herself from her roots, thoughts in the form of epics, myths and legends of the Hindu religion always occupied her mind. The large portion of her appreciated high class poetry is dedicated to these thoughts which give us a clear picture of her liking and attachment to these contemplations. Her poetry has a great influence of Hindu legends and myths, the influence of which can be felt in the form of echoes of Hindu mythos and legends in her literary work. Her poetical collection ‘A sheaf Gleaned in French Fields’ published in1876 by her father after her death bought her recognition as a Bengali English poetess.
Lakshman:-
The poem "Lakshman" is from Dutt's Ancient Ballads and Legends of Hindustan. It tells a story from the Hindu epic Ramayana, in which the hero Rama is told to procure a golden deer for his wife, Sita. After Rama leaves Sita with his brother, Lakshman, for safekeeping, he finds out that the deer is actually a demon and kills it. However, when the demon dies, it calls out for help using Rama's own voice. Though Lakshman knows Rama is invincible and does not worry, Sita panics at the sound of the cry for help and asks Lakshman to go and investigate. So that he can both please Sita and also ensure that she stays put, as ordered by Rama, Lakshman draws a line in the ground that Sita is not to cross while he leaves to search for Rama. While he is absent, however, Sita crosses the line and is abducted by the demon king Ravana.
The poem takes this story from the Ramayana and opens up the discussion between Sita and Laskhman, expanding it beyond what is present in the epic. Much of the core elements of their dialogue are preserved from the epic. First, Sita warns Lakshman to take heed of what are allegedly Rama's cries. When Lakshman tries to counsel Sita otherwise, she accuses him of conspiring to bring Rama down and take her for his own wife. Lakshman is harmed by her words and finally bows to her wishes, drawing a circle with an arrow that she is not to cross while he goes out to assist Rama. Despite the fact that Sita is enraged and has hurt Lakshman's feelings, however, he is calm, only speaking to bless Sita and pray that the deities of the forest will keep her safe when he leaves. The poem ends with a "sorrow dark" on Lakshman's face and a "vulture screaming" as he departs.
Toru Dutt had a thorough knowledge of India's traditional past and this had given her a strong foundation for a better superstructure to be constructed over the edifice. In the stories of the Ramayana, the Mahabharata, the Vishnu Purana and Srimadbhagavat, Toru Dutt found rich food for her imagination. After her return to India she began to study Sanskrit and acquired mastery in it and she read the Hindu classics in the original Sanskrit version. She brought out her second volume under the title of Ancient Ballads and Legends of Hindustan with an introduction by Edmund Gosse who considers it, "Toru's chief legacy to posterity." Here she glorifies India's cultural heritage. She evolved herself from a translator into a poet. She translated many French and Sanskrit poems into English.
In the poem "Lakshman", we find the translator growing into a poet. Under her creative impulse she selected and elaborated particular passages from the original texts which she found suitable for producing desirable artistic effect. "Lakshman" is a good example of this. She translated the piece from the forty-fifth canto of "Aranyakandam" of the Ramayana.
Though "Lakshman" is short, it is a brilliant poem of nineteen stanzas. Within this short span, she sharply presents the characters of Sita and Lakshman with dexterity by using the method of contrast. She depicts the reaction of Sita and Lakshman to the suspected calamity. She loses her nerve and her equipment and accuses Lakshman of infidelity and evil design. Sita's gentility and sadness of heart disappear in the face of crisis and she becomes weak. While in the grip of fear, she forgets her husband's valour and strength and mistrusts Lakshman.
Thus Toru presents Sita, shorn of her divinity, as an ordinary human being with all her weaknesses. In contrast Lakshman's character shines and rises in stature. He keeps his coolness and composure and wonders what uncommon force must have played the trick on them. Even though he is accused by Sita of some malignant motive, he does not lose his equanimity. On the contrary he sympathises with her. Thus Toru elevates the character of Lakshman through dramatic interaction.
The moment the pitiful cry is heard, Sita exhorts Lakshman to leave forthwith to help Rama. Overpowered by weak thoughts. She takes the wail of Rama to be death's signal while Lakshman wonders how one who goes to the rescue of others should himself seek help. Lakshman tries to calm her by telling Sita of Rama's prowess and mighty arm. He strongly states that Rama won't cry "like a child for assistance and that he is not made of such mettle it could be the trick of some foe, because "He has a work he cannot die."
This line gives a new dimension to Lakshman's character. It implies that Lakshman was well aware of the purpose of Rama's 'avatar' and the task he should perform.
Lakshman is reluctant to leave Sita as he is ordered by Rama to guard Sita. He prays to Sita not to beseech him to go. Sita misunderstands Lakshman's reluctance to leave the place and accuses him of cowardice. She straight asks him if he were a coward, She thinks that the valour he has displayed before is due to the mighty presence of Rama, But at present she comes out with the worst suspicion which deeply hurts Lakshman:
"One brother takes
His Kingdom-one would take his wife!
A fair partition!-But it makes
Me shudder, and abhor my life."
These words of Sita lacerate Lakshman's utmost heart like poisoned swords. Though hurt, he takes these words with sympathy and understanding and regrets her rashness in judgment. At last he leaves, but seeks her forgiveness. By making him apologise to Sita, Toru brings out Lakshman's magnanimity. Thus by setting up a contrast between the reactions of Sita and Lakshman to the tricky situation, Toru Dutt highlights Lakshman's equanimity, grace and magnanimity as against Sita's loss of courage and composure and rashness in judgment.
But then thy leader stood beside!
Dazzles the cloud when shines the sun,
Reft of his radiance, see it glide
A shapeless mass of vapours dun;
So of thy courage,—or if not,
The matter is far darker dyed,
What makes thee loth to leave this spot?
Is there a motive thou wouldst hide?"
This quote reflects Dutt's impulse to open up and expand on old legends, as well as her interest in adding personal dimensions to these tales that increase their verisimilitude. These lines, spoken by Sita to Lakshman, are not present in, nor have any precursor in, the Ramayana, meaning that this specific accusation of Lakshman was penned by Dutt herself rather than just adapted or rewritten. This excerpt raises the emotional stakes of Sita and Lakshman's argument by complicating and deepening Sita's accusations, thus making the scene appear more realistic, more human, and less removed from the realm of myth. Moreover, it introduces an additional naturalistic element to their argument, with Sita comparing Lakshman to a cloud which steals the sun's radiance. Dutt's mark is clear in this quote, then, because it reflects not only her interest in complicating and opening up poetic treatments of myths and family relationships, but also her deep fascination with nature.
Other Poems:-
Toru Dutt was influenced by both the West and the East, the deep influence of Indian culture on her poetry becomes obvious from the beginning sonnets of 'Ancient Ballads and Legends of Hindustan'. Her
Another remarkable collection of poems 'A Sheaf Gleaned in French Fields' which consists of the original translations of the French poems reflects the influence of the West. The magnificent work in 'A Sheaf Gleaned in French Fields' inspired Mr. Edmund Gosse to review it in the Examiner Journal with many favourable remarks. "There are graphic sketches of Indian life and scenery, the forests and beautiful sights of nature. The beautiful cool night of the Indian forests has been described in a very effective language. Her heart is touched by the beauty of champak and lotus flowers. She is very sensitive to the sounds and sights of nature. She is keenly aware of different aspects of nature. Toru Dutt was influenced by the French and English romantic poets. Her treatment of Nature has no mystic touch like that of Wordsworth but like Keats it appeals to our senses." Her clear understanding of the French is well explained by her translation of a patriotic poem by F. Berat 'My Normandy':
"I've seen the hills of Switzerland,
Its chalets, and its glaciers dear, I've seen Italia's sky and strand,
Bt while hailed each foreign spot,
And heard, entranced, the gondolier, I murmured to myself;- on earth' A lovelier land existeth not
That Normandy that gave me birth"
"Besides, patriotism, the theme of separatism, lineless and ultimately death were dear to her. In many of the poems, we find a plaintive note of frustration, dejection and bereavement.
Ancient Ballads is another masterpiece by Toru Dutt. The Ballads consist of number of Indian mythical stories which originally in Sanskrit are very faithfully translated into English by this young girl. This work reflects another great quality of Toru as a storyteller. Her narrative and descriptive techniques are very well presented in Ancient Ballads. If we keenly go through the poem 'Savitri' which is the opening poem of the Ancient Ballads her understanding of the Hindu mythology and tales can be best noted here. This poem being very long is the message for entire women living on earth, it describes how the character of women should be, the portrayal of Savitri is the portrayal of every women. Toru represents Savitri as an example for all the women, her qualities and virtues need to be followed by all the women. In the following lines Toru very beautifully describes the firmness of Savitri who remained adhered to her choice even though she knew the fate of her choice her groom.
"Once and once only, have given My heart and faith its past recall"
Indeed without any doubt Ancient Ballads is the best literary activity of Toru Dutt. Here we face a young but mentally mature and expert poetess flooded with the power of narrative and descriptive techniques.
Dr. A.N. tha has rightly remarked:
"Indeed, it may be reasonably said that had she lived longer she would have attained distinction in narrative and descriptive verse but perhaps in descriptive poetry she is even superior"
"She stretched her hand,
Oh what a nice and lovely fit
No fairer hand in all the land,
No painter's hand hope to trace
The beauty and the might glory there!" And how magnificently she has described the forest scene form Button:
"What glorious trees! The sombre soul
On which the eye delights to rest,
The seemul, gorgeous as a bride, The flowers that have the ruby's gleam."
"Love came to Flora asking for a flower That would of followers be undisputed queen.
The lily and the rose, long, long had been
Rivals for that high honour, Bards of power"
We can see in the above lines how remarkable Toru has mingled the Hindu culture with the western culture, she has used the Bards which in reality is associated with Gaelic spiritual power traditions of England, Scotland and Ireland. It's basically the ideo used by Toru in order to create a western understanding of Hinduism its culture and its divine faith in the disguise of Greek and Roman goddesses.
Conclusion:-
Thus each and every poet has an inspiration in the first case, this inspiration could come as a direct influence of the society s/he belongs to. Further the poet has his own taste while netting the threads of his poetry. Application of methodology in poetry is the other tool which a poet applies while s/he is in the process of writing. Having different and varied sources of inspiration makes every poet to present his views in a different way and manner, had this not been the case every poet would write the same thing Even though we know that the descriptive power which turned Toru Dutt into a great poetess but the beginning of her literary career was not flawless. In this context Mr. Edmund Gosse quotes:
"The sheaf Gleaned in French Fields is certainly the most imperfect of Toru's writings, but it is not the least interesting...
Word Count -2525
Works Cited
Chaudhuri, Sutapa. “How Toru Dutt, who died at just 21 in 1877, pioneered Indian writing and poetry in English.” Scroll.in, 31 August 2019, https://scroll.in/article/935634/how-toru-dutt-who-died-at-just-21-in-1877-pioneered-indian-writing-and-poetry-in-english#amp_tf=From%20%251%24s&aoh=16673631219344&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&share=https%3A%2F%2Fscroll.in%2Farticle%2F935634%2F. Accessed 4 November 2022.
FASIL, BARKAT DAR. “THE POETRY OF TORU DUTT WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO HER INDIAN THOUGHTS.” THE POETRY OF TORU DUTT WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO HER INDIAN THOUGHTS, vol. 3, no. 3,2016, March 2021. ResearchGate, https://www.researchgate.net/publication/349928369_THE_POETRY_OF_TORU_DUTT_WITH_SPECIAL_REFERENCE_TO_HER_INDIAN_THOUGHTS. Accessed Tuesday November 2022.
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