Toru Dutt – ‘a Phenomenon Without Parallel’

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Toru Dutt – ‘a phenomenon without parallel’ Myriad Hues ‘May Love defend thee from Oblivion’s curse’- wrote Toru Dutt to conclude her poem Our Casuarina Tree. One wishes the same for the poet - her name literally meaning a tree - who withered away in the prime of her youth. Toru Dutt was a product of 19th century Bengal Renaissance. The Hindus of Bengal were prompt to take advantage of liberal western education dispensed through institutions established by the British. The printing press, set up by evangelist Rev. William Carey (1761-1834) at Serampore, to propagate Gospels in Indian languages, actually served the cause of Indian literature. Christianity however found few converts in Bengal and it remained limited among Hindu upper caste elites. A branch of the Dutt family of Rambagan, North Calcutta, was one of them. Toru Dutt belonged to this family. Her father, Govin Chunder Dutt, was a linguist-poet and her mother, Kshetramoni, was a highly cultured lady. This particular family background exercised a lasting influence on Toru, Govin Chunder Dutt’s youngest daughter. Toru was born in her father’s house in Rambagan, Manicktola Street, in the heart of Calcutta. Govin Chunder had three children; Abju (born October 18, 1851), Aru (born September 13, 1854) and Toru (born March 4, 1856). Govin Chunder himself describes his three children, in their early childhood: Most loving is my eldest, and I love him most; Almost a man in seeming, yet a child; … And thus of Aru: My next, the beauty of our home, is meek; Not so deep-loving haply, but less wild Than her dear brother; - brow and blushing cheek Her nature shows serene, and pure, and mild As evening’s early star. And thus to Toru: Puny and elf-like, with dishevelled tresses, Self-willed and shy ne’er heeding that I call, Intent to pay her tenderest addresses To bird or cat, - but most
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