Introduction:
Toru Dutt's name is immortal in the history of Indo-Anglian poetry. Her life is a peculiar blend of joy and sorrow. Her early death was a great loss to Indo-Anglian poetry. Toru was born in a Hindu family in Rambagan, Calcutta, on March 4, 1856. Toru's father, Govin Chunder Dutt was a famous linguist. Toru's mother, Kshetramoni, was fluent in English and Bengali. She was a great devotee of the Hindu myths and legends. It was her routine to tell a famous myth or legend daily to her children at night. It made such an impact on Toru's mind that he composed the immortal book: Ancient Ballads and Legends of Hindustan. She was ill but by 1877, her health decayed never to recover. On August 30, 1877, Toru died at the early age of 21.
Her Contribution to Indo-Anglian Poetry:
Toru died at such a young age that we do not have her contribution to Indo-Anglian poetry in quantity what we have is of great artistic quality. Her volume Ancient Ballads and Legends of Hindustan is sufficient enough to make her name immortal in the history of Indo-Anglian poetry.
Ancient Ballads and Legends of Hindustan:
It was published in 1882 after her death. There are nine ballads or legends in it. They are based on Indian myths and legends. It consists of some other poems also:
Savitri deals with the immortal legend of Satyavan's death and his wife Savitri's success in getting back his soul.
Lakshman deals with the famous episode of the drawing of the Lakshman Rekha for the safety of Sita.
Jogadhya Uma deals with an original legend in which the goddess appears as the daughter of the priest at the temple of Khirogram.
The Royal Ascetic and the Hind deals with the sacrifice of Bharat who rules on behalf of Rama and worships Rama's slippers.
Dhruva deals with the spiritual sublimation of the child that enables him to shine forever in the sky as the Dhruva Tara.
Buttoo deals with the famous legend of Eklavya who surprises Arjuna in archery.
Sindhu deals with the tragic death of Shravan Kumar and his blind parents' curse to Dassarath.
Prahlad deals with the devotee child who is saved by Lord Vishnu as Narsinha Bhagwan by killing the cruel king and Prahlad's father Heerun Kasyapu.
Sita is very brief and may be called unfinished. Had Toru lived a bit longer she might have developed it. It accounts for Sita's grief in Valmiki's hermitage.
Besides, there are seven other poems also. The most popular among them are The Lotus and Our Casuarina Tree. Toru Dutt's Narrative Skill-Toru Dutt's narrative skill is remarkable. She treats with the legend in a well planned way. For example, Toru Dutt's Savitri is a comprehensive poem in five parts. It consists of 996 lines divided into 83 stanzas of twelve lines each. The poem is divided in five parts under the following plan.
Part I consists of 264 lines divided into 22 stanzas. It deals with Savitri's choosing of her husband, Narad's objection and ultimately her father's consent to the marriage.
Part II consists of 276 lines divided into 23 stanzas. It deals with Savitri's marriage with Satyavan and after one year his death at night in a forest while Savitri is present with him.
Part III consists of 36 lines divided into 3 stanzas. It brings to light the court of Death ruled by Yama who decides to go to take Satyavan's life.
Part IV consists of 276 lines divided into 23 stanzas. It deals with Yama's departure with Satyavan's soul and his following by Savitri who succeeds in taking three boons: her father in law's restoration of eye sight and lost kingdom, one hundred children to her father and survival of Satyavan with boon of one hundred children to them.
Part V consists of 144 lines divided into 12 stanzas. It concludes the poem.
Love for Ancient Myths and Legends:
Toru's love for ancient myths and legends enables her to compose such poems that belong to ancient epics like the Mahabharata and the Ramayana and the Puranas. For example the story of Savitri is borrowed from the Mahabharata. The poem opens in a traditional way bringing to light not only important characters but also the culture of the contemporary society. In those ancient days Indian girls were not confined to Zenanas, a portion reserve for ladies. Savitri was free to go to any place of her choice, for hours together with her friends. She used to visit gardens or hermit's huts to meet saints for seeing her they were pleased. They used to teach the best of their knowledge.
Savitri was at liberty in all matters whether small or great for her father never feared for her. He had full faith in her snow like purity. He was blessed with this child after a long since his marriage. For her he had fasted and prayed severely. She was gifted by Lord Shiva and he would guard her. None could spoil her beauty. His faith was firm and without fear or doubt her father had given all to her that she wanted.
And so like a boy she was free to wander anywhere. It was a happy time in which no worries could trouble her and no sorrow could spoil her youthful joy. Her father suffered from only one worry where to find out a proper match for such an innocent girl. With the Queen he used to discuss the problem how to select her match. She suggested to leave it to God with the hope that Savitri herself would find out her husband.
There is lively description of Savitri's qualities. Brave hard hearted soldiers used to smile on seeing her as mountains smile to see the spring. In short their response was joyful. She inspired freshness like a lotus in moon light during extremely hot season. She always looked happy and walked lightly. Unknown people meeting by chance used to turn back to look at her for a long time and wished for her joy.
It was her own individual peculiar charm that she was pure, pretty and innocent like a child. No ill-intentioned man was able to observe her beauty, for he felt ashamed on marking her simplicity. Her face was blessed with divine purity. There was a reflection of divine grace in her rising youth.
Presentation of Indian Philosophy:
Toru presents Indian philosophy through these legends. For example while talking to Yama, Savitri threw light on the temporal nature of the world. Savitri told that the world is only an illusion in which nothing is permanent.
She did not wish her husband back for worldly pleasures. All these emotional ties are made to be broken and death is the ultimate truth of life and it makes all senses dull. It is the conclusion of life. Duty is the only true friend to make great progress.
Sensuous Word Pictures:
Toru Dutt is one of those great artists whose compositions have power to thrill all the five senses. For example, Toru Dutt draws lively word pictures of sensuous nature in Savitri. The poem opens with a lively description of Savitri. Brave hard hearted soldiers used to smile on seeing her as mountains smile to see the spring. In short their response was joyful. She inspired freshness like a lotus in moon light during extremely hot season. She always looked happy and walked lightly. Unknown people meeting by chance used to turn back to look at her for a long time and wished for her joy.
Here, Toru refers to mountains and spring. With sense of sight, here the sense of smell too is engaged for spring brings sweet smelling flowers. Moon refers to cool moon light and it engages the sense of touch. Sweet showers and sultry June refer to water and heat. Water is wet. In this way sense of touch becomes active on reading it. While talking about Savitri's free life, Toru observes:
Here, woods suggest darkness and coolness, fruit and flower suggest colour, smell and taste. In this way three senses are employed in only five words. It shows Toru's sensuousness.
All word pictures employ the sense of sight. Hermitage involves greenery and huts. Munis are gray and old. But Toru here feels that she has not employed the sense of hearing as yet. To remove that imperfection she refers to teaching of Savitri by these Munis. No doubt, teaching involves speaking and it engages tongue and ears that are the organs to produce and hear the sound. In this way Toru employs all the five senses.
Thus, Toru Dutt is a great poetess of Indian myths and legends.
