THE FIRST ENGLISH POET WITH INDIAN NATIVITY- TORU DUTT (1856-1877)
THE FIRST ENGLISH POET WITH INDIAN NATIVITY
TORU DUTT (1856-1877)
MAKINEEDI SURYA BHASKAR
Toru Dutt (1856-1877), an original talent in Indian English Poetry, hailed from a cultured, wealthy and respectable family with literary bent. It was Toru, who tried for the first time to transform Indian English Poetry from mere mediocrity to authenticity. Departed from the Anglo-mania of her predecessors, Toru fed her poetry with a heavy dose of Hindu mythology and legend.
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Thoru’s family embraced Christianity at her sixth year. That is why; Christian symbolism is also seen scattered in her poetry. While in Europe, Toru and her sister Aru translated French lyrics into English verse.
In 1871, the family moved to Cambridge where Toru attended ‘Higher Lectures for Women’ and met Mary Martin who was remained to be her life long friend. The untimely passing away of her brother and sister saddened her immensely.
Her father Govind Chunder Dutt, a poet himself has a leaning for her literature. We can see in his own words Toru as a determination to march forward in fulfilling life’s mission of writing poetry. He says of his daughter-
“Puny and elf-like with disheveled tresses
Self-willed and shy
Intent to pay; tenderest address
To bird over cat… …but most intelligent”
Her first volume of poems entitled ‘Ahseef Gleamed in French Fields’ appeared in 1875. It witnessed a paucity of creative talent, for they are the mere translations of 165 French Lyrics of about seventy different poets of which eight are written by Aru. She also wrote a French Novel ‘Le Journal de Mode mojselled Arvers’ and an unfinished romance in English ‘Bianea’.
Surprisingly, she understood that her roots lay firmly in the Indian soil and she read the Ramayana, The Maha Bharatha and Shakunthalam and translated a few stories from Sanskrit into English. Her composition ‘Ancient Ballads and Legends of Hindustan’ was posthumously published in 1882.
Her poems are marked with a rich autobiographical touch. ‘Sita’ recalled her childhood memories. She narrates how her brother Abju and her sister Aru and she herself used to hear in rapture when her mother sing the song of Sita, in her second exile when she was banished by Lord Rama.
“…Three happy children in a darkened room!
What do they gaze on with wide-open eyes?
A dense, dense forest, where no sunbeam, pries
And in its centre a cleared spot-
there bloom…”
A picturesque depiction marks the humanization of Nature in this poem. A dense forest full of flora and fauna with no sun-beam passage is lovely described…the degree of thickest spread of the forest is envisaged in the reiteration of ‘dense’.
“Tall trees; there in a quiet lucid lake
The white swans glide; there ‘whirling from the break’
The peacock springs; there herds of wild deer race;
There, patches gleam with yellow waving grain:
There, blue smoke from strange altars raises light,
There dwells in peace the poet-anchorite”
The clear, serene and sanctifying spot is meant for the ashram of Valmiki, the poet-anchorite. In this way, Toru shows a superb power of description with a rare skill of story telling.
Another poem with autobiographic touch is the famous ‘Our Casurina Tree’, which is a wonderful admixture of memory and nostalgia; both go together intricately all through the poem. Toru’s association with the tree at various times is linking up with her memories of lost brother and sister and hence the tree is so dear to her, even though, they are no more the remains reminding them with all its charms. Thus the tree is both a tree and a symbol; representing the time and eternity- unknown, yet well-known! Poetess’ remembrances turn into reflections. The poem has a natural look as it resulted from the passions born of life’s experience. The ‘Casurina Tree’ is not only the remainder of the happiest phase of her life, but also, a source reminder of solace she seeks to immortalize the tree.
She proclaims in another poem, ‘A Mon Pere’-
“Ask memory.
She shall help my stammering muse”
This is the key note of Toru’s entire, if not the major portion of poetry.
With an Anglo-maniac departure, Toru’s is the first Indian English Poetry to nurture the typical Indian ness with Hindu Myth and Philosophy.
Toru died at an early age of twenty one years. Otherwise, she might create an enormous body of creative work combining the Hindu Thought and Tradition with that of Christianity. In her poems, the ‘Unison of the East and the West’ is perceived with the fusion of traditions trio – the French, the Indian and the English.
About the Author
A member in the ‘ World Poets Society”, Makineedi’s poems are published in the magazines like Asian American Poetry, Enchanting Verses, Velvet Illusion , Akashich etc;
Born on 17th August, 1962 in India , taken Post-graduate Degree in English Language and Literature from the Andhra University. Working as a ‘ Teacher in English‘ in the Municipal Corporation of Kakinada city, in the State of Andhra Pradesh.
Besides a poet, a Literary Critic, an Artist and Art-critic, Story-writer, Writer of Children Literature, Academician and Free-lancer. So far published seven poetry anthologies, nine books of literary criticism, one anthology of short stories, three on art-criticism, one in children’ literature and nine academic books. There are about thirty two books press-copied, the contents of all of which are published in the leading dailies, journals and magazines of Telugu language.
The poetry anthologies are Jyoti Bala (Girl with a Torch, children lyrics, 1996), Suma Kavithanjali ( Floral Lyrics Oblation, in classical and metrical prosody, 1997),. Haiku Chitralu (Haiku Pictures, 1997), Prakruthi Geechina Vikrutha Chitram ( Ugly Picture Drawn by the Nature, in Free Verse, 2000), Selava Roju (Holiday, in free verse, 2003), Kalala Pedavula Navvulloki...( Into the Laughter of Dreamy Lips… 2008), and Samethako Padyam (A Poem for an Adage, one hundred classical and metrical poems for children, 2009). In literary criticism, have been appeared are Kala Sahitee Thoranam (collection of essays 10 each on literary and art criticisms, 1998), Haiku Kavitvam-Anuseelana (the first critical commentary on Telugu Haiku, 1999), Naneelu- Nalugu Vyasalu (Four essays on Nani, the first critical commentary on Nani, mini poem pioneered by Dr.N. Gopi, Former Vice-chancellor of Telugu University , 2002), Kalam Kalalu( Dreams of the Pens, critical essays on poets, 2003), Drukkonam (Literary Articles, 2003), Rendu Yeligeela Madhya…( Between Two Elegies…,2004),Addepalli Kavitvam -Vyaktitvam – Tathvam ( a critical commentary on the personality, and literature of famous Telugu poet, Dr Addepalli Rama Mohan Rao, 2006), Rekkalu -Tathvika Prasthanam ( the first literary commentary on the ,Wings’, a new form pioneered by M.K.Sugam Babu, a famous Telugu poet, 2007).
An anthology of short stories Antah Soundaryam (Inner Beauty) appeared in 2003.
In art-criticism, in addition to Kala Sahitee Thoranam, two more books – Kala Sravanthi, M.A. ( monograph of critical appreciation of Art and Paintings by a notable artist, Mr. M. Anjaneyulu, 2008), and Ramarao nunchi Ramarao daka…( From Ramarao To Ramarao, critical appreciations of leading Telugu artists, 2009).
On academic side, the books published are – Pathasala Palana (School Administration,1999), Chaduvula Panduga (Festive of Studies, 2002), Infant Feeding (2003), Children Literature – For Changing Generations (2006), Ways Of Protecting Telugu Language (Award winner of T.A.N.A., the Telugu Association of North America, 2007), Folk Art forms on Alluri Seetha Rama Raju, a rebel patriot of Indian National Freedom Movement) and AIDS – Prevention and Cure and Satyanveshanalo…(In Search of Truth…articles other than literature, 2003).
To his credit, some books have also been appeared on him and his works. They are Rachana -Rasana (first fart)-Reviews and appraisals on his literature and personality made by the eminent Telugu writers and critics), Drusti -Srusti (review of art of ‘makineedi’, his brush name). Makineedi Kruthulu _ Telugu Sahityaniki Bahuukruthulu (Makineedi’s Books – A Gift to Telugu Literature, written by Prof. P.V. Arunachalam, the former Vice-chancellor of Dravidian University) and Art and Literature of Makineedi (an account of bio-data as an artist and writer). Research work is going on in the Telugu University on his poetry. I have participated and presented Papers about a dozen, in various national and regional seminars conducted by the Department of Education, Govt. of A.P; University Grants Commission, Andhra Pradesh History Congress, Konaseema Science Parishad, Andhra University, Telugu University etc. Appeared in special souvenirs and got several natnd regional awards in Art also. Held One-man Show for three times.
Awards and Rewards are countless, to mention some, awarded by T.A.N.A-2006 (Telugu Association of North America), T.A.M.A -2006 (Telugu Association of Metro Atlanta), Best Citizen – 2006, Best Teacher – 2004 ( by the Dept. of Education), Industrial Special Award, S.I.S.F- 2004( sponsored by Mokshagundam Visweswarayya Institute, Bangalore), appreciated by Mr. James Arthur (Dept. of International Development, Britain, 2003), Art-Mitra (Friend of Art, 2003 and 2004) and the Best Services Award -2002 (by the Government
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