This task is given by Megha ma'am.
Q-1) Write a critical note on Lakshman by Toru Dutt.
Ans:
Summary of “Lakshman”
Toru Dutt’s poem “Lakshman” is a retelling of an episode from the Ramayana, where Sita urges Lakshman to go after Rama when she hears a cry of distress from the forest.The poem begins with Sita insisting that Rama must be in danger, as she has heard his voice calling for help. She urges Lakshman, Rama’s brother, to rush immediately to his aid.
Lakshman, however, knows that the cry is a trick of the demon Maricha, who had disguised himself as a golden deer and later mimicked Rama’s voice to lure Rama away from the hut. Lakshman is torn between his duty to protect Sita and his love and loyalty toward Rama.
Sita becomes emotional and accuses Lakshman of being selfish, even suggesting that he may want Rama dead so he can have her. Her words pierce Lakshman’s heart, but out of respect for her and Rama, he finally agrees to leave.Before leaving, Lakshman draws a protective line around the hut (the famous Lakshman Rekha) and warns Sita not to cross it. Soon after, Ravana arrives in disguise, and Sita, stepping beyond the line, is abducted.
Critical analysis:
1. Mythological Retelling with Emotional Depth
Toru Dutt retells an episode from the Ramayana, but instead of only narrating events, she highlights the psychological and emotional conflict of the characters.The focus is less on action (Ravana’s scheme, abduction) and more on the human drama—Sita’s suspicion and Lakshman’s dilemma.By doing this, Dutt transforms a well-known myth into a poignant lyrical narrative.
2. Character Portrayal
Sita: Shown not only as the ideal, devoted wife but also as a human figure with flaws. Her impatience, suspicion, and harsh words reveal her vulnerability and passion.Lakshman: Embodies selfless devotion and sacrifice. His silence, pain, and loyalty to both Sita and Rama make him a tragic figure. He becomes a symbol of misunderstood fidelity.Rama: Though absent for most of the poem, his presence dominates—every action of Sita and Lakshman revolves around him.
3. Themes
Duty vs. Emotion: Lakshman struggles between staying with Sita (duty to brother) and going after Rama (duty to save him).Love and Misunderstanding: Sita’s love for Rama blinds her to Lakshman’s loyalty, creating tragic misunderstanding.Sacrifice: Lakshman accepts insult and heartbreak to fulfill his dharma.Foreshadowing of Tragedy: The poem anticipates Sita’s abduction, showing how small moments of doubt lead to large consequences.
4. Style and Language
Written in a simple yet lyrical and narrative style, making the epic episode accessible to readers unfamiliar with Sanskrit texts.The use of dialogue form makes the poem dramatic, almost like a scene from a play.Toru Dutt blends Indian myth with English Romantic poetic sensibility, showing influence of poets like Tennyson and Arnold.
5. Feminist and Colonial Context
As a 19th-century Indian woman writing in English, Toru Dutt gives voice to Sita’s emotions with unusual psychological realism.The poem reflects both Indian tradition (myth, dharma, family duty) and Western literary form (lyric ballad style).This synthesis makes the poem part of early Indian English literature, bridging East and West.
6. Critical Evaluation
The poem stands out not for its innovation of plot (which is borrowed from the Ramayana) but for its emotional intensity.Toru Dutt captures the tragedy of misjudged loyalty, making Lakshman’s silent suffering the emotional core.The work is also significant as one of the earliest Indian women’s reinterpretations of epic material, giving it a fresh, sensitive perspective.
Conclusion
Thus, “Lakshman” stands out as a moving exploration of human emotions within an epic framework, portraying Sita’s vulnerability and Lakshman’s silent devotion. Toru Dutt enriches the myth with psychological depth, making it both timeless and relatable.
Q-2) Write a Critical Note on Toru Dutt's approach to Indian myths.
Ans:
Introduction
Toru Dutt (1856–1877) occupies a special place in the history of Indian English literature. Though she lived a very short life, her works reflect a deep love for Indian traditions along with the influence of Western education and Romantic poetry. One of her most remarkable contributions was the way she drew inspiration from Indian myths, legends, and epics and retold them in English for both Indian and Western readers. Through this, she became a bridge between East and West, tradition and modernity.
1. Reviving Indian Heritage in a Colonial Context
During the colonial period, Indian mythology was often neglected in English education, which was heavily Western.
Toru Dutt used her poetry to revive Ramayana, Mahabharata, and Puranic tales in English.
For example, her poem “Lakshman” retells an episode from the Ramayana, while in “Ancient Ballads and Legends of Hindustan” she narrates stories like “Savithri,” “Sindhu,” and “The Royal Ascetic and the Hind.”By doing this, she preserved cultural memory and introduced Indian legends to English-educated Indians and to readers abroad.
2. Humanizing the Divine Figures
Toru Dutt did not present mythological characters as distant gods and heroes only. She gave them human emotions.In “Lakshman,” Sita is not only the divine consort of Rama but a frightened, anxious woman full of love and doubt.Lakshman is shown as a tragic figure torn between duty and insult, embodying misunderstood loyalty.This human touch makes the myths relatable and emotionally powerful.
3. Fusion of East and West
Toru Dutt’s style shows clear influence of English Romantic poets like Wordsworth, Tennyson, and Arnold.She used Western forms such as ballads, lyrics, and narrative verse but filled them with Indian themes.This fusion of Indian content and Western form gave birth to a new literary space — Indian English poetry.It allowed Indian myths to be appreciated in the English literary tradition.
4. Moral and Philosophical Depth
For Toru Dutt, myths were not just stories of gods and kings; they carried universal morals.Her retellings highlight values like loyalty, devotion, sacrifice, love, and duty.In “Savithri,” for example, the wife’s devotion defeats death itself, showing the power of faith and moral strength.In “Lakshman,” loyalty and misunderstanding become central, showing the fragility of human bonds.
5. Feminine Sensibility
As one of the first Indian women poets in English, Toru Dutt added a female perspective to traditional myths.She gave importance to women’s emotions, such as Sita’s anxiety, Savithri’s strength, or Shakuntala’s longing.This was unusual in a literary culture dominated by male voices retelling myths.Her sensitivity added freshness and emotional depth to these ancient tales.
6. Contribution to Indian English Literature
Toru Dutt’s retelling of myths helped shape the foundation of Indian English poetry.She showed that Indian subjects could be expressed in English without losing their cultural essence.Her work represents a cultural dialogue between India and the West, giving Indian literature a global audience.
Conclusion
Toru Dutt’s approach to Indian myths was creative and original. She did not merely retell old stories but reinterpreted them with human emotions, lyrical beauty, and moral depth. By blending Indian tradition with English Romantic style, she made Indian myths accessible to both Indian and foreign readers. More importantly, she gave voice to women and highlighted the universality of love, duty, and sacrifice. Despite her short life, her poetry remains a landmark in Indian English literature and a testimony to how myths can be retold with fresh imagination.
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